Rates for the Disability Compensation Payment and War Widow(er)’s Pension
This page provides a brief description and the current rates under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) of Disability Compensation Payment and war widow(er)’s pension and allowances that you may be eligible for from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
The rates quoted are fortnightly amounts unless otherwise indicated. The rates on this page are effective from 20 September 2024 to 31 December 2024.
For information about current rates of compensation benefits that may be payable under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), see Compensation payment rates for MRCA.
For information about current rates of compensation benefits that may be payable under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Defence Act 1903, see Compensation payment rates for DRCA and the Defence Act.
On this page
- Payable date
- Disability Compensation Payment rates
- Additional Disability Compensation Payment for specific disabilities
- War widow(er)’s pension
- Orphan’s pension
- Recreation transport allowance
- Vehicle Assistance Scheme
- Loss of earnings allowance
- Attendant allowance
- Clothing allowance
- Decoration allowance
- Victoria Cross allowance
- Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES)
- Veterans supplement
- Energy Supplement
- Funeral benefits
Payable date
A Disability Compensation Payment and war widow(er)’s pension is generally payable from three months before the date on which the claim for that pension was received at a DVA office.
Back to topDisability Compensation Payment rates
Disability Compensation Payments are paid at various rates: the special rate (and temporary special rate), intermediate rate, extreme disablement adjustment and the general rate.
| Rate | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Special rate and temporary special rate | $1,805.30 | |
| Intermediate rate | $1,196.80 | |
| Extreme disablement adjustment (EDA) | $974.20 | |
| General rate | 100% | $626.70 |
| 90% | $564.80 | |
| 80% | $502.90 | |
| 70% | $441.00 | |
| 60% | $379.10 | |
| 50% | $317.20 | |
| 40% | $255.30 | |
| 30% | $193.40 | |
| 20% | $131.50 | |
| 10% | $69.60 | |
*Note: These rates include Energy Supplement.
For further information, see:
Back to topAdditional Disability Compensation Payment for specific disabilities
Additional Disability Compensation Payment is paid to veterans who receive Disability Compensation Payment at less than the special rate and have one of the following disabilities accepted as service related. Note that the total of Disability Compensation Payment and the additional pension cannot exceed the amount of the special rate pension.
| No. | Disability | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two arms amputated | $837.80 |
| 2 | Two legs and one arm amputated | $837.80 |
| 3 | Two legs amputated above the knee | $837.80 |
| 4 | Two legs amputated and blinded in one eye | $837.80 |
| 5 | One arm and one leg amputated and blinded in one eye | $837.80 |
| 6 | One arm and one leg amputated | $837.80 |
| 7 | One leg amputated above, and one leg amputated below the knee | $279.30 |
| 8 | Two legs amputated below the knee | $188.80 |
| 9 | One arm amputated and blinded in one eye | $161.60 |
| 10 | One leg amputated and blinded in one eye | $161.60 |
| 11 | One leg amputated above the knee | $80.90 |
| 12 | One leg amputated below the knee | $41.90 |
| 13 | One arm amputated above the elbow | $80.90 |
| 14 | One arm amputated below the elbow | $41.90 |
| 15 | Blinded in one eye | $62.50 |
For further information, see Additional Disability Compensation Payment for specific disabilities.
Back to topWar widow(er)’s pension
War widow(er)’s pension may be paid to a widow or widower of an eligible veteran.
War widow(er)’s pension - $1,165.30
*Note: This rate includes Energy Supplement.
For further information, see Pension for orphans and war widowed partners.
Back to topOrphan’s pension
The dependent child of a deceased eligible veteran may be entitled to receive an orphan’s pension.
Single orphan - $123.30
Double orphan - $246.30
For further information, see Pension for orphans and war widowed partners.
Back to topRecreation transport allowance
Recreation transport allowance may be paid to an eligible veteran to assist with the costs of transport for recreation purposes. The amount of the allowance payable depends on the extent of the impact of the veteran’s war-caused or defence-caused incapacity on their mobility.
High rate - $111.90
Low rate - $55.50
For further information, see Recreation transport allowance.
