Making a claim for household services
MRCA subsection 214(1)(c) requires that for compensation for household services can only be considered where a claim for liability for a service-related injury or disease has been accepted by DVA. This is because the reasonable requirement for compensation for household services must be due to an accepted service-related condition.
The household services claim form D9319 is used to inform a compensation for household services determination.
Assessment for compensation for household services
Evidence about the reasonable requirement for compensation for household services may be supplemented through an in-home assessment conducted by an experienced Occupational Therapist (OT) or other suitably qualified health professional.
Exceptions to an in-home assessment may be considered where sufficient information is available from other sources to demonstrate a reasonable requirement for household services exists because of the person's accepted conditions. For more information about reviewing household services, refer to section 1.4 of this Manual.
The need for an assessment must first be determined by DVA. If DVA did not request the assessment, there is no mechanism to provide payment to a third party for undertaking the assessment.
The amount of compensation for household services that may be approved for an individual veteran is based on the assessment of their reasonable requirement for assistance with domestic tasks required for the regular running of their household, due to their accepted service-related conditions.
This amount is specified in the determination letter sent to the veteran.
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 maximum household services limits are available on the household services pages on the DVA website. There is no flexibility for delegates to approve household services in excess of this weekly statutory limit.
More information about determinations for compensation for household services can be found in section 1.4 of this manual.
Nursing care needs
Where nursing care is required as well as personal care and/or household services, the person may be able to receive Community Nursing services if there is an assessed clinical need for nursing at home. For more information, please visit the Community Nursing page on the DVA website.
Catastrophic Injury determination
Where a determination has been made that the veteran meets the Catastrophic Injury criteria, 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.
Domestic assistance from other sources
Household/domestic assistance services can be funded by a range of government and community organisations. This includes services through the DVA Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) Program, as well as the NDIS, My Aged Care, local government or other agencies.
An important principle is there is no duplication of services. Delegates therefore have the responsibility to consider any other domestic assistance services provided to a veteran when making their determination.
Paragraph 7.3A.3A (Dual Services) of the MRCA Treatment Principles direct that once a determination is made that the Commonwealth is liable to pay compensation for Household Services under MRCA section 214, a veteran is not entitled to Domestic Assistance or Home and Garden Maintenance from VHC.
These legislative rules do not apply to veterans determined to be eligible for compensation for Household Services under DRCA. However, they cannot access duplicate services under both VHC and the compensation for Household Services provisions. Once these veterans are transitioned to MRCA at the end of their current approval period or by request, the MRCA legislative rules will apply and VHC services will be ceased.