DVA payouts for mental health conditions in 2026
PTSD, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder and alcohol or substance use disorders are all rated on the same psychiatric scale. Here's how that scale works and what it pays at 2026 rates.
Rates and rules checked October 2026
Where mental health sits on the impairment scale
All psychiatric conditions are rated together on one 0 to 72 scale. The shading spans the worked examples below.
What mental health 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| Severe: unable to work, withdrawn Distress 15 + 15, functional 8 + 6 + 6 | 50 | $238.01/wk $290,848 lump sum | $132.87/wk $162,367 lump sum |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
Run your own numbers
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 mental health
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 mental health accepted on diagnosis?
From 1 July 2026 several mental health conditions are accepted on diagnosis if you meet the service test:
- PTSD: more than 28 days of warlike service, not counting the first 28.
- Anxiety disorder: more than 28 days of warlike service, not counting the first 28, with onset during that service or within 5 years after it.
- Adjustment disorder: more than 28 days of warlike service, not counting the first 28, with onset during that service or within 3 months after it.
- Alcohol or substance use disorder: presumed as a secondary condition if depression (or the other substance disorder) is already accepted.
- Depression: presumed as a secondary condition if an alcohol use disorder is already accepted.
Separate parts of the rules presume a range of psychiatric conditions for veterans who received a Defence abuse redress or reparation payment, and some for Point Cook firefighters and F-111 deseal/reseal workers.
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
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