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.

Veteran benefits in Australia come mainly from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). They include health care through Veteran Cards, compensation for injuries and illnesses caused by service, pensions and income support, help at home, support for families, and help with housing. What you can get depends on your service, whether DVA has accepted a condition as caused by service, and your circumstances. Some support, such as free mental health treatment and Open Arms counselling, is open to anyone with one day of continuous full-time service.

An older couple looking at a tablet on the couch

Not sure if you count as a veteran? Read what a veteran is in Australia.

Support anyone who has served can get

  • Free treatment for any mental health condition, without a claim, if you have at least one day of continuous full-time service. Some reservists without it also qualify through disaster relief, border protection or a serious training accident. Read about mental health treatment.
  • Free, confidential counselling for you and your family from Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling, 24 hours a day, on 1800 011 046.
  • A One-Off Veteran Health Check with your GP any time after you leave, with a Medicare rebate. If you left after 30 June 2019, DVA also fully funds an Annual Veteran Health Check for the first five years.
  • Home building insurance from Defence Service Homes Insurance, if you have at least one day of service.
  • The Australian Defence Veterans' Covenant, lapel pin and Veteran Card, which you can ask for in MyService.

What changed on 1 July 2026

The Veterans' Entitlements Act (VEA) and the DRCA closed to new claims on 1 July 2026. All new claims for compensation and rehabilitation are now assessed under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), whenever you served. Payments you already receive continue and are indexed as normal. New claims for the Disability Compensation Payment can't be made, so worsening conditions are claimed as MRCA permanent impairment instead. Read what changed on 1 July 2026.

Health care

  • A DVA claim asks DVA to accept an injury or illness as caused by service. For claims lodged from 1 July 2026, presumptive liability covers 80 or more common service-related conditions and several other groups, so you don't have to prove the link if your service fits. See which conditions.
  • Permanent impairment compensation, worked out from your impairment points.
  • Incapacity payments if you can't work, or can work less, because of an accepted condition.
  • Rehabilitation to help you recover and get back to work, study or daily life.
  • Reviews and appeals if you disagree with a decision.

Pensions and income support

  • The service pension for veterans with qualifying service. It's income and assets tested and can start earlier than the Age Pension.
  • The special rate of Disability Compensation Payment (TPI) for existing VEA recipients, and the Special Rate Disability Pension under the MRCA.
  • Veteran Payment, interim support while DVA decides a mental health claim if you can't work more than 8 hours a week. It's income and assets tested, and partners can get it too. Compare DVA pensions.
  • Military super invalidity pensions are paid by CSC, not DVA. Read about DFRDB and MSBS invalidity pensions.
An Australian flag patch on a uniform

Help at home

Families

Partners, widows, widowers and children can get pensions, compensation, their own Gold Card in some cases, education help and funeral support. Families of ADF members can use Open Arms whether or not the veteran is a DVA client. Read about DVA support for families.

Housing and loans

The Defence Service Homes scheme offers qualifying ex-service men and women a subsidised loan of up to $25,000 over 25 years, and a Home Support Loan of up to $10,000 for maintenance, modifications and other housing costs. DVA also runs the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme for Defence, for people who served on or after 1 July 2008 and built up enough service credit.

Discounts, recognition and records

Free help to get your benefits

Trained advocates at ex-service organisations help with claims and appeals for free, and Legal Aid can help in some cases. Find free help with a DVA claim. You can also call DVA on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AEST, or use MyService through myGov.

Read DVA's overview of benefits and services or check DVA's eligibility page.

Common questions

What support is there for veterans after service?

When you leave the ADF, DVA issues a White Card that covers mental health treatment for life, and you can have an annual health check for the first five years. The Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency, which started on 1 July 2026, works with Defence to support people leaving the ADF, especially those at risk, and family members can contact it too. Open Arms runs programs for people in transition, and medically separating members get a handover from Defence rehabilitation to DVA rehabilitation.

Visit the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency

Where can I find veteran support services near me?

Veterans' and Families' Hubs bring local services together in one place, including wellbeing support, health services, advocacy, employment and housing advice, and social connection. They work with ex-service organisations, community groups and state and territory governments. Ex-service organisations also offer free advocacy and social support, and Open Arms has counselling across Australia.

Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.

Read the DVA claims guide