Pensions and allowances to rise from 20 March

Veterans’ pensions were increased from 20 March 2023 following the latest round of indexation adjustments.

As pension rates are calculated on a daily basis, the pension paid on payday 23 March 2023 was paid partly at the old rate and partly at the new rate. The first full payment at the new rates of pension was payday 6 April 2023.

The maximum rate of single service pension rose by $37.50 to $1,064.00 per fortnight and the maximum rate for couples increased by $28.20 to $802.00 per fortnight (each). 

The Special Rate of Disability Compensation Payment (T&PI payment) increased by $59.04 to $1,676.20 per fortnight. The Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) rate increased by $31.90 to $904.60 per fortnight and the 100 per cent General Rate of Disability Compensation Payment increased by $20.50 to $581.90 per fortnight. 

The pension paid to war widow(er)s increased by $38.20 to $1,082.50 per fortnight (including the energy supplement), while the ceiling rate of the income support supplement rose to $321.10 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 $19.10 to $541.25. This is paid fortnightly ($1,082.50).

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 2023, the indexation was driven by CPI.

For more information on the new pension rates, call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372). Current and historical pension rates are available on the CLIK website (clik.dva.gov.au).

New pension rates from 20 March 2023

 

SERVICE PENSION

Old rate (fortnightly)

New rate

(fortnightly)

Increase

(fortnightly)

Single person

 $1,026.50

 $1,064.00

 $37.50

Couples (each)

 $773.80

 $802.00

 $28.20

Single person – transitional

 $856.40

 $887.60

 $31.20

Couples (each) – transitional

 $690.90

 $716.10

 $25.20

WAR WIDOWS

 

 

 

War widow(er)’s pension

 $1,044.30

 $1,082.50

 $38.20

Income support supplement

 $309.60

 $321.10

 $11.50

DISABILITY PENSION

 

 

 

T&PI (Special rate)

 $1,617.16

 $1,676.20

 $59.04

Intermediate rate

 $1,072.10

 $1,111.30

 $39.20

EDA

 $872.70

 $904.60

 $31.90

100 per cent

 $561.40

 $581.90

 $20.50

10 per cent

 $63.07

 $65.12

 $2.05

VETERAN PAYMENT

 

 

 

Single Person

$1,112.30

$1,153.50

$41.20

Couples (each)

$867.20

$899.30

$32.10

MRCA*

 

 

 

Wholly dependent partner payment

$1,044.30

$1,082.50

$38.20

Special Rate Disability pension (SRDP)

$1,617.16

$1,676.20

$59.04

These are the maximum rates of payment and include any Energy Supplement payable.

The first full payment at the new rates was payday 6 April 2023.

*Note that the MRCA payments in the bottom two rows are the fortnightly amounts, not the weekly amounts.