Parents and guardians of eligible children are being reminded to keep an eye out for consent letters relating to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).
Each year in February, DVA writes to families of eligible DVA Education Scheme students requesting consent to share their eligibility information with Medicare. Once consent is provided and the information is processed, Medicare will confirm eligibility by letter or through myGov, allowing families to access CDBS dental services.
The CDBS, administered by Medicare, helps cover the cost of basic dental services for eligible children, providing up to $1,158 per child in benefits over two calendar years. This includes children aged 16 or 17 who receive an allowance under DVA’s Education Schemes.
The CDBS covers basic services such as check-ups, cleaning, fillings and x-rays. Some veteran families who are not part of DVA’s Education Schemes may still be eligible if they receive Family Tax Benefit payments from Services Australia. These families are automatically assessed and will receive a letter or myGov notification if eligible.
Families are encouraged to check their available CDBS balance before making a dental appointment, as well as confirm their dentist accepts CDBS.
For more information about eligibility and how to use the CDBS, visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/childdental.
Information about DVA’s Education Schemes is available at dva.gov.au or by calling 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).