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What can DVA help you with?

A free, plain-English guide to DVA support for veterans and families: official rules, practical tips and where to get free help.

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Start your DVA journey

Not sure where to begin? Start with making a claim. Once DVA accepts a condition, different support and compensation pathways may become available, depending on your circumstances.

1Make a claimGet a condition accepted: Initial Liability, evidence, MyService and free advocates 2Condition acceptedThe needs assessment and what DVA looks at next 3Explore what you may be entitled toDifferent pathways, depending on your situation. They aren't steps to complete in order.
What could I be eligible for?Answer a few quick yes/no questions and see which guides are worth reading. Nothing is stored or sent. Disagree with a DVA decision?Reviews, time limits, the Veterans' Review Board and the ART. If you disagree with a DVA decision, review rights may be available. The pathway and time limit depend on the type of decision.
Not everything needs a DVA claimMany wellbeing, family, housing and money services don't need a claim, an accepted condition or a diagnosis. Find a service or a Veterans' and Families' Hub near you. Caring for a veteran?Respite, Carer Gateway, carer payments and other veteran carers to talk to. Support for you, not just the veteran.
Need help with a claim? Free trained advocates are available, and you never have to pay to lodge a claim. See free and paid options and what DVA allows advocates to charge.

Browse by what you need

Start with everyday needs rather than DVA terminology.

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Things you might not know DVA can help with

Lesser-known support that surprises many veterans.

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Lawn mower on a freshly cut lawn

Lawn & garden help

Mowing, gardening and household tasks. Since 1 July 2026, VEA-accepted conditions count too.

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Home study desk with laptop

Study & retraining

Education and equipment may form part of rehabilitation.

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Exercise bike, treadmill and ergonomic chair

Equipment & appliances

Aids and appliances through the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP).

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Aeroplane wing above clouds

Medical travel

Help with travel costs to get to treatment.

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Waiting on a claim? What does my claim status mean?Pick your claim type and the wording you see in MyService. See what it usually means, what comes next and DVA's average processing times.

Popular topics

Guides people look for most.

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How to make a claim Condition accepted: what now? Free help with your claim Kids & family support Caring for a veteran Support near you Gold Card: now what? Incapacity payments Permanent Impairment Pensions & TPI Household Services Reviews & appeals Medical travel Mental health support Life after Defence Find a practitioner

Learn from other veterans

Real experiences, approvals, refusals and tips from the veteran community, anonymised and shown next to the official rules.

Browse veteran experiences

How we verify information

OfficialBacked by DVA, CLIK or legislation, with a link to the source.
ExperienceWhat happened to one veteran. An example only.
GuidancePatterns seen across many experiences. Not DVA policy.

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