Please Note

Legislative changes which commenced on 1 July 2026 have impacted the information contained in this section.

From this date, 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. 

Claims received prior to 1 July 2026 will continue to be considered under the legislation which the claim was submitted.

From 1 July 2026, amendments to section 7 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 (CTPA) prescribe that the MRCA applies to any new claims for injuries, diseases, deaths, losses and damage after that date, irrespective of an individual’s service. This reflects broader changes to give effect to a ‘single-Act’ compensation model under the MRCA that was introduced by the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (VETS Act).

Further information regarding clinical onset is contained in Chapter 3.4.4 of the MRCA Policy handbook.

For claims made before 1 July 2026, the MRCA applies in relation to a claim or clinical onset if two criteria are met:

• the condition occurred on or after 1 July 2004; and

• the condition relates to defence service rendered by the person on or after 1 July 2004.

For claims made before 1 July 2026, both criteria must be met before the MRCA can apply to a claim for clinical onset.  The MRCA does not apply to a claim for clinical onset if the condition occurred before 1 July 2004 or if it occurred after 1 July 2004 and the condition only relates to defence service rendered before 1 July 2004.

Please Note

Legislative changes which commenced on 1 July 2026 have impacted the information contained in this section.

From this date, 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. 

Claims received prior to 1 July 2026 will continue to be considered under the legislation which the claim was submitted.

From 1 July 2026, amendments to section 7 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 (CTPA) prescribe that the MRCA applies to any new claims for injuries, diseases, deaths, losses and damage after that date, irrespective of an individual’s service. This reflects broader changes to give effect to a ‘single-Act’ compensation model under the MRCA that was introduced by the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (VETS Act).

Further information regarding clinical onset is contained in Chapter 3.4.4 of the MRCA Policy handbook.

For claims made before 1 July 2026, the MRCA applies in relation to a claim or clinical onset if two criteria are met:

• the condition occurred on or after 1 July 2004; and

• the condition relates to defence service rendered by the person on or after 1 July 2004.

For claims made before 1 July 2026, both criteria must be met before the MRCA can apply to a claim for clinical onset.  The MRCA does not apply to a claim for clinical onset if the condition occurred before 1 July 2004 or if it occurred after 1 July 2004 and the condition only relates to defence service rendered before 1 July 2004.

Please Note

Legislative changes which commenced on 1 July 2026 have impacted the information contained in this section.

From this date, 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. 

Claims received prior to 1 July 2026 will continue to be considered under the legislation which the claim was submitted.

From 1 July 2026, amendments to section 7 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 (CTPA) prescribe that the MRCA applies to any new claims for injuries, diseases, deaths, losses and damage after that date, irrespective of an individual’s service. This reflects broader changes to give effect to a ‘single-Act’ compensation model under the MRCA that was introduced by the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (VETS Act).

Further information regarding clinical onset is contained in Chapter 3.4.4 of the MRCA Policy handbook.

For claims made before 1 July 2026, the MRCA applies in relation to a claim or clinical onset if two criteria are met:

• the condition occurred on or after 1 July 2004; and

• the condition relates to defence service rendered by the person on or after 1 July 2004.

For claims made before 1 July 2026, both criteria must be met before the MRCA can apply to a claim for clinical onset.  The MRCA does not apply to a claim for clinical onset if the condition occurred before 1 July 2004 or if it occurred after 1 July 2004 and the condition only relates to defence service rendered before 1 July 2004.