Pensions and allowances rise
Veterans’ pensions were increased from 20 March 2020 following the latest round of indexation adjustments.
As pension rates are calculated on a daily basis, the pension paid on payday 26 March 2020 will be paid partly at the old rate and partly at the new rate. The first full payment at the new rates of pension will be payday 9 April 2020.
The maximum rate of single service pension has risen by $10.90 to $944.30 per fortnight and the maximum rate for couples has increased by $8.30 to $711.80 per fortnight (each).
The Special Rate of disability pension (T&PI pension) has increased by $17.10 to $1451.80 per fortnight. Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) has increased by $9.50 to $802.30 per fortnight and the 100 per cent General Rate of disability pension has increased by $6.10 to $516.20 per fortnight.
The pension paid to war widow(er)s has increased by $11.30 to $960.40 per fortnight (including the energy supplement), while the ceiling rate of the income support supplement has risen to $284.20 per fortnight.
Payments have also increased for benefits under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). The weekly MRCA wholly dependent partner payment has increased by $5.65 to $480.20 paid fortnightly.
The indexation factor used to index pensions each March and September can be based on either the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) or Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). For 20 March 2020, the indexation was driven by CPI.
New pension rates from 20 March 2020
| Service Pension | Old rate (fortnightly) | New rate (fortnightly) | Increase (fortnightly) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Single person |
$933.40 |
$944.30 |
$10.90 |
|
Couples (each) |
$703.50 |
$711.80 |
$8.30 |
|
Single person — transitional |
$780.10 |
$789.30 |
$9.20 |
|
Couples (each) — transitional |
$629.40 |
$636.80 |
$7.40 |
| War Widows | Old rate (fortnightly) | New rate (fortnightly) | Increase (fortnightly) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
War widow(er)’s pension |
$949.10 |
$960.40 |
$11.30 |
|
Income support supplement |
$280.80 |
$284.20 |
$3.40 |
| Disability pension | Old rate (fortnightly) | New rate (fortnightly) | Increase (fortnightly) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
T&PI (Special rate) |
$1434.70 |
$1451.80 |
$17.10 |
|
Intermediate rate |
$974.20 |
$985.80 |
$11.60 |
|
EDA |
$792.80 |
$802.30 |
$9.50 |
|
100 per cent |
$510.10 |
$516.20 |
$6.10 |
|
10 per cent |
$57.94 |
$58.55 |
$0.61 |
| Veteran payment | Old rate (fortnightly) | New rate (fortnightly) | Increase (fortnightly) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Single person |
$1009.80 |
$1021.80 |
$12.00 |
|
Couples (each) |
$786.70 |
$796.30 |
$9.60 |
| MRCA | Old rate (weekly) | New rate (weekly) | Increase (weekly) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wholly dependent partner payment |
$474.55 |
$480.20 |
$5.65 |
|
Special Rate Disability pension (SRDP) |
$717.35 |
$725.90 |
$8.55 |
The first full payment at the new rates will be the payday 9 April 2020.
Please note that this is a Vetaffairs article and certain information may be out of date.
Call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) for more information on current pension rates. Current and historical pension rates are available on DVA's CLIK website.