Date amended:
External
Policy

Proper claim

A person who wants to make a claim for a pension or to establish qualifying service must lodge a proper claim for that pension or qualifying service determination.

Initial claim or incorrect claim

If a person makes a claim for a service pension, income support supplement, disability compensation payment or dependant’s pension that is not a proper claim it can be regarded as an Initial (or informal) claim.

The following are examples of situations where a claim for may be considered to be an Initial Claim:

  • written application for pension on other than an approved form,
  • written advice of their intention to apply for pension,
  • telephone advice of their intention to apply for service pension or ISS.
How is a claim lodged

A claim is considered to be lodged with the Department if it is lodged:

  • at an office of the Department in Australia,
  • electronically via:
    • MyService,
    • the Department's Online Claim Lodgement system, or
    • to nominated facsimile machines
  • to an email address approved for this purpose by the Comission, or
  • at a place approved for this purpose by the Commission, or
  • with a person approved for this purpose by the Commission.

A claim is considered to be lodged on the day it is received at one of the above places.

Electronic lodgement of claims

Claims and applications forwarded to the Department through the DVA website, facsimile and email address approved by Commission may be acceptable as being valid claims.

The claims and applications lodged electronically are outlined in the

This Instrument covers the approved method, and addresses, for electronic lodgement.

Incomplete or unsigned claim forms

Where an original form is lodged and is incomplete or unsigned, the original claim form should be returned to the claimant via certified/registered mail. This should be accompanied by a request that missing information or signatures be provided, and the form returned to the Department. Full copies should be retained by the Department in case the form is misplaced or lost and to allow comparison once the completed original is received.

Staff should not alter lodged and signed original claim forms in any way.