Benefit

VEA

SRCA

MRCA

Compensation for permanent impairment

Disability pension for life, tax-free, with the rate depending on the degree of incapacity.

Up to $218,949.61 tax-free lump sum for permanent impairment and non-economic loss.

Maximum SRCA PI amount + $68,063.38 for severely injured employees under the Defence Act 1903 with a whole person impairment rating of 80% or more, due to paraplegia, quadriplegia, total blindness or any other injury having a similar effect.

Dependent child benefit $71,753.26 under the Defence Act 1903.

Up to $292.08 pw tax-free for life. The rate depends on the degree of impairment.

This may be converted to an age-based lump sum. In the case of a 30-year-old male, the weekly amount would convert to a lump sum of up to $387,327.29. This final amount would reduce in the case of an older person.

In the case of someone who receives the maximum permanent impairment payment, there is also a lump sum payment of $75,191.88 to any dependent children less than 16 years or from 16–24 years inclusive in full-time education.

Rates

Special

Intermediate

EDA

General (10% to 100%)

$pw

546.45

370.80

301.65

19.42 to 194.15

Incapacity for service or work

Loss of Earnings Allowance (LOE) is paid where treatment for an accepted disability, or attending a medical appointment in relation to a disability, results in an actual loss of earnings that has not been compensated from another source.

LOE tops up the disability pension to the Special Rate of pension, or pays the amount of salary, wages or earnings actually lost, whichever is the lesser amount.

Temporary Incapacity Allowance (TIA) is paid where hospital or institutional treatment has resulted in an incapacity for work for a period of at least 28 days.

TIA tops up the disability pension to the Special Rate of pension.

Note: Both LOE and TIA payments are offset by the fortnightly equivalent of any lump sum received under the SRCA regardless of whether that lump sum was for a VEA accepted disability or not.

Weekly, taxable, incapacity payments for loss of earnings at 100% of normal weekly earnings, less a 5% notional superannuation contribution, reducing to 75% after 45 weeks in receipt of compensation. Payments cease at age 65.

Weekly, taxable, incapacity payments for loss of earnings paid at 100% of normal earnings reducing to 75% after 45 weeks after discharge, which cease at age 65.

In the case of more seriously injured, the person may choose to receive a tax-free SRDP of $546.45 pw payable for life instead of incapacity payments.

Attendant allowance

Paid in cases of 'service' accepted multiple amputations, blindness, disease affecting the cerebrospinal system or a condition accepted as being similar in effect or severity.

$72.20 pw (low)

$144.60 pw (high)

Reimbursement of up to $398.08 pw for the cost of attendant care reasonably required as a result of the accepted conditions.

Reimbursement of up to $413.56 pw for the cost of attendant care reasonably required as a result of the accepted conditions.

Household services

Low-level domestic support services according to assessed need (Gold Card) or assessed need related to accepted disability (White Card).

Up to 15 hours pa of garden maintenance (safety-related only) and home maintenance.

Reimbursement of up to $398.08 pw for the cost of household services reasonably required as a result of the accepted conditions.

Reimbursement of up to $413.56 pw for the cost of household services reasonably required as a result of the accepted conditions.

Vehicle purchase, modification and maintenance

Vehicle Assistance Scheme including up to $39,810 for a new vehicle (only available to certain amputees, complete paraplegics, or someone who has a condition accepted as being similar in effect and severity to certain amputees).

Modifications necessary for accepted disabilities.

Maintenance allowance towards running costs $2,007.20 pa.

Reasonable cost of any modifications to the vehicle, which are reasonably required as a result of accepted injury.

Assistance to purchase a new or second-hand vehicle may be provided for someone whose vehicle cannot be modified or who does not own a vehicle, and will derive real benefit from the vehicle.

Motor Vehicle Compensation Scheme (MVCS) provides compensation in relation to an accepted condition to:

• modify a motor vehicle;
• maintain and/or repair modifications to a motor vehicle;
• subsidise the purchase of a new or second-hand vehicle; or
• pay other kinds of compensation relating to motor vehicles specified under the MVCS, such as increased insurance due to modifications.

Benefit

VEA

SRCA

MRCA

Repatriation Health Card — For Specific Conditions (White Card)

Yes

No — Reimbursement for medical expenses reasonably required as a result of accepted injury.

Ongoing medical expenses arising from the accepted medical condition will be met through either:

• reimbursement of expenses; or
• provision of a White Card.

Repatriation Health Card — For All Conditions (Gold Card)

Gold Card if receiving a disability pension at or above 100% of the General Rate of Pension, or 50% disability pension or has 30 impairment points under the MRCA and any amount of service pension, or 70 years old with qualifying service, or an ex-POW.

Gold Card for widowed spouse, only where the members' death has been accepted as service caused.

Gold Card for dependent child, only where the members' death has been accepted as service caused and the child is less than 25 years and still in full-time education.

No — Reimbursement for ongoing medical expenses reasonably required as a result of accepted injury.

Gold Card — if 60 or more impairment points, or if eligible to choose to receive the SRDP.

Gold Card — to widowed spouse where:

• death is service caused;
• member was eligible to choose to receive the SRDP at time of death;
• member suffered a permanent impairment of 80 or more impairment points at the time of death.

Gold Card to dependent child of deceased member, under 16 or between 16 and 25 in full time education where:

• death is service caused;
• member was eligible to choose to receive the SRDP at time of death;
• The member suffered a permanent impairment of 80 or more impairment points at the time of death.

VEA or MRCA supplement

Yes, for holder of a treatment card.

Low rate: $6.00 per fortnight

High rate: $12.00 per fortnight

No allowance, but the cost of all reasonable pharmaceuticals is reimbursed for accepted conditions.

