Changes are coming on 1 July 2026

With the new Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (VETS Act) set to commence on 1 July next year, DVA has a range of resources available to help you make the most of the improved system. 

In just over 6 months, the veter­ans’ compensation system will be easier to navigate. Changes to veterans’ legislation will enable veterans and their families to bet­ter understand their entitlements and receive the support they need, when they need it. 

The current three-Act system will be simplified, so that all compen­sation and rehabilitation claims lodged after 1 July 2026 will be determined under a single ongoing Act – an improved version of the Military Rehabilitation and Com­pensation Act 2004 (MRCA). 

For the most part, there won’t be too many changes for veterans with service commencing after 2004, but there will be enhancements to the MRCA – please visit the DVA website for more detail. 

While the Department cannot provide personalised claims advice, there are a range of resources on the website to help you under­stand how the new system will operate including: 

  • more than 20 fact sheets that pro­vide information on specific topics and summaries of the impact for particular groups
  • frequently asked questions
  • scenarios that demonstrate how the improved MRCA may impact individual circumstances. 

The new VETS Act responds to rec­ommendations made by the Royal Commission into Defence and Vet­eran Suicide. 

The Australian Government has established an independent oversight body, the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission, which commenced operation on 29 September 2025 (see article on page 5). A ‘single review pathway’ is also already in place provid­ing access to all veterans to have claim decisions reviewed by the Veterans’ Review Board. 

There will be no changes to pay­ments currently being received, including income support pay­ments such as the service pension, income support supplement and Veteran Payment. Payments currently being received will con­tinue to be indexed as normal. Advocates are being supported to ensure they can continue to sup­port veterans with their claims. 

For everything you need to know about the coming changes, go to: www.dva.gov.au/legislationreform.