Additional Disablement Amount

The Additional Disablement Amount (ADA) is a new benefit that will be introduced to ensure continued support for severely disabled, ageing veterans.

What is the Additional Disablement Amount?

The ADA is similar to the Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) benefit currently available under the VEA. 

It is intended as a ‘safety net’ under the MRCA for veterans who are over pension age and who have a high degree of impairment due to service-caused injuries or illness. The payment is being introduced to ensure continued support for those over pension age once the VEA is closed to new claims.

Veterans who are granted the ADA will receive a periodic payment which mirrors the EDA rate of payment under the VEA, as well as a Veteran Gold Card. Eligible dependants will have access to education assistance, death benefits and ‘MRCA supplement’ payments. 

The ADA will be subject to the same offsetting arrangements that exist for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA. 

Offsetting ensures people are not being compensated for the same impairments from multiple sources.  ADA payments will be reduced dollar-for-dollar by any disability compensation and/or permanent impairment payment received. A further reduction will occur based on Commonwealth-funded component of any superannuation being received by the veteran (at a rate of 60 cents in the dollar). 

A veteran cannot receive both ADA and SRDP.

The dependants of deceased veterans who were receiving the ADA will also be entitled to a Veteran Gold Card, wholly dependent partner payment, eligible young person payment (if applicable) and access to the MRCA Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) following the veteran’s death.

Am I eligible? 

Eligibility for the ADA will be available to veterans who:

• are pension age or older; 
• have an impairment rating of at least 70 points and a lifestyle rating of at least 6 under the Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation (GARP M);
• are not in receipt of incapacity payments; and
• are not receiving the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA, or the EDA or Special Rate (TPI) of pension under the VEA.

What will happen from 1 July 2026?

If you are a veteran who satisfies the criteria under the revised compensation arrangements, you may become eligible for the ADA and associated benefits under the MRCA. 

If you are a ‘wholly dependent partner’ of a deceased veteran who was eligible for ADA after 1 July 2026, you will be entitled to compensation under the MRCA. 

Eligibility for EDA can still be considered under the VEA up to 30 June 2026. 

If you are already receiving EDA payments, these will not change after 1 July 2026. 

Additional Resources

There is a range of additional resources available on the Legislation Reform website covering a variety of topics. These include: Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP), Compensation for Dependants and the Veteran Card.

There are individual pages for different veteran cohorts including VEA veterans, DRCA veterans, MRCA veterans and family members of veterans.