Pensions and allowances rise
Veterans' pensions were increased from 20 March 2022 following the latest round of indexation adjustments.
As pension rates are calculated on a daily basis, the pension paid on payday 24 March 2022 will be paid partly at the old rate and partly at the new rate. The first full payment at the new rates of pension were payday 7 April 2022.
The maximum rate of single service pension has risen by $20.10 to $987.60 per fortnight and the maximum rate for couples has increased by $15.10 to $744.40 per fortnight (each).
The Special Rate of Disability Compensation Payment (T&PI pension) has increased by $30.90 to $1,518.80 per fortnight. Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) has increased by $17.10 to $839.50 per fortnight and the 100 per cent General Rate of Disability Compensation Payment has increased by $11.00 to $540.10 per fortnight.
The pension paid to war widow(er)s has increased by $20.50 to $1,004.70 per fortnight (including the energy supplement), while the ceiling rate of the income support supplement has risen to $297.60 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 $10.25 to $502.35. This is paid fortnightly ($1004.70).
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 2022, the indexation was driven by CPI.
More information on the new pension rates is available from DVA on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372). Current and historical pension rates are available on the CLIK website.
| SERVICE PENSION | Old rate (fortnightly) | New rate (fortnightly) | Increase (fortnightly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person | $967.50 | $987.60 | $20.10 |
| Couples (each) | $729.30 | $744.40 | $15.10 |
| Single person – transitional | $807.30 | $824.00 | $16.70 |
| Couples (each) – transitional | $651.20 | $664.70 | $13.50 |
| WAR WIDOWS | |||
| War widow(er)'s pension | $984.20 | $1,004.70 | $20.50 |
| Income support supplement | $291.40 | $297.60 | $6.20 |
| DISABILITY PENSION | |||
| T&PI (Special rate) | $1,487.90 | $1,518.80 | $30.90 |
| Intermediate rate | $1,010.40 | $1,031.40 | $21.00 |
| EDA | $822.40 | $839.50 | $17.10 |
| 100 per cent | $529.10 | $540.10 | $11.00 |
| 10 per cent | $59.84 | $60.94 | $1.10 |
| VETERAN PAYMENT | |||
| Single Person | $1,047.40 | $1,069.50 | $22.10 |
| Couples (each) | $816.30 | $833.50 | $17.20 |
| MRCA* | |||
| Wholly dependent partner payment | $984.20 | $1004.70 | $20.50 |
| Special Rate Disability pension (SRDP) | $1,487.90 | $1,518.80 | $30.90 |
These are the maximum rates of payment and include any Energy Supplement payable.
The first full payment at the new rates were payday 7 April 2022.
* Note that the MRCA payments in the bottom two rows are the fortnightly amounts, not the weekly amounts.