Guides and explainers
DVA claims, compensation, Veteran Cards and health.
Veterans' Home Care and DVA help at home
What Veterans' Home Care covers, who can get it, co-payments and how it differs from DVA Household Services and other help at home.
DVA Household Services rates for 2026
The 2026 hourly rate and weekly maximum for DVA Household Services, what your approval sets, and how DVA pays for cleaning and gardening.
DVA aids and equipment through the RAP
What aids, equipment and home modifications DVA provides through the RAP, who can get them and how to get them at no cost.
What is DVA, the Department of Veterans' Affairs?
What DVA stands for, who the Department of Veterans' Affairs supports and what it does, from compensation to health care and help at home.
What changed at DVA on 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026 all new DVA claims are decided under the MRCA, more conditions are accepted automatically, and existing payments continue.
DVA health care and treatment for veterans
What your Veteran Card covers and how to get physiotherapy, dental, mental health care, transport, community nursing and more through DVA.
DVA physiotherapy, allied health and dental
What physiotherapy, allied health and dental care DVA covers, the treatment cycle, referrals and the dental limit.
DVA mental health treatment and Open Arms
Free mental health treatment through DVA without a claim, Open Arms counselling, and help with mental health claims.
DVA transport to medical appointments and travel claims
How DVA books a car to your appointment, who can use it, how to claim travel costs, and ambulance transport.
DVA Coordinated Veterans' Care (CVC) program
How the CVC program helps veterans manage chronic conditions with their GP and a care coordinator, and who can join.
DVA community nursing at home
What DVA community nursing covers, who can get it and how to get a referral.
DVA referrals, prior approval and finding a provider
What each Veteran Card covers, when DVA prior approval and referrals are needed, and finding a provider who accepts your card.
DVA support for spouses, widows and families
War widow(er)'s pension, compensation for dependants, Gold Card for dependants, education help, bereavement and funeral payments.
Veteran Card discounts and concessions
Discounts and concessions for Veteran Card holders by state, how to prove eligibility, and the Veterans' Covenant.
DVA service pension eligibility and rates
Who can get the DVA service pension, current rates, qualifying service, and how to claim.
DFRDB and MSBS invalidity pensions
How DFRDB and MSBS invalidity pensions work: Class A, B and C, how CSC decides, reviews, tax after Douglas, and DVA offsets.
Veteran benefits in Australia
Every veteran benefit in Australia in one place: health care, compensation, pensions, help at home, family support and free help to claim.
What is a veteran in Australia?
DVA's definition of a veteran, the legal meaning, what any veteran can get from DVA, and how many veterans there are in Australia.
DVA nominal rolls for WW2, Korea and Vietnam
What DVA's nominal rolls list, how to search the WW2, Korea, Vietnam and Gulf War rolls, fix errors and get full service records.
How the DVA claims process works
How to prepare and lodge a DVA claim, respond to evidence requests, read the decision and use the applicable review pathway.
Free DVA advocates and help with your claim
How to find a free DVA advocate near you, what advocates help with, other free claims help, and what to check before paying a lawyer.
How long does a DVA claim take?
DVA's current average claim processing times, the presumptive liability fast track, how to avoid delays and help while you wait.
DVA treatment while you wait on a claim (PAMT)
How the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment program pays for treatment of 20 common conditions before DVA decides your claim.
How to appeal a DVA decision
How to challenge a DVA decision, the single review pathway, Veterans' Review Board and ART time limits, and free help.
DVA pensions and who is entitled to them
Compare the DVA service pension, Veteran Payment, incapacity payments, SRDP, TPI and the Additional Disablement Amount, and who can get each.
DVA TPI pension eligibility and rate
What TPI is, the current Special Rate, who was eligible, TTI and the Intermediate Rate, and what replaced TPI for new claims from 1 July 2026.
How DVA incapacity payments work
How DVA incapacity payments replace lost earnings, the 100% and 75% rates, your obligations, the 1 July 2026 changes and how to claim.
DVA Veteran Cards: Gold, White and Orange
Eligibility and benefits for DVA Veteran Gold, White and Orange Cards, including medical treatment, pharmaceuticals and other support.
DVA Gold Card eligibility and entitlements
Who gets a DVA Gold Card, what it covers, benefits by state (rego, stamp duty, licence), buying a car GST-free, respite and how to apply.
DVA White Card eligibility and entitlements
What the DVA White Card covers, who is eligible, how to apply and the fortnightly Veterans Supplement.
DVA impairment points table and GARP M
How DVA impairment points work, the weekly permanent impairment rates for each points level, lump sums and GARP M.
DVA automatically accepted conditions and SOPs
How DVA accepts a condition, the conditions accepted automatically from 1 July 2026, Statements of Principles and checking your accepted conditions.
Average DVA Payout for PTSD Australia
There is no average DVA payout for PTSD. What DVA pays depends on accepted liability and your impairment points. See the 2026 rates.
Average DVA payout for depression and anxiety
There is no average DVA payout for depression or anxiety. How DVA works out mental health compensation, example rates and how to claim.
Average DVA payout for knee, back and joint conditions
There is no average DVA payout for knee, back or joint conditions. How compensation is worked out, example rates and which conditions DVA accepts automatically.
DVA hearing loss payout and impairment points
How DVA compensates hearing loss, the 5-point threshold, example rates, automatic acceptance from 1 July 2026 and hearing devices.
Average DVA payout for erectile dysfunction
There is no average DVA payout for erectile dysfunction. How DVA accepts it as a secondary condition and how compensation is worked out.
Average DVA Payout for Tinnitus
There is no average DVA payout for tinnitus. What DVA pays depends on accepted liability and your impairment points. See the 2026 rates.
DVA compensation under MRCA, DRCA and VEA
How DVA compensation differs under the MRCA, DRCA and VEA, including permanent impairment payments, incapacity payments and pensions.
The Douglas decision
The Full Federal Court found that certain DFRDB and MSBS military invalidity pension payments should be taxed as superannuation lump sums.
Act of Grace payments
An Act of Grace payment is a discretionary Commonwealth payment, generally considered only after other remedies have been tried.