Children of Veterans
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What supports are available for children of veterans?
The benefits that may be available are determined by the veteran’s service type. These are often payments and can range from education allowances to tax free lump sum payments. A full list of benefits is currently available on the DVA website.
Back to topWhat will happen from 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, all benefits will be considered under the MRCA.
Dependant children will be eligible to claim under the MRCA and may receive:
- an age-adjusted lump sum payment
- a Gold Card for DVA-funded treatment, and
- access to the MRCA education scheme (MRCAETS) and will receive a Gold Card while they are studying.
If you are already receiving any payments, these will not change after 1 July 2026.
Back to topHow do I apply?
Prior to 1 July 2026, the application for these benefits remains the same.
From 1 July 2026, the benefits and application process for children of veterans will be assessed only under the MRCA.
Whilst DRCA and VEA veterans can start the process of gathering documents to apply under the MRCA, only claims from 1 July 2026 will be considered under the expanded eligibility.
Back to topAdditional Resources
There is a range of additional resources available on the Legislation Reform website covering a variety of topics. These include: Education Schemes, the Veteran Card and Compensation for Dependants.
There are individual pages for different veteran cohorts including VEA veterans, DRCA veterans, MRCA veterans and family members of veterans.
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