Compensation may be payable to 'other dependants' who were either wholly or partly dependent on the deceased or former member for economic support immediately before the member's death. 'Other dependants' are those in a relationship with the deceased listed in subsection 15(2) of the MRCA (see chapter 7.5.1 in this handbook), other than partners and eligible young persons who were wholly or partly dependent.
In accordance with section 262 of the MRCA, the Commonwealth is liable to pay compensation for a person if:
- the person was a dependant of a deceased member immediately before the member’s death; and
- the dependant was neither:
- a wholly dependent partner of the member; nor
- an eligible young person who was a dependant of the member;
immediately before the member’s death; and
- section 12 applies in respect of the member; and
- a claim for compensation in respect of the person has been made under section 319.
From 1 July 2026, other dependants can include parents, grandparents, step- parents, step-child/ren, brothers, sisters and similar relations (parent or step-parent of member’s partner, child or stepchild of member’s partner, grandchild of veteran, brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister).
Compensation will be provided to these persons if:
liability for the deceased member's death has been accepted; or
the deceased member met the criteria for a SRDP or ADA payment at some time in his or her life; or
the deceased member's permanent impairment is assessed as being 80 impairment points or more before his or her death.