Average DVA payout for depression in 2026
There's no published average for depression. What you're paid depends on your impairment rating, your lifestyle rating, your service type and your age. This page shows how depression is rated and what typical ratings pay.
Rates and rules checked October 2026
Where depression sits on the impairment scale
Depression is rated on the same 0 to 72 psychiatric scale as PTSD and anxiety. The shading spans the worked examples below.
What depression pays at 2026 rates
These examples run typical ratings through DVA's compensation tables. Operations service (warlike or non-warlike) pays more than peacetime service at the same rating, up to 80 points where they meet.
| Example | Points | Operations service | Peacetime service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild: symptoms most days, still working Distress 6 + 3, functional 2 + 2 + 1 | 14 | $65.32/wk $79,821 lump sum | $36.69/wk $44,835 lump sum |
| Moderate: affecting work and relationships Distress 10 + 6, functional 3 + 3 + 3 | 25 | $119.01/wk $145,430 lump sum | $66.66/wk $81,459 lump sum |
| Severe: unable to work, withdrawn Distress 15 + 15, functional 8 + 6 + 6 | 50 | $238.01/wk $290,848 lump sum | $132.87/wk $162,367 lump sum |
Estimate your own
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Estimate under the MRCA at 1 July 2026 rates. Takes about a minute.
Drag the marker to your combined impairment points.
An estimate only, not what DVA will decide. Based on GARP M 2026 and DVA's published maximum of $447.39 a week.
Get a free claim checkHow DVA rates depression
DVA rates PTSD and other psychiatric conditions under Chapter 4 of the Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation (GARP M 2026). The rating is built from three parts that are added together, not combined:
- Subjective distress (Table 4.1): how much distress you report, scored 0, 2, 3, 6, 10, 15, 20 or 24.
- Manifest distress (Table 4.2): how much distress the assessor observes, on the same 0 to 24 scale.
- Functional effects (Tables 4.3 to 4.8): six areas of life (overall functioning, work, home, social life, leisure and current treatment), each scored 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or 8. Only your three highest count.
The highest possible psychiatric rating is 72 points. If a condition DVA hasn't accepted also contributes to your symptoms, part of the rating can be apportioned away under Chapter 19.
Is depression accepted on diagnosis?
Depression isn't on the main presumptive list, so for most veterans it's decided against the Statement of Principles for depressive disorder. The exceptions:
- If DVA has already accepted an alcohol use disorder, depressive disorder is accepted as a secondary condition. The reverse also applies: once depression is accepted, a later alcohol or substance use disorder is presumed.
- Separate rules presume depression for veterans who received a Defence abuse redress or reparation payment (onset during that service or within 6 months), Point Cook firefighters (1957 to 1986) and F-111 deseal/reseal workers with SHOAMP Tier status.
All new claims are decided under the MRCA from 1 July 2026. If you lodged before then, your claim is decided under the Act that applied when you lodged. What changed.
Common questions
Is depression automatically accepted by DVA?
Can depression be claimed as a secondary condition?
Can I get treatment while I wait?
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