From 1 July 2026, the MRCAETS includes the double orphan rate of education allowance. This mirrors the rate that was available to certain children under the former VCES.
To be eligible for the rate, a person must be a VEA eligible child undertaking study at the secondary or tertiary who meets the definition of ‘double orphan’ outlined in the instrument.
A ‘double orphan’ includes:
- a VEA eligible child who does not have a parent, or
- a VEA eligible child whose veteran parent is deceased, and they are not being maintained by the surviving parent.
Situations where the living parent cannot provide care for the child
The double orphan rate may be payable where the veteran parent is deceased and the other parent is alive but unable to maintain the child, for example due to incapacity or absence.
The definition of double orphan mirrors the VEA eligibility criteria for the ‘double orphan pension’, however the double orphan rate of education allowance may be granted independently of any pension determination where the delegate considers the person meets the eligibility criteria under the MRCAETS.
As the double orphan rate may only be granted to a VEA eligible child, a student who is eligible for MRCAETS as an eligible young person cannot receive the double orphan rate.