5.9.2 DFISA Eligibility

Last amended: 28 October 2009

Purpose of DFISA

Defence Force Income Support Allowance DFISA is an income support allowance paid by DVA. It is paid to compensate a person whose social security income support payment is either reduced or not payable because of the inclusion of adjusted disability pension belonging to either the person or their partner in the assessment of the social security income support benefit.

For a detailed list of the social security payments that attract DFISA, follow this link.    

Purpose of DFISA-like payment

DVA also pays DFISA-like payments to compensate those who are qualified for income support payments other than those paid under social security law. For example payments administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and ABSTUDY administered by the Department of Education, Science and Training where these benefits (paid by Centrelink) are affected by adjusted disability pension.    

References to DFISA throughout this chapter include DFISA –like payments.

Who may receive DFISA

DFISA may be paid to social security income support recipients whose rate of social security income support benefit is impacted by the inclusion of adjusted disability pension in their assessment. Included will be those whose social security pension is reduced to the nil rate or above, whether paid by Centrelink or DVA. No application is needed for DFISA.    

Payment of DFISA is an automatic process but pensioners can elect not to receive DFISA.    

Adjusted disability pension includes

Adjusted disability pension is a term that describes pension paid by DVA to compensate veterans and members or former members of the Australian Defence Force for injuries or diseases caused or aggravated by war service or certain defence service on behalf of Australia. Pensions include:

• general rate, extreme disablement adjustment, intermediate rate and special rate pensions paid under Part II or IV of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
• increased rates of disability pension for amputation and blindness paid under section 27 VEA
• temporary incapacity allowance paid under section 107 VEA
• permanent impairment payments and special rate disability pension paid under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

Adjusted disability pension does not include:

Adjusted disability pension does not include:

• war widow's/widower's pension
• orphan's pension
• payments from other governments to compensate for war/service related injuries or death.

DVA pensioners not eligible for DFISA

The following DVA pensioners are not eligible for DFISA:

• service pensioners
• war widows/widowers
• income support supplement (ISS) recipients.

These pensioners are not eligible because they are either not paid an income tested pension under social security law or do not receive adjusted disability pension.

Other pensioners not eligible for DFISA

Other pensioners not eligible for DFISA include

• pensioners who do not receive adjusted disability pensions and their partners
• pensioners who receive adjusted disability pensions and their partners but:

• are not qualified for a social security income support payment
• are not eligible for social security income support payments due to income and assets even if adjusted disability pension was not held as income
• receive a social security income support pension at the maximum rate
• receive a social security income support payments assessed and paid under the assets test
• receive a social security pension paid under the financial hardship provisions
• elect not to receive the payment.

Election not to receive DFISA

A person who is eligible for DFISA may elect not to receive the DFISA payment. The election must be in writing and can be withdrawn at any time. For information about the policy relating to the election not to receive DFISA follow this link.    

The letters confirming election not to receive DFISA and withdrawal of election not to receive DFISA are contained in IS standard letters.