TPI stands for totally and permanently incapacitated. It's the common name for the Special Rate of the Disability Compensation Payment under the VEA, paid to veterans who can't have a normal working life because of accepted service-related conditions. The VEA closed to new claims on 1 July 2026, so no new TPI claims can be made, but existing TPI payments continue.
DVA TPI rate
The Special Rate is $1,955.90 a fortnight from 20 September to 31 December 2026. It's a non-taxable pension. TPI veterans under 60 who don't get an income support payment also receive the Veterans Supplement of $14.00 a fortnight.
TPI eligibility
For veterans under 65, the Special Rate was paid if you were:
- at least 70% incapacitated because of accepted conditions
- totally and permanently incapacitated because of those conditions
- prevented by them alone from working more than 8 hours a week in your normal work
- losing earnings as a result
Veterans who claimed at 65 or over also needed to have worked continuously for 10 years that began before 65, and to have stopped because of their accepted conditions alone. Veterans blinded in both eyes by accepted conditions qualify regardless of their capacity to work.
TTI and the Intermediate Rate
The Temporary Special Rate, known as TTI, was paid if you met every Special Rate criterion except permanence. DVA sets how long it lasts. The Intermediate Rate is a lower above-general rate of $1,296.70 a fortnight.
TPI entitlements
A TPI pension is above 100% of the general rate, so TPI veterans qualify for a Gold Card covering treatment for all conditions. Read about DVA Gold Card entitlements.
What replaced TPI for new claims
New compensation claims are assessed under the MRCA. Veterans whose capacity to work is severely limited may be assessed for the Special Rate Disability Pension, and severely impaired veterans over Age Pension age may receive the Additional Disablement Amount.
Read DVA's Special Rate information
Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.