Compensation for Dependants

There are a variety of supports available for family members of veterans who are deceased.

What supports are available for dependants?

Under current arrangements, the benefits available to the dependants of deceased veterans are determined by when the veteran served. Payments can range from education allowances to widow/er pensions, and, in some situations, medical treatment expenses. A full list of benefits is currently available on the DVA website.    

What will happen from 1 July 2026?

Under new arrangements commencing 1 July 2026, all new claims for benefits, including those relating to death, will be considered under the MRCA. 

Entitlements for dependants under the MRCA may include:

• wholly dependant partner pension, which can be converted (either in whole or in part) to a lump sum
• an age-adjusted lump sum payment where the veteran’s death is service-caused
• a Gold Card for DVA-funded treatment
• access to study assistance through the MRCA education scheme (MRCAETS) for eligible children
• reimbursement of funeral expenses up to $14,639. 

The full list of benefits currently available to dependants under the MRCA is available on the DVA website. These benefits will largely remain the same after 1 July 2026 although some payments will increase due to indexation. 

Current MRCA dependants

From 1 July 2026, the benefits and application process for dependants of MRCA veterans will remain the same. This means there will be no change to dependants’ ongoing payments, bereavement payments, funeral expenses, etc.

Further changes, commencing from 1 July 2026, will allow dependants to convert the weekly rate of permanent impairment (PI) compensation that was payable to the deceased member to a lump sum (excluding any compensation for lifestyle effects) where a claim was submitted but the veteran did not make a choice to convert their weekly compensation payment prior to death. 

Current DRCA dependants

Present to 1 July 2026 

The benefits you may be eligible to receive as a DRCA dependant depend on when you lodge your claim for benefits. 

If a claim for death benefits is lodged prior to 1 July 2026, the benefits will be assessed and paid under the DRCA. 

From 1 July 2026 onwards 

From 1 July 2026 all dependant claims following the death of a veteran will be assessed and paid under the MRCA. This includes cases where the veteran died prior to 1 July 2026 but the claim for benefits is lodged after 1 July 2026. Benefits may include access to the Gold Card for treatment, and access to education and training for eligible dependants.

If you have already received DRCA death compensation, this will not be affected. Any dependant who has already received death compensation under the DRCA will not be eligible for additional benefits under MRCA. For example, a DRCA widow who has already received DRCA compensation will not be able to claim again after 1 July 2026 – and they will not be eligible to receive a Gold Card.

If your claim has previously been rejected under the DRCA and you didn’t receive any compensation, you may be able to reapply under the MRCA.

A list of scenarios and Frequently Asked Questions on this issue are available at the Legislation Reform webpage.  

Current VEA dependants

Present to 1 July 2026 

The benefits you may be eligible to receive as a VEA dependant depend on two factors: the date of the deceased member’s passing and when the claim for benefits is lodged. 
If the claim for death benefits is lodged prior to 1 July 2026, benefits will be assessed and paid under VEA. 
Some dependants are granted death benefits automatically, without needing to claim. This includes cases where the veteran is receiving VEA Special Rate (sometimes referred to as ‘TPI’ and ‘TTI’), Intermediate Rate or Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) at the time of their passing. 

From 1 July 2026 onwards 

If you have already been granted a War Widow(er) or Orphan’s Pension under the VEA before 1 July 2026, these payments will continue after 1 July 2026. You will not be eligible for additional benefits under the MRCA. 

Automatic benefits for dependants of TPI, TTI, EDA or Intermediate Rate veterans will continue to be granted after 1 July 2026 to dependants of veterans who pass after that date. As these benefits don’t need to be claimed, they will automatically be paid under the existing provisions of the VEA. Dependants will also have the choice to apply under MRCA and, if successful, they can receive MRCA dependant benefits (instead of automatic VEA benefits) which may include an additional lump sum and higher funeral payments.

All new claims lodged from 1 July 2026 will be assessed and paid under the MRCA, noting that:

• if the veteran passed before 1 July 2026 (but the dependant claim is lodged after 1 July 2026) VEA dependants will be assessed for the range of MRCA dependant benefits – but they will not be eligible for the additional lump sum paid for service-caused deaths
• if the veteran passed after 1 July 2026, VEA dependants will be assessed for the full range of MRCA dependant benefits including the additional lump sum paid for service-caused deaths.

If your claim has previously been rejected under the VEA and you didn’t receive any compensation, you may be able to reapply under the MRCA.

Scenarios and Frequently Asked Questions are available at the Legislation Reform webpage.  

Additional Resources

There is a range of additional resources available on the Legislation Reform website covering a variety of topics including Education Schemes and the Veteran Card. 

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