Note for CLIK Users
Under changes commencing on 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) are being closed to new claims.
From this date, veterans with service-related conditions accepted under the DRCA or VEA will be able to claim for Household Services compensation under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), irrespective of when or where they served, when their injury or illness occurred, or which Act their service-related conditions were previously accepted under.
MRCA veterans
There are no changes for veterans currently eligible for services under the MRCA.
DRCA veterans
Veterans receiving Household Services and/or Attendant Care under the DRCA on 1 July 2026 will continue to receive them (without disruption) for the remainder of the approval period. All requests for continuation of, or adjustments to, Household Services and/or Attendant Care made on or after 1 July 2026 will be considered and determined under the MRCA. It will also be possible for individuals to discuss transitioning to the MRCA prior to the conclusion of their current approval period by contacting DVA. While this will not increase supports already approved, it will enable access to the higher weekly statutory rate under the MRCA.
VEA veterans
From 1 July 2026, veterans with service-related conditions under the VEA who are having difficulties managing domestic or personal care tasks because of these conditions will be able to consider lodging a claim for compensation for Household Services or Attendant Care under the MRCA. Previously this compensation was not available for conditions accepted under the VEA.
Veterans Home Care (VHC)
The VHC Program is not impacted by legislative change and will continue to be available to all eligible Gold and White Veteran Card holders. Veterans who are already receiving VHC services, and are happy with them, can continue to access them after 1 July 2026.
However, if veterans choose to claim, and are approved for compensation for Household Services or Attendant Care under the MRCA on or after 1 July 2026, existing rules about interactions between VHC and compensation for Household Services and Attendant Care under the MRCA will apply.
The MRCA treatment principles prevent veterans accessing Domestic Assistance and/or Home and Garden Maintenance through VHC if they are receiving compensation for Household Services through the MRCA provisions. They also prevent veterans accessing Personal Care services from VHC if they are receiving compensation for Attendant Care services through the MRCA provisions.
These legislative rules do not apply to veterans determined to be eligible for compensation for Attendant Care or Household Services under DRCA. However, they cannot access duplicate services under both VHC and through the DRCA Attendant Care or Household Services provisions. Once these veterans are transitioned to MRCA, either at the end of their current approval period or by request, the MRCA legislative rules will apply. The veteran will then need to choose whether to access ongoing support through the compensation for Household Services or Attendant provisions or through VHC.
This approach does not apply to Respite Care services, which can only be accessed through the VHC program.
Veterans holding a Veteran Gold or White Card can request an assessment for, or continue to access, Respite Care services through VHC. This is because Respite Care services are only available through VHC.
Additional guidance regarding the 1 July changes will be provided across the relevant CLIK chapters and sub-chapters.
Also note that information videos covering the 1 July legislative reform changes are available via the following link Information Videos
The policy contained in this manual relates to Household Services and Attendant Care services under both the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA).
Household Services and Attendant Care services are enabled by the compensation provisions in sections 213 to 220 of MRCA and sections 29 and 29A of DRCA. Unless stated in the manual, the policy is equally applicable to both Acts. Where the policy differs, the manual outlines the policy separately under each Act.