From 20 September 2026, some veterans and veteran family members will receive an increase in their DVA pension and compensation payments.
The first full payment at the new rate will be on the payday of 15 October 2026. You don’t need to do anything to receive the increase: it will be applied automatically.
Payments made on the payday of 1 October will cover the period from 15 September to 28 September 2026 and will include entitlements calculated at both the old and new rates.
This increase helps make sure your payments keep up with inflation.
The majority of pension and compensation payments are indexed in March and September each year. Indexation is determined by either the Consumer Price Index, the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) or Male Total Average Weekly Earnings. For the 20 September increase, the indexation is driven by PBLCI. The table below shows the maximum rates of payment and includes any Energy Supplement payable.
From 20 September 2026, deeming rates will also change in line with arrangements applying to payments made by other Australian Government departments. Deeming rates are used to calculate deemed income from your financial investments (e.g. shares, bank accounts), regardless of actual returns. This deemed income counts toward the income test; the actual returns are not counted. The income test, along with the assets test, determines your entitlement to the Service Pension, Income Support Supplement and Veteran Payment.
A new deeming rate of 1.75% (currently 1.25%) will apply to financial assets under $66,800 for singles, and $110,600 combined for couples. Any remaining balance over these amounts will be deemed at a rate of 3.75% (currently 3.25%). To find out more about deeming rates please visit the Deeming and financial assets page on the DVA website.
For more information on the new pension and compensation rates, visit the DVA website or call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).
New pension and compensation rates from 20 September 2026
| SERVICE PENSION (total amount) | Old rate (fortnightly) | New rate (fortnightly) | Increase (fortnightly) |
| Single person | $1,200.90 | $1,237.70 | $36.80 |
| Couples (each) | $905.20 | $933.00 | $27.80 |
| Single person – transitional | $977.70 | $997.00 | $19.30 |
| Couples (each) – transitional | $788.80 | $804.40 | $15.60 |
| WAR WIDOWS (total amount) | |||
| War widow(er)’s pension | $1,223.40 | $1,261.60 | $38.20 |
| Income support supplement (ceiling rate) | $363.80 | $375.50 | $11.70 |
| DISABILITY COMPENSATION PAYMENT (total amount) | |||
| T&PI (Special rate) | $1,895.90 | $1,955.90 | $60.00 |
| Intermediate rate | $1,256.90 | $1,296.70 | $39.80 |
| Extreme Disablement Adjustment | $1,023.10 | $1,055.50 | $32.40 |
| 100 per cent | $658.20 | $679.10 | $20.90 |
| 10 per cent | $72.75 | $74.84 | $2.09 |
| Veteran Payment | |||
| Single person | $1,304.50 | $1,345.20 | $40.70 |
| Couples (each) | $1,017.40 | $1,049.30 | $31.90 |
| MRCA* | |||
| Wholly dependent partner payment | $1,223.40 | $1,261.60 | $38.20 |
| Special Rate Disability Pension | $1,895.90 | $1,955.90 | $60.00 |