The VEA
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Veterans who were injured in service before 1 July 2004 may be covered under this Act. You can learn about the payments and benefits available to you and your family.
From 1 July 2026, the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence- related claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) closed to new claims for rehabilitation and compensation. All new claims are considered under an improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).
Back to topService covered by the VEA
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) covers service in wartime and certain operational deployments, as well as certain peacetime service between 7 December 1972 and 30 June 2004.
For peacetime service eligibility, a member who had not completed a qualifying period of three years service prior to 7 April 1994 is not covered under the VEA, unless they were medically discharged.
British nuclear test defence service during the 1950’s and 1960’s in Australia is also covered when the relevant criteria are met.
If you have an injury or disease arising out of, or aggravated by, a period of full-time service when you were covered under the VEA, you may be eligible for compensation and medical treatment.
No new claims for Disability Compensation Payment can be made after 1 July 2026. All new claims after this date, including for a deterioration of your injury or health condition or any impact on your ability to work, will be assessed under the MRCA.
If you lodged a claim before 1 July 2026, and it is accepted you may be eligible for the following:
Back to topDisability Compensation Payment
This pension is tax free and payable for life, assessed in accordance with the Guide to Assessment of Rates of Veterans' Pensions (GARP) and paid at a percentage of the General Rate for Disability Compensation Payment.
Back to topSpecial Rate (including Temporary Special Rate) or Intermediate Rate Disability Compensation Payment
This pension may be payable to veterans provided their degree of incapacity is 70% or more of the General Rate and their accepted disability alone has caused them to cease or reduce work and as a result, they are suffering a loss of income.
Back to topExtreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
This is paid to compensate former members/veterans who are severely disabled, aged 65 years and above who do not qualify for Intermediate or Special Rate of Disability Compensation Payment.
Back to topAdditional amounts for specific disabilities
Additional amounts may be available to provide further compensation for veterans with certain service-related amputations and/or loss of sight, and who do not qualify for Special Rate.
Existing recipients of Disability Compensation Payments (including Above General Rates and specific disabilities) will continue to receive their payments under grandparenting arrangements.
Back to topAllowances
Allowances may be provided to compensate for certain special requirements or situations arising from specific service-related disabilities. These allowances include an attendant's allowance, clothing allowance, decoration allowance and recreation transport allowance.
Existing recipients of some allowances, including the clothing allowance, may continue to receive their payments under grandparenting arrangements. The decoration allowance and the Victoria Cross allowance will transfer to the MRCA on 1 July 2026 to ensure continuity of the payment for existing recipients and to facilitate new claims after 1 July 2026.
Back to topWar widow(er) pension
This pension is paid to compensate the widowed partners of veterans who have died as a result of war service or eligible defence service. A widow or widower is a person who was married or in a de facto relationship with the veteran immediately before their death and who has not remarried or entered into another de facto relationship.
Back to topOrphan’s pension
This pension is paid to compensate the dependent children of veterans who have died as a result of war service or eligible defence service. Eligible children include natural or adopted children or children who were wholly or substantially dependent on the veteran.
Existing recipients of the war widow(er)s pension will continue to receive their payments under grandparenting arrangements. The orphan pension will continue to be paid while the eligibility criteria is met. Further grants of both pensions will continue under the VEA after 1 July 2026 under existing auto-grant arrangements. For those dependants of veterans that are not eligible for the auto-grant war widow(er) or orphan pension after 1 July 2026, they will be able to make a claim under the MRCA, following the death of the veteran.
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