The Service Pension is an (income and assets tested) income support pension, similar to the Age or Disability Support Pensions paid by Centrelink.

Who is eligible?

The Service Pension may be paid to:

An eligible veteran includes:

Working out just what service qualifies a person for the Service Pension can sometimes be a complex matter. If in doubt, contact the Department of Veterans' Affairs on 1800 838 372.

More information can be found on the Department of Veterans' Affairs website, including a Service Pension Overview.

Can a person receive both the Service Pension and the Age Pension?

A person cannot receive both the Service Pension and the Age Pension (or any other social security benefit aside from Family Tax Benefit).

What is the rate of payment for the Service Pension?

The rates of payment for the Service Pension are the same as for the Age Pension.

The Service Pension can be paid at a single rate or couples rate, depending on the circumstances.

The amount a person receives on the Service Pension will depend upon their income and assets. The Service Pension is calculated using 2 separate tests: the income test and the asset test. Whether a person is single or a member of a couple will also be relevant for calculating the Pension rate.

For more information on the rates of payment and the income and assets tests, see the Department's Summary of pension rates, limits and allowances.

Eligible Partners and Eligible Former Partners

A partner (whether married or de facto) of a veteran who is receiving or is eligible to receive a service pension may be entitled to the partner service pension.

Specific eligibility criteria applies. For more information, see the Department of Veterans' Affairs webpage Service Pension for partners.

A person may also be eligible to receive a partner service pension where they are legally married to, but separated from, a veteran who is receiving or is eligible to receive a service pension. This type of partner service pension is payable up to a maximum period of 12 months (from the date of separation), and other qualifying criteria apply.

How to claim the Service Pension

The Department for Veterans' Affairs recommends that applicants wishing to claim the Service Pension contact the Department via telephone to notify them initially of their intention to claim. This may allow an approved claim to be backdated to the date that the intention to claim was made. Applicants must fill in a claim form which can be obtained by calling the Department of Veterans' Affairs on 1800 838 372 or visiting the Department of Veterans' Affairs website. The claim form states what documents are needed (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, evidence of income etc).

To be granted a Service Pension, a person must live in their usual and settled place in Australia.

For more information, call the Department of Veterans' Affairs on 1800 838 372 or visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs website.

Can a decision about the Service Pension be reviewed?

A person dissatisfied with certain decisions relating to the Service Pension can request that the decision be reviewed. Such a review is conducted by a Department Review Officer in the first instance. A request for a review should be made in writing within 3 months of receipt of the letter advising of the reviewable decision.

For a list of what decisions are reviewable, see the Department of Veterans' Affairs webpage Request a review for income support decisions.

The Department Review Officer will either affirm or set aside the decision under review. An avenue of appeal lies to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) where a person is dissatisfied with the decision of the Review Officer. Legal advice should be sought before commencing any appeal in the ART, as costs may apply and there may be strict time frames in which to lodge an appeal.

Other Service Pension Allowances

A person receiving the Service Pension may also be entitled to: