Ch 13 Special Rate Disability Pension
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension
13.1 What is Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP)
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/131-what-special-rate-disability-pension-srdp
13.02 Investigating eligibility for Special Rate Disability Pension
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1302-investigating-eligibility-special-rate-disability-pension
Clarification of the meaning of section 199(1)(d)
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/node/86867
Investigating whether a person meets criteria (d)
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/node/86869
Example 1
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/node/86871
13.03 Choice to receive Special Rate Disability Pension
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1303-choice-receive-special-rate-disability-pension
13.04 Determination that the Commonwealth is liable to pay Special Rate Disability Pension
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1304-determination-commonwealth-liable-pay-special-rate-disability-pension
13.05 Ongoing Management of SRDP cases
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1305-ongoing-management-srdp-cases
13.06 Ceasing to meet the criteria for Special Rate Disability Pension
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1306-ceasing-meet-criteria-special-rate-disability-pension
13.07 Offsets
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1307-offsets
13.08 Other benefits of being eligible for Special Rate Disability Pension
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1308-other-benefits-being-eligible-special-rate-disability-pension
13.09 Invalidity Service Pension
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1309-invalidity-service-pension
13.10 Case studies
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1310-case-studies
13.11 Posthumous SRDP and compensation for dependents
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1311-posthumous-srdp-and-compensation-dependents
13.12 Ceasing payments when a person is imprisoned after conviction of an offence
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-13-special-rate-disability-pension/1312-ceasing-payments-when-person-imprisoned-after-conviction-offence
13.13 Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026
Please Note
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For the purposes of this chapter, the changes mean that people with coverage under the DRCA and/or the VEA may, for the first time, be eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA.
Refer to Chapter 13.13 - Eligibility changes for SRDP from 1 July 2026 for further information.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/node/86847