Dependents & Family Support

When a veteran's health or service affects the whole family, DVA recognises that families have entitlements too.

Surviving spouses and wholly dependent partners may be entitled to an ongoing partner service pension, bereavement payments, and access to the DVA Gold Card. These entitlements exist in their own right, they don't require the veteran to have made DVA claims before passing, and they don't expire after the veteran's death.

Eligibility for partner entitlements depends on the veteran's service type and history. Partners of veterans with qualifying operational, peacekeeping, or MRCA-covered service have access to a different set of entitlements than partners of veterans who served only in peacetime. We identify which entitlements apply to your specific circumstances and manage every application.

Dependent children of eligible veterans have access to the Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES), which provides financial assistance through secondary and tertiary education. This support is separate from and in addition to any payments the partner receives.

Clear Path Veterans helps families navigate this system at what is often one of the hardest times in their lives. We handle the paperwork, the liaison with DVA, and the evidence gathering — so families can focus on what matters.