DVA pays two kinds of pension. Income support pensions, such as the service pension, are for veterans and partners with limited income and assets, and depend on your age, service and means. Compensation pensions, such as incapacity payments and the Special Rate Disability Pension, are for veterans whose service-related conditions DVA has accepted, and don't depend on your income. From 1 July 2026, new compensation claims are made under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). Existing VEA pensions, including TPI, continue.
Which DVA pension applies to you
| Your situation | Payment to look at |
|---|---|
| You have qualifying service, are 60 or over or permanently unable to work, and have limited income and assets | Service pension |
| You're Age Pension age and receive a Disability Compensation Payment | Age Pension paid by DVA |
| You're a war widow or widower | War widow(er)'s pension, and possibly Income Support Supplement |
| An accepted condition stops you working or cuts your hours, and you're under Age Pension age | Incapacity payments |
| You've lodged an MRCA mental health claim and can't work more than 8 hours a week | Veteran Payment while you wait |
| You've left the ADF, have 50 or more impairment points and can't work more than 10 hours a week | Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) |
| You're Age Pension age with at least 70 impairment points and a lifestyle rating of at least 6 | Additional Disablement Amount (ADA) |
| You already receive a VEA Disability Compensation Payment, such as TPI | It continues and is indexed |
| You were medically discharged with a DFRDB or MSBS invalidity benefit (Class A or B) | Paid by the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, not DVA |
Some of these can be paid together. Permanent impairment compensation isn't counted as income for the service pension, for example. Others can't: you can't receive the service pension and the Age Pension at the same time, and Veteran Payment can't be paid with incapacity payments or the service pension.
Income support pensions
The service pension is a regular income you can get earlier than the Age Pension. Veterans need qualifying service, usually from an operational area or warlike service, and must meet residency rules. Partners, separated partners and widows or widowers of veterans may also qualify. It's income and assets tested. From 20 September to 31 December 2026, the maximum is $1,237.70 a fortnight for a single person and $933.00 each for a couple, including the pension supplement. It comes with a Pensioner Concession Card.
If you receive a Disability Compensation Payment and are Age Pension age, you can have the Social Security Age Pension paid by DVA instead of Centrelink. You can transfer it in MyService or with form D0664.
War widows and widowers receive the war widow(er)'s pension, which is granted automatically in many cases, and may also get Income Support Supplement, an income and assets tested top-up. Read about support for families.
Veteran Payment is an interim payment while DVA assesses an MRCA mental health claim, for veterans under Age Pension age who can't work more than 8 hours a week and meet income and assets tests. It stops 42 days after the claim is decided. Read about Veteran Payment.
Compensation pensions
Incapacity payments replace lost earnings when an accepted condition stops you working or reduces your hours. They're based on 100% of your normal earnings for the first 45 weeks, then 75% to 100% depending on your hours, and usually stop at Age Pension age.
The Special Rate Disability Pension is offered instead of incapacity payments to veterans whose capacity to work is severely limited for the long term. It's up to $977.95 a week before offsets, is tax-free, and can continue past Age Pension age.
The Additional Disablement Amount started on 1 July 2026 for severely impaired veterans over Age Pension age who don't receive incapacity payments, the SRDP, or the VEA Special, Temporary Special or Intermediate Rate or Extreme Disablement Adjustment. It's up to $532.60 a week before offsets and comes with a Gold Card. Read about the ADA.
The Disability Compensation Payment, sometimes still called the disability pension, is paid under the VEA. It includes the General Rate and the Special Rate known as TPI, which is $1,955.90 a fortnight from 20 September to 31 December 2026. The VEA closed to new claims on 1 July 2026, but existing payments continue.
Permanent impairment compensation is also paid weekly or as a lump sum, but it compensates for the impairment itself rather than lost income. Read about DVA payouts.
DVA pension dates and increases
The service pension, Veteran Payment, Income Support Supplement and Age Pension paid by DVA are paid fortnightly. Each payment covers a 14-day period that runs from a Tuesday to the Monday before payday. The remaining paydays in 2026 are 1 October, 15 October, 29 October, 12 November, 26 November, 10 December and 24 December. DVA publishes a full paydays calendar each year.
Income support rates are reviewed each March and September. Disability Compensation Payments are also indexed twice a year, and MRCA permanent impairment rates once a year.
How to claim and what to do if you're refused
Most pensions and payments are claimed in MyService. Compensation pensions need an accepted condition first. Tell DVA about changes in your circumstances within 14 days, or 28 days if you live overseas or get Remote Area Allowance.
For income support decisions, you ask DVA to review the decision within 3 months. For MRCA compensation decisions, you apply to the Veterans' Review Board within 12 months. Free advocates at ex-service organisations can help with either. Read about DVA reviews and appeals.
Read DVA's pensions and payments information
Rules that are easy to miss
DVA can extend Veteran Payment beyond 42 days in special circumstances, such as when your incapacity payments haven't been decided yet, you're moving to another payment, you're on a return-to-work plan, or your claim was refused and you're appealing. DVA's policy is to arrange the extension itself so you aren't left without income. If your payment is about to stop, ask about it.
Common questions
Is a DVA pension taxable?
It depends on the payment. The Disability Compensation Payment (including TPI), war widow(er)'s pension, SRDP and ADA are tax-free. The service pension paid on age, Veteran Payment and the Age Pension are taxable except for the supplementary amount. Service Pension Invalidity is tax-free until pension age. Incapacity payments are generally taxable.
What is a Class B pension?
Class A and Class B are DFRDB and MSBS invalidity classifications made by the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, not DVA pensions. Read about DFRDB and MSBS invalidity pensions.
Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.