Determinations for household services
From 1 July 2026, determinations to pay compensation for household services are made under section 214 of the MRCA using the criteria specified in section 215. Consistent with the consideration and determination process specified under section 333 of the MRCA, the determination must be made in writing, after all matters relevant to the claim have been considered.
If a client’s service-related conditions were originally accepted under the DRCA, and the claim for compensation for household services was lodged prior to 1 July 2026, the claim will be determined using sections 29 or 29A of the DRCA.
A determination to approve or deny compensation for household services must be made by a Delegate of the Repatriation Commission (RC). DVA staff can check if their APS level has the delegated authority for a specific decision via the Instruments of Delegation and Authorisation. In all cases, a formal determination must be sent to the client whenever a decision is made to approve or extend a household services approval; or reject the claim.
Consistent with s346 of the MRCA and s61(1) of the DRCA, original determinations must include, at a minimum, the terms of the determination and the reasons for the determination. The terms of an original determination include the amount of compensation for household services being approved and the length of the approval period.
The determination provides the legislative authority for services to be paid. Without a current determination in place, invoices for services cannot be legally paid.
A determination to approve or deny compensation for household services is a reviewable decision and clients must be provided with their appeal rights in the determination letter. Further information about appeal rights can be found on the DVA website.
Approved period for household services
Delegates should not make open-ended determinations for the provision of household services, and all determinations must have a start date and an end date. All new claims and renewals that are approved should be for a period of five (5) years. The exception to this is if the client is diagnosed with a degenerative condition with rapid progression; there are extenuating circumstances, such as a change in the client's informal care and support structures; or that the claim is a short-term request for support after surgery/hospitalisation.
Approved services
Periodic, but irregular services, such as pool cleaning, must also be included in the approval determination. For example, a client may be able to manage pool cleaning themselves using a creepy crawly however, at times the chemicals in the pool may become unbalanced and the pool becomes unsafe to swim in. In such a case, the pool cleaning approval must document the frequency of the service and the cost of each service. For example, “pool cleaning is approved up to 3 times per year, at a cost of $ per service”.
Approved hours and amounts for household services
Determinations about the amount of compensation for household services under section 216 of the MRCA or section 29 or 29A of the DRCA must be informed by evidence about the client’s reasonable requirement for compensation for household services due their the accepted service-related conditions or injuries.
Statutory limit
The amount of compensation payable for household services is capped by a legislated weekly statutory limit. This limit is indexed on 1 July each year, by reference to the Consumer Price Index. Details of the weekly household services statutory limits are available on the household services pages on the DVA website.
Catastrophic Injury determination
Where a determination has been made that the veteran’s service-related condition meets the legislative definition of a Catastrophic Injury or Disease, household services can be approved to meet the client’s assessed needs without reference to the legislated weekly statutory limit.
Note: The weekly statutory limits for household services and attendant care services are mutually exclusive.
Renewing household services
Delegates are expected to ensure that the determination letter approving household services clearly communicates the start and end date of the approval period.
Clients have the responsibility for managing their household services including returning claim forms on time and liaising with providers. This approach is to encourage self-management as much as possible. However, clients must be provided with every opportunity to renew their services prior to the end of the approval period and DVA will contact clients prior to the expiration of the approval period discuss their need for household services beyond the expiration.
If a client is not provided with information about renewing their services prior to the end of the approval period and the delegate is aware that they are likely to continue to require household services, an interim determination will need to be drafted. The determination provides the legislative authority for services to be paid and an interim determination will enable services to be provided for a specified period, until a longer term DVA assessed determination has been made.
Reviewing household services
In some circumstances, including at the client's request, it may be necessary to review a person's need for household services during the approval period. This may occur, for example, where a client requests an increase in services due to the worsening of their accepted condition, or their children who were undertaking certain household tasks move out of home.
Where clients have complex needs, delegates may consider whether the assessment could be done in conjunction with another area within DVA such as the Community Nursing program. This decision to undertake a joint assessment will be based on the individual circumstances of the client, and the range of services they are receiving through DVA.
Decision to cease or reduce household services
Delegates have the discretion to consider that household services continue to be reasonably required for a grace period after a change in a client’s circumstances. As a general principle, 28 days is considered a reasonable grace period, before the decision to reduce or cease the level of approved household services takes effect.
Period of grace of the death of a veteran
There is no legal authority to apply a period of grace and extend services after the death of a veteran. This is because the reasonable requirement for compensation for household services ceases with the veteran's death.