Join now
Log in
Home / In retirement / Age Pension / What is the DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) Service Pension?

What is the DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) Service Pension?

Barbara DruryBarbara Drury

A Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Service Pension is an age-based, means-tested pension like the Age Pension but paid to veterans, their partners, widows or widowers.

You may be eligible if you are a veteran of the Australian Defence Force (the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force) and you:

  • Have had active military service
  • Are over the age of 60 or are an invalid
  • Satisfy residency requirements
  • Pass both income and assets tests.

Despite their similarities, it’s important to understand that the Service Pension is different from the Age Pension. A Service Pension is paid by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and the Age Pension is paid by Services Australia (via Centrelink).

Can you receive a Service Pension and the Age Pension?

No, you can’t receive both payments.

Become a member to continue

Join SuperGuide and learn how much Age Pension you could be eligible for, how you can maximise your Age Pension entitlement, plus access detailed guides on applying for the Age Pension and other concessions.
  • Discover simple changes that make a big difference
  • Make sure your pension is performing and your savings last longer
  • Tips and strategies to boost your income in retirement
  • Make more informed decisions with guidance from independent experts

Find out more

About the author

Barbara Drury
Barbara Drury
Barbara is a financial journalist and author with over 30 years’ experience in Australia and the UK. She is a contributor to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Money section, and has worked for the Australian Financial Review and The Australian. Barbara is the author of Alan Kohler’s Eureka Report Guide to Personal Investing, Sorting Out Your Finances for Dummies and Personal Finance for Dummies and co-author of Investing for Dummies with James Kirby.
Related topics,

IMPORTANT: All information on SuperGuide is general in nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether any information on SuperGuide is appropriate to you before acting on it. If SuperGuide refers to a financial product you should obtain the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or seek personal financial advice before making any investment decisions. Comments provided by readers that may include information relating to tax, superannuation or other rules cannot be relied upon as advice. SuperGuide does not verify the information provided within comments from readers. Learn more

© Copyright SuperGuide 2008-25. Copyright for this guide belongs to SuperGuide Pty Ltd, and cannot be reproduced without express and specific consent. Learn more

Responses

  1. Ray Brown Avatar
    Ray Brown

    Hi, I’m a recent DVA service pensioner recipient with active service and I have recently (along with my wife as a partner) started to receive a “part” DVA Service pension. At the moment I believe they are paying us too much and I have expressed my concerns to them via phone and email with no reply yet. The anomaly arises because I have two defined benefit incomes. One is via MSBS (a military fund) and the other is via PSS (an APS federal fund). In DVA’s calculation of the “deductible” amount for income assessment, from the PSS fund, they are excluding the ENTIRE tax-free portion from that payment which is about 27% of the gross. On 1 July 2016 the Govt “capped” this deductible amount to 10% of the gross pension (for non-military defined benefit funds). What is your opinion of this? Are they wrong or right? I don’t want to be the subject of a “you owe us” claim like the Robodebt debacle! – Ray

    1. SuperGuide Avatar
      SuperGuide

      Hi Ray – This is a common question and we will be writing a guide on this next month. With regards to your situation, it sounds like there could be an error here, and unfortunately you will need to chase it up with DVA to ensure they get the correct assessment. Please also ask them to document any conversation you have with them.
      Best wishes
      The SuperGuide team

Leave a Reply