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1.1 Veterans
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This chapter contains details of what constitutes a Veteran as defined in the VEA, and the groups of people who meet that definition. Veteran status is the first of the criteria that must be met for a person to have an entitlement to Disability Compensation Payment or service pension under the VEA.
In addition to Veteran status, a person must also have rendered certain types of service to have an entitlement to Disability Compensation Payment or service pension. These service requirements are described further in Chapter 2 Service Types.
See Also
Veterans
History Library – Part 1 Military History
Chapter 3.1 Service Pension Eligibility
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
Disability compensation payment (known before 2022 as disability pension), for the purposes of service pension, income support supplement and veteran payment, means:
- a pension paid by way of compenstion for incapacity from war caused conditions, or peacetime, peacekeeping or hazardous service caused conditions (other than a war widow's or orphan's pension); or
- temporary incapacity allowance; or
- any other payment in respect of incapacity or death resulting from war or war-like operations in which the Crown has been engaged (usually paid by another Commonwealth country).
Please note that the Disability Compensation Payment is legally a pension by way of compensation under the VEA so that concessional benefits under state, territory and local government legislation to pensioners/pensions under the VEA are not denied.
A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.