Record number of claims finalised as backlog falls

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is processing more veterans’ claims than ever before, meaning more veterans and their families are receiving support.

In its 2022 Interim Report, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide called for DVA to eliminate the claims backlog.

DVA Secretary Alison Frame said the Department is doing everything it can to process claims as quickly as possible and get support to where it's needed.

‘In September 2022 there was a peak of more than 45,000 claims in the backlog, I am pleased to say as at November 2023, it’s fallen to 12,554,” Ms Frame said.

‘Naturally, more claims continue to be lodged every day, and DVA is well positioned to process more claims per day than ever before.

‘The number of DVA staff working on processing claims has nearly doubled, with an extra 500 staff recruited, taking the total number of full-time equivalent claims staff to 1,086 at 30 November 2023.

‘In November alone, 4,169 claims were moved out of the backlog and are now being processed, and over 9,800 determinations were finalised in a record month for DVA.’

The backlogs of Initial Liability and Incapacity claims waiting to be allocated to a claims officer have been cleared and DVA is now managing 'business as usual' levels of these types of claims.

DVA is working towards clearing the remaining backlog, for Permanent Impairment claims, by early 2024, meeting the Royal Commission’s deadline.

‘All of our progress would not have been possible without our staff’s dedication and commitment to serving those who have served our nation,’ Ms Frame said.