When news spread that the DRCA and VEA were "closing" on 1 July 2026, many veterans asked whether their payments would stop. They do not. A law closing to new claims stops DVA accepting new initial liability applications under that law. It does not touch entitlements already granted.
This article covers who the 1 July change actually affects, and what a new DVA claim looks like from 1 July onward.
What you need to know: 1 July 2026
Existing payments
Continue under the legislation they were granted under. No action is required as a result of this specific change.
New claims from 1 July
All assessed under the MRCA. One entry point instead of three.
DRCA or VEA claims lodged before 30 June
Assessed under the evidential standards that applied when lodged, even if DVA processes them after 1 July
What "closing to new claims" actually means
From 1 July 2026, DVA will not accept new initial liability applications under the DRCA or the VEA. If you want to claim for a condition you've never had accepted by DVA, that claim now goes under the MRCA.
That is the change. It applies to the entry point for new claims, not to existing entitlements.
If you are already receiving a VEA pension, it continues.
If you are receiving DRCA incapacity or permanent impairment payments, they continue.
If you have a Gold Card, White Card, or DVA-issued health card, it remains valid.
If you lodged a DRCA or VEA claim before 30 June, it is assessed under the rules that applied when you lodged.
Who the change actually affects
The 1 July transition primarily affects veterans in one situation:
| Situation | Affected? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving existing DVA payments | No | Payments continue. No action required. |
| DRCA or VEA claim lodged before 30 June | No | Assessed under the standards that applied when lodged; wait for DVA decision |
| Service after 1 July 2004 | No | Already under MRCA. No change. |
| Pre-2004 service, unclaimed condition, nothing lodged before 30 June | Yes | New claim now goes under MRCA, not DRCA or VEA; different evidential pathway |
| Families of veterans lodging death benefit claims | Yes. Eligibility conditions apply. | New entitlements may be accessible where eligibility conditions are met. See our death benefits guide. |
What does change from 1 July
Three things are genuinely different for new claims and for families from 1 July 2026.
One claims entry point: the MRCA
Veterans lodging a new claim from 1 July do so under the MRCA. DVA assesses the condition against the relevant Statement of Principles (SoP). Same DVA office, same claims portal. The legislative framework is now MRCA rather than DRCA or VEA. Getting the right supporting evidence and medical nexus documentation matters at least as much as it did before.
New entitlements that did not exist before
The unification introduced entitlements that DRCA and VEA families could not previously access. These are new, not replacements for what was already there:
- →Posthumous permanent impairment payments: where a veteran's initial liability was accepted and a PI claim had been lodged but not yet determined before death, the estate may be eligible to claim outstanding compensation
- →Gold Card access for eligible dependent children of all veterans, previously unavailable under the DRCA or VEA. Eligibility requires either a service-related death determination or the veteran having reached a relevant impairment threshold. A distinct claims process applies.
- →MRCAETS education scheme may now be accessible for eligible dependants of all veterans for the first time. Eligibility conditions apply and a separate claims process is required.
New claims from 1 July are assessed under MRCA, including PI
If you lodged an initial liability claim under DRCA or VEA before 30 June, both initial liability and permanent impairment compensation for that condition remain under DRCA or VEA. Under those acts, initial liability and PI are not separated into different legislative pathways. The protection from lodging before 30 June covers the complete claim. What changes from 1 July is the entry point for new initial liability claims. Any condition you have never had accepted by DVA must now be lodged under MRCA, with PI also assessed under MRCA. The same applies if an already-accepted condition has worsened: a new claim for that worsening lodged from 1 July is assessed under MRCA.
If you have conditions you've never claimed
If you have pre-2004 service and conditions related to that service that you have never claimed, the pathway has changed. Your claims now go under MRCA.
This is not a reason not to claim. It is a reason to understand what MRCA requires before you lodge. The SoP framework means the evidence you gather and how your medical history is documented affects your outcome significantly.
What we recommend
Before lodging a new claim under MRCA, speak to a veteran advocate who understands the SoP structure for your condition type. The right framing and evidence from the start avoids the cost of an unsuccessful claim and a subsequent appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Related guides
The DRCA deadline: what closed on 30 June 2026
What the closure meant for veterans with pre-2004 service and unclaimed conditions.
What the DRCA deadline actually covers, and what it doesn't
Initial liability, permanent impairment, and the three simultaneous payment streams for ADF members medically discharging.
DVA death benefits 2026: what surviving families may be able to claim
Funeral reimbursement, weekly pension, service-caused death lump sum, and new entitlements for DRCA and VEA families.
DVA & CSC advocacy: Lavender Bear
How we work with veterans to build the strongest possible claims file before lodging, and represent them if DVA refuses.
This article is general information only. It is not legal or financial advice. Lavender Bear is an independent platform and is not affiliated with DVA or any government agency. Consult a veteran advocate or DVA-accredited representative for advice on your specific situation.