Eligibility for Disability Compensation Bereavement Payment (formerly known as Disability Pension Bereavement Payment)
A person is eligible for disability compensation bereavement payment if, immediately before the death of the veteran, they were a member of a couple, and the veteran:
- has died, and
- was receiving a disability compensation payment.
Single veteran, and the veteran:
- has died,
- was receiving a disability compensation payment at the:
- Special Rate; or
- Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) rate.
and:
- died in indigent circumstances.
When notified of a veteran's death, the eligibility for Disability Compensation Bereavement Payment needs to be determined and calculated. The table below illustrates the situations where a form needs to be completed.
If the veteran was... | Then the disability compensation bereavement payment |
a member of a couple | Is automatic and will be paid in a lump sum payment on the next available payday. There is no form to complete. |
a single member | Requires an application from the estate of the deceased veteran on the 'Claim for Bereavement Payment for Single Veterans' form. |
Death of partner before disability compensation bereavement payment made
Section 98A(3) VEA - Notification of partners death at same time or before deceased veterans death
Section 98A(4) VEA - Bereavement payment made to estate where advice of veteran's death received after advice of widow's death
The table below describes what happens if the late veteran's partner dies before any bereavement payment is made. If the veteran and the partner die at the same time, (for example in a motor vehicle accident) the elder person is deemed under law to have died first.
If the partner of a deceased disability compensation payment recipient dies | Then the disability compensation payment |
Before the veteran | Is only payable if the veteran was in receipt of special rate or EDA and died in indigent circumstances
|
After the veteran's death, but before the Commission has been notified of the veteran's death | Is paid to the estate of the widow/widower |
After the veteran's death, but before the Commission has been notified | Is paid to the estate of the veteran |
Death of claimant before disability compensation payment claim determined
If a veteran lodges a claim for a disability compensation payment and dies before it is determined, any disability compensation bereavement payment may have to be recalculated once the claim is determined.