11.2.1 Overview of Disability Compensation Payment Instalments and Effective Dates

Instalments and dates of effect for pensions and allowances

Disability compensation payment is paid fortnightly in arrears. An instalment is payable in respect of the number of days in each fourteen day pension period for which the person is eligible to receive payment. In contrast, some Veterans' Compensation allowances are paid with respect to a relevant period, or as a lump sum. New claims for disability compensation payment and war widows/widowers pension generally take effect three months before receipt of the claim at a DVA office. Increases in disability compensation payment already in payment take effect from the day the application for increase is received at a DVA office.    

Payment on death of disability compensation payment recipient 

There is no entitlement to payment of disability compensation payment (including War Widow/er's Pension) for the pension period in which the disability compensation payment recipient dies. The disability compensation payment recipient must be alive for the whole pension period to be eligible for payment on the following pension payday, that is, the pension payday which follows 2 days later. This is because that is the payday to which the pension period relates. Where the death occurs between the end of the pension period and the corresponding pension payday, there is entitlement to payment on that payday as the death has occurred in the following pension period.

Dates of effect of determinations resulting from reviews

Determinations in respect to grants, variations, suspensions or cancellations of pensions or allowances can be made at the Commission (section 31), VRB, and ART levels of review. Dates of effect for these determinations depend on the circumstances of the case and the nature of the review.