The VEA
Veterans who were injured in service before 1 July 2004 may be covered under this Act. You can learn about the payments and benefits available to you and your family.
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Service covered by the VEA
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) covers service in wartime and certain operational deployments, as well as certain peacetime service between 7 December 1972 and 30 June 2004.
For peacetime service eligibility, a member who had not completed a qualifying period of three years service prior to 7 April 1994 is not covered under the VEA, unless they were medically discharged.
British nuclear test defence service during the 1950’s and 1960’s in Australia is also covered when the relevant criteria are met.
If you have an injury or disease arising out of, or aggravated by, a period of full-time service when you were covered under the VEA, you may be eligible for a Disability Compensation Payment and medical treatment. You may also be eligible for compensation under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) for the same disability and, if so, any compensation payable is offset against your pension. This is separate to and distinct from offsetting which occurs under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) and DRCA between incapacity payments and the employer-funded portion of any Commonwealth superannuation received.
If your claim is accepted you may be eligible for the following:
Back to topDisability Compensation Payment
This pension is tax free and payable for life, assessed in accordance with the Guide to Assessment of Rates of Veterans' Pensions (GARP) and paid at a percentage of the General Rate for Disability Compensation Payment.
Back to topSpecial Rate (including Temporary Special Rate) or Intermediate Rate Disability Compensation Payment
This pension may be payable to veterans provided their degree of incapacity is 70% or more of the General Rate and their accepted disability alone has caused them to cease or reduce work and as a result, they are suffering a loss of income.
Back to topExtreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
This is paid to compensate former members/veterans who are severely disabled, aged 65 years and above who do not qualify for Intermediate or Special Rate of Disability Compensation Payment.
Back to topAdditional amounts for specific disabilities
Additional amounts may be available to provide further compensation for veterans with certain service-related amputations and/or loss of sight, and who do not qualify for Special Rate.
Back to topAllowances
Allowances may be provided to compensate for certain special requirements or situations arising from specific service-related disabilities. These allowances include an attendant's allowance, clothing allowance, decoration allowance and recreation transport allowance.
Back to topWar widow(er) pension
This pension is paid to compensate the widowed partners of veterans who have died as a result of war service or eligible defence service. A widow or widower is a person who was married or in a de facto relationship with the veteran immediately before their death and who has not remarried or entered into another de facto relationship.
Back to topOrphan’s pension
This pension is paid to compensate the dependent children of veterans who have died as a result of war service or eligible defence service. Eligible children include natural or adopted children or children who were wholly or substantially dependent on the veteran.
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