DVA pays several kinds of pension. Which one fits depends on why you need it: the service pension and Veteran Payment are income support, while incapacity payments, the Special Rate Disability Pension and the older TPI pension are compensation for accepted service-related conditions.
Who is entitled to a DVA pension?
It depends on the pension. Income support pensions look at your service, age, income and assets. Compensation pensions need DVA to have accepted a condition as service-related. From 1 July 2026, new compensation claims are assessed under the MRCA.
Service pension
The service pension is a regular income for veterans and their partners, and you can get it earlier than the Age Pension. You may be eligible if you meet residency requirements, have qualifying service, and are at least 60 or permanently incapacitated for work. Partners, separated partners and widows or widowers of veterans may also be eligible.
It's income and assets tested. The maximum from 20 September to 31 December 2026 is $1,237.70 a fortnight for a single person and $933.00 each for a couple, including the pension supplement. You also get a Pensioner Concession Card. You can claim in MyService. Read about the DVA service pension.
Age Pension paid by DVA
Eligible veterans can have the Social Security Age Pension paid through DVA instead of Centrelink.
Veteran Payment
Veteran Payment is an interim payment while DVA assesses your claim for a mental health condition under the MRCA. You may be eligible if you can't work more than 8 hours a week, are under Age Pension age when you lodge the claim, and meet residency and income and assets tests.
Incapacity payments
Incapacity payments replace lost earnings if an accepted condition stops you working or reduces your hours. Read about DVA incapacity payments.
Special Rate Disability Pension
The SRDP is an MRCA alternative to incapacity payments for veterans whose capacity to work is severely limited. Read about the SRDP.
TPI and the Disability Compensation Payment
The Disability Compensation Payment, including the Special Rate often called TPI, is paid under the VEA. The VEA closed to new claims on 1 July 2026, but existing payments continue. Read about TPI.
Additional Disablement Amount
The ADA started on 1 July 2026 for severely impaired veterans over Age Pension age. It's for veterans with at least 70 impairment points and a lifestyle rating of at least 6 who aren't receiving incapacity payments, the SRDP, or TPI. It mirrors the older Extreme Disablement Adjustment and comes with a Gold Card.
When DVA pays your pension
Service pension, Veteran Payment, Income Support Supplement and Age Pension paid by DVA are paid fortnightly. Each payment covers a 14-day period that starts on a Tuesday and ends on the Monday before payday. Tell DVA about changes in your circumstances within 14 days.
Read DVA's pensions and payments information
Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.