Australian Service Pension for Allied Veterans

Australia's Department of Veterans' Affairs pays the Service Pension, a regular income support payment, to veterans with qualifying service, and its rules count an "allied veteran": a member of the defence force of an allied country. A U.S. veteran can qualify. Qualifying service for an allied veteran. DVA's policy library sets four conditions together: service during a period of hostilities, as a member of the defence force of an allied country, in connection with a war or warlike operations in which Australia's defence forces were engaged, and having incurred danger from hostile forces of the enemy. DVA's qualifying service page limits it to service before January 12, 1973 in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, or warlike operations Australia was involved in from July 31, 1962 to January 11, 1973, which includes Vietnam. Someone who ever served in the forces of a country at war with Australia, or in hostile operations against it, is excluded. Later U.S. service, including Iraq and Afghanistan, does not give an allied veteran qualifying service. Residence. Australian residents need only be in Australia on the day they claim, but a Commonwealth or allied veteran must also have been an Australian resident for a continuous period of at least ten years at some time. The ten years are waived if the veteran became permanently incapacitated for work while an Australian resident, did not bring that about to get a pension, and has no enforceable claim against anyone for adequate compensation for it, or if the veteran is a refugee or former refugee under the Act. Age or incapacity. The veteran must be at least 60, or permanently incapacitated for work at any age. DVA treats someone as permanently incapacitated who is permanently blind in both eyes or, if not, has a permanent impairment of at least 40 points under its own guide that prevents working more than eight hours a week. The incapacity does not have to come from service. The age pension is taxable; the invalidity pension is not taxable until Social Security Age Pension age. How much. It is income- and assets-tested. From September 20, 2026 to December 31, 2026 the maximum is A$1,135.40 a fortnight plus a A$102.30 pension supplement, A$1,237.70 in all, for a single person, and A$933.00 each for a couple. A permanently blind veteran gets the maximum regardless of income and assets. Rates are reviewed every March and September. A partner may qualify for a partner service pension. The age-70 health card does not usually follow. DVA's Veteran Card - All Conditions is open to Commonwealth and allied veterans only if they both lived in Australia before enlisting and have qualifying service before January 12, 1973. A U.S. veteran who moved to Australia after service does not meet the first test. How to apply. Ask DVA to confirm qualifying service first, through MyService or the paper form "Claim to Determine Qualifying Service by a Commonwealth or Allied Veteran", then claim the pension on forms D0503 and D0648. DVA's phone line is 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).