4.3 Orphan's Pension Eligibility

What is the purpose of orphan's pension?

To compensate the eligible dependent children of a deceased:

• veteran, or
• member of the Forces.

Eligibility Criteria in respect of the parent

To qualify a child of a veteran for orphan's pension, the child's parent must have been an eligible person who:

• had death determined as [glossary:war-caused:] or defence-caused; or
• died as a result of an injury or disease which is accepted as war-caused or defence-caused; or
• had been receiving:
  • a Special Rate pension,    
  • an Extreme Disablement Adjustment, or

 More →

•  

  More →

   

  Disability compensation payment - Special Rate

  Section 4.1.6

  More → (go back)

  • a disability compensation payment at the Temporary Special Rate; or 
  • a disability compensation payment at the Intermediate Rate; or
  • a disability compensation payment, at an increased rate due to being an amputee or blinded; or
  • was a former Australian prisoner of war; or
  • was a veteran who has rendered operational service, whose death was not war-caused, and the child is not being maintained by a parent, adoptive parent or step-parent.     

Eligibility criteria in respect of the child

The child must have been wholly or substantially dependent on the eligible person, immediately prior to the person's death. If the child is between 16 and 25 years old he or she must be:

• receiving full-time education,
• not receiving benefits under the Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES), Youth Allowance or other education assistance from the Australian Government, and     
  More →

   

  VCES

  Chapter 6.1

   

  Youth Allowance

  PAL

   

  More → (go back)
• not receiving a disability support pension from Centrelink or another Australian Government pension or allowance.

Other benefits associated with orphan's pension

Children of veterans whose death has been accepted as war-caused may be entitled to Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES) benefits.     

See Also