The single Act from 1 July 2026

One Act for new claims

The Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 took full effect on 1 July 2026. From that date every new compensation and rehabilitation claim is decided under the MRCA, whenever you served. The last day to lodge a claim under the VEA or DRCA was 30 June 2026.

What it means for you

• Claims lodged before 1 July 2026 are still decided under the Act that applied when you lodged.
• Existing VEA and DRCA payments continue and keep being indexed. DRCA incapacity payments moved to the MRCA automatically.
• Conditions already accepted under any Act are treated as accepted under the MRCA. You don't have to prove them again.
• New conditions can be claimed under the MRCA while older claims are still open.
• Every newly accepted claim gets a needs assessment.
• For new claims the VEA Extreme Disablement Adjustment is replaced by the Additional Disablement Amount.

If you've already been compensated under the VEA or DRCA

Any old claim for the same condition has to be finalised before a new MRCA permanent impairment claim can be decided. Your existing compensation sets a baseline impairment rating (GARP M 2026, Chapter 26), and new MRCA compensation is worked out on the increase above that baseline. Your overall rating has to be at least 5 points above the baseline, or the permanent impairment claim is rejected.

New ways to have a condition accepted

• More than 150 conditions are accepted on diagnosis if you meet the service test. See the list.
• Medical events on duty, such as a heart attack or stroke, no longer need a causal link.
• Tobacco use that started before 1 January 1998 can count.
• Treatment injuries can be accepted.

Common questions

Sources

• DVA: a simpler compensation system begins
• VETS Act 2025 (legislation.gov.au)
• DVA: legislation reform FAQs
• GARP M 2026, F2026L00595 (legislation.gov.au)