Yes, for holder of a treatment card.

Low rate: $6.00 per fortnight

High rate: $12.00 per fortnight

Cost of attendance for medical treatment

Reimbursement of travel allowance at specified rates.

Reimbursement of travel at specified rates for travel in excess of 50 km return.

Reimbursement of travel at specified rates for travel in excess of 50 km return.

Rehabilitation

Veterans' Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme — limited in scope and assistance.

All rehabilitation required or deemed appropriate to return the person to their best possible functioning in their home and their work life.

All rehabilitation required or deemed appropriate to return the person to at least the same physical and psychological state and at least the same social, vocational and educational status as he or she had before the injury or disease.

Home modifications

Limited availability under some DVA programs.

Alterations to the home that are reasonably required due to the person's injury.

Provided through rehabilitation, alterations to the home that are reasonably required due to the person's injury.

Aids and appliances

Appropriate aids and appliances according to assessed clinical need (Gold Card) or accepted disability (White Card).

All reasonable cost of aids and appliances reasonably required as a result of the person's injury.

All reasonable cost of aids and appliances reasonably required as a result of the person's injury.

Workplace modifications

Under Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Service.

All reasonable costs for necessary alterations requested as a result of the client's accepted condition.

Provided through rehabilitation program. All reasonable costs for necessary alterations.

Compensation for loss of, or damage to, property used by employee where employee is NOT injured

No

Reimbursement of the cost of replacing property used by the employee that was lost or damaged as a result of an accident arising out of, and in the course of, employment, but in which the employee was not injured. For example, the cost of replacing glasses broken in a scuffle during the apprehension of a person where the employee was not injured.

Reimbursement of the cost of replacing medical aid used by the member that was lost or damaged as a result of an accident occurring while rendering defence service, but for which the member has not lodged a claim for injury. For example, the cost of replacing glasses broken in a scuffle during the apprehension of a person where the member was either not injured, or was injured and did not lodge a claim for liability.

Benefit or dependant

VEA

SRCA

MRCA

Widow(er)'s benefits

$362.55 pw tax-free war widow(er)'s pension payable fortnightly for life in respect of death due to service.

Up to $108.30 pw additional income support supplement (means tested).

Gold Card for life.

Up to $442,177.76 tax-free lump sum (shared with child dependants, if any, but minimum of 75% to spouse).

Additional payment under the Defence Act 1903 of $48,817.06.

Dependent child benefit $71,753.26 under the Defence Act 1903.

$362.55 pw tax-free for a wholly dependent partner of a deceased member. The partner may elect to convert the payment to an age-based lump sum.

An additional age-based lump sum is provided where the death is service caused. A widow or widower would be eligible for a maximum additional death benefit of $125,319.80.

Dependent children benefits

Fortnightly orphan's pension (if war/service caused death of parent). Conditions apply if child is older than 16 years (e.g. not eligible if receiving education benefits).

$42.85 pw if service parent deceased.

$85.65 pw if both parents deceased.

Gold card while in full-time education.

Up to $442,177.76 tax-free lump sum shared with all dependants including widow(er), held in trust until child reaches 18 years of age.

$118.06 pw (while younger than 16 years or from 16–24 years inclusive if in full-time education).

$75,191.88 tax-free lump sum payment for each dependent child younger than 16 years, or from 16– 24 years inclusive if in full-time education.

$82.71 pw (while younger than 16 years, or from 16–24 years inclusive, if in full-time education).

Children's education benefits

Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES) benefits (non-means tested) for eligible children of certain severely disabled members or members whose deaths have been accepted as service caused.

VCES has various rates of education allowances:

• primary education rate of $234.10 per year.
• secondary/tertiary rates range from $24.05 pw for a student aged younger than 16 years and living at home, to a maximum $194.35 pw for those aged 16–25 years, who are forced to live away from home for educational purposes (based on Centrelink Youth Allowance rates for those 16 years and over).

No — would have to apply for Youth Allowance through Centrelink. Youth Allowance rates and VCES rates are identical for students aged 16 years and over.

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) for dependent children of severely injured members or deceased members where:

• the member's death is accepted as service caused;
• the member is eligible to choose to receive the SRDP at time of death; or
• the member suffers a permanent impairment of 80 or more impairment points.

MRCAETS has various rates of education allowances:

• primary education rate of $234.10 per year.
• secondary/tertiary rates range from $24.10 pw for a student 16 years or younger and living at home, to a maximum $194.35 pw for those aged 16–25 years, who are forced to live away from home for educational purposes (based on Centrelink Youth Allowance rates for those aged 16 years and over).

Funeral benefit

Yes, for service-caused death.

Reimbursement up to $2,000. Also, automatic grants of funeral benefit of $2,000 to the estates of certain deceased veterans.

Yes, where death is due to service, or to a service-related medical condition.

$10,138.75.

Yes, where death is due to service or to a service-related medical condition.

$10,138.75.

Bereavement payment (disability pension)

Deceased person's disability pension continues for 6 fortnights if there is a surviving spouse.

From 1 July 2008, a deceased single veteran's estate may be eligible to receive a bereavement payment if the veteran was in receipt of Special Rate of pension or Extreme Disablement Adjustment and dies in indigent circumstances.

No.

The following payments continue for 6 fortnights if there is a surviving spouse or dependent child:

• weekly permanent impairment payments;
• incapacity payments;
• SRDP.

Financial advice

No.

$1,435.14 payable under the Defence Act 1903.

$1,503.83 for member offered the choice between SRDP and weekly incapacity payments and permanent impairment payment.

$1,503.83 for a member who has permanent impairment of 50 or more impairment points.

$1,503.83 for wholly dependent partner when offered choice between weekly payment or conversion of that payment to a lump sum.