Apply for the Disability Compensation Payment under the VEA

This page briefly explains how to make a claim for a Disability Compensation Payment under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), how claims are decided and how to apply for an increase in pension.

The Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 has closed to new applications for the Disability Compensation Payment. If you are already receiving a Disability Compensation Payment, you will continue to receive your payment uninterrupted. All new claims for compensation will be made under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

Disability Compensation Payments under the VEA are paid only in relation to injuries or illnesses which result from certain types of service rendered before 1 July 2004.

From 1 July 2026, all new claims for compensation are made under the improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). For more information about entitlements, refer to the Overview of the MRCA.

You may have had eligibility under more than one Act. If this has occurred and you claimed under both Acts there may be offsetting of the payments relating to the same incapacity. For more information, see Disability Compensation Payment and compensation offsetting.

What is a Disability Compensation Payment?

A Disability Compensation Payment is paid to compensate veterans for injuries or diseases caused or aggravated by war service or certain defence service rendered on behalf of Australia before 1 July 2004.

There are four categories of Disability Compensation Payment payable under the VEA:

• General Rate, payable in increments of 10% up to 100%;
• Extreme Disablement Adjustment (for over 65 years of age only);
• Intermediate Rate; and
• Special Rate.

The General Rate is paid solely on the basis of the degree of incapacity you suffer as a result of your accepted conditions. For more information, see General Rate. 

The Intermediate and Special Rates take into account your level of incapacity from war or defence service caused disabilities and the effects that this incapacity has had on your working life. The Special Rate is intended to assist severely disabled veterans who are unable to have a normal working life due to their accepted disabilities, and is the highest level of Disability Compensation Payment available under the VEA. The Intermediate Rate provides a level of compensation between General Rate and Special Rate. For more information, see General Rate.

Retired veterans who are 65 or over with very severe disabilities and who did not qualify for a Special Rate pension may have been entitled to a higher rate of Disability Compensation Payment known as the Extreme Disablement Adjustment. For more information, see Extreme Disablement Adjustment.

How is a claim for Disability Compensation Payment decided?

In order to be paid Disability Compensation Payment, you must first have a disability or disabilities accepted as being war-caused or defence-caused.

When you lodge a claim for a Disability Compensation Payment, the claims assessor will obtain evidence about your claim. This evidence may include documents about your service history, your medical history and, in some cases, your personal and employment history. Medical evidence may be sought from your doctor, or a specialist.

Claims for Disability Compensation Payment for most medical conditions are determined according to Statements of Principles, which are based on sound medical-scientific evidence and set out factors which must exist in order for the condition to be related to service. The claims assessor will examine available evidence to see whether the circumstances of your claim satisfy the relevant Statements of Principles. The Statements of Principles are developed by the Repatriation Medical Authority. DVA claims assessors are legally required to apply the Statements of Principles in assessing claims. For more information, see Statements of Principles (SOP).

Where there is no SOP for the disability you have claimed, the claims assessor will determine your claim by reference to the best medical evidence available.

If your claim satisfies one or more of the factors in the Statements of Principles, and those factors can be related to your service, the claims assessor will determine that your disability is war-caused or defence-caused. The claims assessor will also determine how much Disability Compensation Payment you will be paid if you are incapacitated as a result of your war-caused or defence-caused injury or disease.

How is Disability Compensation Payment assessed?

During the investigation of your claim, the claims assessor may arrange for you to be examined by a general practitioner or a specialist. The claims assessor will refer to the reports of these examinations, as well as other information on your file or that you have provided, to assess the level of Disability Compensation Payment to which you may be entitled.

Disability Compensation Payment is assessed on the basis of the Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veterans' Pensions (GARP V). For information on how Disability Compensation Payment is assessed using GARP, see Our guides to assess compensation.

How much is my Disability Compensation Payment likely to be?

The grounds on which these pension rates are paid are complex, but generally the greater your service related incapacity, the more pension you receive. For specific information on rates of pensions, see Disability Compensation Payment and War Widow(er)’s Pension Rates and Allowances.

When will my Disability Compensation Payment start?

Generally the Disability Compensation Payment will become payable from three months before the date a claim is received by DVA. This means that once your claim for a Disability Compensation Payment is granted, the pension will commence from the next pension pay day along with an arrears payment for the pension that was payable for up to three months prior to your claim being received.

We may also need to confirm information with Services Australia before we can arrange your payment.

What if I need help with my claim?

If you need help, contact 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) and we can help you with your claim. Most ex-service organisations also have officers and advocates who can help you too.

How long does it take to consider a claim for Disability Compensation Payment/application for increase?

The Department aims to process claims within 75 days. However, it may take longer if you have a complex case. This processing time is required to:

• obtain documents about your service from the Department of Defence if you have never claimed before;
• conduct further medical examinations if necessary;
• allow DVA to gather further information about your medical and personal history, if necessary; and
• assess the information and make a determination in relation to your claim.

While the VEA has closed for new compensation claims, any claims that were lodged before 1 July 2026 will continue to be assessed under the VEA.

What happens when a claim/application has been decided?

Whether your claim or application for increase is successful or not, you will be given written reasons for the decision as well as information that explains the decision. You will receive the decision in writing, either by mail, email or via MyService. The letter will also tell you what to do if you are not satisfied that the correct decision has been made.

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