Children & Education Schemes
The Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES) provides financial assistance for dependent children of eligible veterans through secondary and tertiary education. It covers tuition fees, boarding costs, and other approved education expenses.
Eligibility depends on the veteran's service history and the child's dependency status. The scheme covers children in secondary school and students undertaking certain approved tertiary and vocational courses.
VCES applications involve some administrative work, but the benefit to eligible families can be significant. We manage the application and any DVA correspondence so families don't have to deal with it directly.
Who is eligible
Dependent child of a veteran with qualifying service under VEA or MRCA
The veteran has died due to service-related causes, or is receiving TPI/SRDP or equivalent
The child is in secondary school or undertaking an approved tertiary or vocational course
Age limits apply and vary depending on the type of education
The child must be financially dependent on the veteran or their estate
How it works
Confirm Eligibility
We confirm whether the veteran's service history and the child's circumstances meet the VCES eligibility criteria.
Prepare Application
We prepare the VCES application with supporting documentation, including evidence of the veteran's qualifying service and the child's enrolment.
Receive Payments
We lodge the application with DVA and manage correspondence until payments commence. We advise on annual renewal and any changes to the child's circumstances that may affect eligibility.
How Clear Path helps
We confirm eligibility based on the veteran's service history and the child's circumstances
We prepare the VCES application with all required documentation
We manage DVA's correspondence and follow up on the application
We advise on annual renewal and what to do if circumstances change
Common questions
What does VCES cover?
VCES covers approved education expenses including tuition fees, boarding costs for students studying away from home, and incidentals such as uniforms, textbooks, and excursion fees. The specific items covered and the rates payable are reviewed periodically by DVA.
When does VCES stop?
VCES generally continues until the student completes their approved course or reaches the applicable age limit. The age limit depends on the type of education being undertaken. Students who take a break from study and return may need to reapply.
Does VCES affect Centrelink payments?
VCES and Centrelink student payments such as Youth Allowance serve different purposes and are assessed separately. In some cases receiving both is possible, but it depends on the individual's circumstances. We recommend checking with Centrelink directly about how VCES affects any existing student payment.
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