9.7 Additional Disablement Amount

Note for CLIK Users

Under changes commencing on 1 July 2026, the Additional Disablement Amount (ADA) is being introduced under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) as a new compensation payment for veterans who are age‑pension age and who have a high level of impairment arising from service‑caused injuries or illness. The ADA will function as a ‘safety‑net’ payment, similar to the Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) available under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA).

Eligibility Requirements for ADA

To qualify for the ADA, a veteran must:

• have liability accepted for a service injury or disease.
• have reached age‑pension age.
• be assessed under GARP M as having at least 70 impairment points and a lifestyle rating of at least 6.
• not be in receipt of incapacity payments or the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA, or ‘above general rate’ disability compensation entitlements under the VEA (including EDA, intermediate, special, or temporary special).

Eligibility for ADA can be considered at any stage (including at the request of the veteran). There is no specific claim for ADA.

Where a veteran is determined as ADA eligible they will receive an ‘EDA’ embossed Veteran Gold Card, their dependant children will have access to the MRCA Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS), and the veteran’s dependants will be entitled to compensation following their death. 

Reviews of ADA decisions will follow the standard review pathway under the MRCA (via the Veterans’ Review Board followed by the Administrative Review Tribunal, if needed).

Payment Structure and Offsetting

The ADA is paid as a weekly (indexed) periodic amount, with the maximum rate set at one half of the EDA rate prescribed under subsection 22(4) of the VEA. The offsetting arrangements for ADA mirror the SRDP under the MRCA. These include:

• dollar‑for‑dollar offsets for periodic PI payments (or weekly equivalent of lump sum paid); and
• a reduction of 60 cents for every dollar of Commonwealth‑funded superannuation received.

Eligible recipients will also receive the energy supplement under section 220D of the MRCA.

Transitional Provisions

Where EDA eligibility is established prior to 1 July 2026, these entitlements will be preserved under grandfathering arrangements and will continue to be paid (and indexed) under the VEA. 

Note: Additional guidance on ADA eligibility, decision-making, offsets, dependants’ benefits, GARP M calculations and transitional arrangements will be available in the relevant CLIK chapters and subchapters.

Also note that information videos covering the 1 July legislative reform changes are available for the information of delegates on the following link Information Videos