Back to topVehicle Assistance Scheme
The Vehicle Assistance Scheme may assist an eligible veteran to purchase and modify a motor vehicle. The assistance may be provided where a veteran has certain service or war caused amputations, complete paraplegia or a condition similar in effect or severity to certain amputations. A running and maintenance allowance is also payable to assist with the costs of vehicle registration, insurance and other incidental costs.
Maintenance and running costs - $2,909.40 (per year)
For further information, see Vehicle Assistance Scheme.
Back to topLoss of earnings allowance
Loss of earnings (LOE) allowance may be paid when:
- a veteran loses salary, wages or earnings because the veteran is being treated for a war-caused or defence-caused injury or disease
- a veteran has to attend appointments in relation to a claim for Disability Compensation Payment
- another person loses salary, wages or earnings because they are helping a veteran to pursue a claim for Disability Compensation Payment.
As a general rule, the amount of LOE allowance paid is the lesser of:
- the difference between the Special Rate and the veteran’s present Disability Compensation Payment, or
- the amount of salary, wages or earnings actually lost (including loadings or other allowances that would have been payable).
LOE payments can be affected if you have received permanent impairment compensation under the DRCA.
For further information, see Loss of earnings allowance.
Back to topAttendant allowance
Attendant allowance may be paid to a veteran who has certain war-caused or defence-caused injuries or diseases causing loss of function (such as blindness in both eyes, loss of speech and loss of limbs) and requires the assistance of an attendant to perform basic functions. The allowance is payable at two levels, according to the type of injury or disease.
High rate - $418.60
Low rate - $209.10
For further information, see Attendant allowance.
Back to topClothing allowance
Clothing allowance may be paid to a veteran who has a war-caused or defence-caused injury or disease which causes exceptional wear and tear or damage to clothing. Damage to clothing may be due to factors such as staining from medications or abrasions from aids and appliances. The rate of clothing allowance depends on the extent of the veteran’s injury or disease.
High rate - $17.50
Mid rate - $11.80
Low rate - $8.00
For further information, see Clothing allowance.
Back to topDecoration allowance
Decoration allowance is paid automatically to Disability Compensation Payment recipients who were awarded certain decorations for gallantry.
Decoration allowance - $2.10
For further information, see Decoration allowance.
Back to topVictoria Cross allowance
Victoria Cross allowance is paid to those veterans who have been awarded this decoration.
Victoria Cross allowance - $5,578.00 (per year)
For further information, see Victoria Cross allowance.
Back to topVeterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES)
The VCES provides financial assistance and student support services to the dependent children of veterans who have died as a result of war-caused injury or disease, or of veterans who have a war-caused injury or disease which has left them severely incapacitated.
| Primary Students (per year) | $326.40 |
| Age | At Home | Living away from home | Homeless |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | $67.50 | $558.50 | $646.00 |
| 16 - 17 | $399.20 | $646.00 | $646.00 |
| 18 & over | $459.80 | $646.00 | $646.00 |
| Age | Amount |
|---|---|
| Under 16 | $403.70 |
| 16 - 20 | $646.00 |
| 21 & over | $763.20 |
*Note: These rates include Energy Supplement
For further information, see Education Schemes.
Back to topVeterans supplement
Veterans supplement may be paid to you if you are not eligible for pension supplement and you:
- receive a Disability Compensation Payment from DVA, or
- are under qualifying age and receive war widow(er)’s pension (but not income support supplement (ISS)), or
- receive an orphan’s pension from DVA, or
- have a Veteran Gold Card, Veteran White Card or Veteran Orange Card.
High Rate - $13.60
Low Rate - $6.80
For more information, see Veterans Supplement.
Back to topEnergy Supplement
An Energy Supplement is an ongoing fortnightly payment paid with compensation and income support payments. The rate varies according to the payment type. For more information, see Energy Supplement.
Back to topFuneral benefits
A funeral benefit is a one-off payment towards funeral expenses of certain veterans including recipients of special rate Disability Compensation Payment or EDA, former prisoners of war, recipients of additional Disability Compensation Payment for specific disabilities, those whose death is accepted as being war or service caused and those who died in needy circumstances. Where eligibility for a funeral benefit arises due to a posthumous grant or increase to the rate of Disability Compensation Payment, the amount payable as a funeral benefit is the rate applicable at the date of death.
Funeral benefit - up to $2,000
For more information, see Veteran injured before 1 July 2004.
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