Families & Carers
You Don't Have to Be the Veteran
to Make the Call.
Family members and carers play a vital role in the veteran advocacy process. You can contact Advocates Online on behalf of a veteran — and in many cases, families have DVA entitlements of their own that are just as important as the veteran's. This page is for you.
Contact us on behalf of a veteran — freeYou can make the first call
Acting on behalf of a veteran
One of the most common situations Advocates Online deals with is a family member calling on behalf of a veteran who is reluctant, overwhelmed or struggling to engage. You do not need the veteran's permission to make an initial enquiry. You do not need to have all the details. You just need to make the call.
We understand that the veteran in your life may not be ready to ask for help — or may not recognise that they need it. We also understand that watching someone you love carry injuries, conditions or entitlements they have never claimed is its own burden. You are not overstepping by reaching out. You are showing up for them.
You can contact us on behalf of a veteran
Family members, partners and carers are welcome to contact Advocates Online directly. We can have an initial conversation, explain the process, and help you work out the best way to support the veteran in your life — whether they are ready to engage now or not. The first consultation is always free.
If the veteran is reluctant
You can gather information on their behalf without committing them to anything. Understanding the process yourself first — what's involved, what the likely outcome is, what it costs — often helps veterans feel more comfortable taking the next step.
If the veteran is unable to engage
In cases where a veteran is unable to manage their own affairs due to physical or psychological incapacity, a family member or legal representative can act as an authorised representative. An advocate can walk you through what this involves.
If the veteran has passed away
Families of deceased veterans may still have entitlements — war widow and widower pensions, bereavement payments, dependant entitlements, and access to DVA health cards. These do not expire when the veteran passes.
If you are the carer
Carers providing ongoing support to veterans with accepted DVA conditions may be entitled to carer support through DVA's Veterans' Home Care programme. An advocate can identify what applies to your situation.
What families are entitled to
DVA entitlements for veteran families
The DVA system provides entitlements not just to veterans but to their families — particularly in cases where the veteran's service-related conditions or death affects the family's health, finances or daily life. These entitlements are separate from the veteran's own DVA entitlements and are claimed in the family member's own right.
| Entitlement | Who it applies to | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| War widow/widower pension | Partner of a deceased veteran with eligible service or accepted conditions | A fortnightly pension and in many cases access to a Gold Card for all health conditions |
| Bereavement payment | Surviving partner or dependant of a deceased veteran receiving DVA payments | A lump sum payment to help manage the immediate financial impact of a veteran's death |
| Eligible Young Persons (EFP) payment | Children of veterans with accepted DVA conditions | Financial support for dependent children of veterans receiving certain DVA payments |
| Veterans' Home Care | Carers of veterans assessed as needing home care support | Domestic assistance, personal care, respite and other home-based services funded by DVA |
| DVA health card — dependants | Dependants of Gold Card holders in certain circumstances | Access to DVA-funded health services in specific eligibility categories |
| Counselling — Open Arms | Partners, children and parents of veterans | Free counselling and mental health support for immediate family members of veterans — no DVA claim required |
Many family entitlements go unclaimed
DVA family entitlements are significantly under-claimed — partly because families are focused on the veteran's needs and do not realise they have entitlements of their own. An Advocates Online assessment covers the full family entitlement picture, not just the veteran's individual claims.
War widows and dependants
War widow and widower entitlements
The death of a veteran does not extinguish the family's entitlements. In many cases it creates new ones. The war widow and widower pension is one of the most significant — and most under-engaged — veteran family entitlements in the DVA system.
Who qualifies for the war widow pension
- The partner of a veteran whose death was war-caused or defence-caused
- The partner of a veteran who was receiving certain DVA payments at the time of death
- The partner of a veteran whose death was related to an accepted DVA condition
- In some circumstances, the partner of a veteran who meets certain service eligibility thresholds
The war widow pension includes access to a Gold Card
In many cases, the war widow or widower pension comes with access to a DVA Gold Card — covering all health conditions, not just service-related ones. This is one of the most significant health entitlements in the Australian system and many eligible war widows and widowers do not know they qualify. An advocate can assess your eligibility at no cost.
Dependant entitlements after a veteran's death
Beyond the war widow pension, the families of deceased veterans may be entitled to bereavement payments, Eligible Young Persons payments for dependent children, and continued access to DVA services. These entitlements are time-sensitive in some cases — speak to an advocate as soon as possible after a veteran's death.
If you are providing care
Support for carers of veterans
Caring for a veteran with significant physical or psychological conditions is demanding work. The DVA system provides several forms of support for carers — but these supports are frequently not used because carers either do not know they exist or do not feel they should ask.
Veterans' Home Care
DVA's Veterans' Home Care programme provides funded assistance to veterans who need help at home. Services include domestic assistance, personal care, safety-related home and garden maintenance, and respite care. Access requires a DVA assessment — an advocate can initiate this on your behalf.
Respite care
Carer respite — time away from caring duties — is available through DVA in several forms, including community respite and centre-based respite. If you are a carer who has not had a break, speak to an advocate about what is available.
Community Nursing
DVA-funded community nursing is available to veterans with accepted conditions who require nursing care at home. This reduces the burden on family carers and ensures the veteran receives clinical care.
Carers are allowed to ask for help
Many carers of veterans feel they should manage alone — that asking for support is weakness or an imposition. It is neither. The DVA system exists partly to support families carrying the load of service-related conditions. An advocate can identify what support is available and help you access it. The first conversation costs you nothing.
Mental health support for families
Mental health support — for the whole family
Living alongside a veteran with PTSD, psychological injury or significant physical conditions takes a toll on families. The impact of service does not stay at the door — it comes home. DVA's mental health support extends beyond the veteran to the people who love them.
Open Arms — Veterans and Families Counselling
Open Arms provides free counselling and mental health support to veterans and their immediate families — partners, children and parents. You do not need the veteran to have an accepted DVA condition to access Open Arms. You do not need to be in crisis to call. The service is available 24 hours, 7 days.
If you or someone in your family needs support right now
Call Open Arms on 1800 011 046 — available 24 hours, 7 days. For immediate crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You do not need to be the veteran to call either number.
When the veteran won't seek help
One of the most common situations families face is a veteran who is clearly struggling but will not ask for support. Open Arms provides guidance specifically for families in this situation — how to have the conversation, how to support someone who is resistant, and how to look after yourself when the person you love is not coping. openarms.gov.au →
Common questions
Families and carers — frequently asked questions
Yes. Family members, partners and carers are welcome to contact us on behalf of a veteran. You do not need to be the veteran to make the first call. Many families reach out before the veteran is ready to — and that is completely fine. The first consultation is always free. Contact us →
War widows and widowers may be entitled to the DVA war widow pension, a Gold Card for all health conditions, bereavement payments, and other dependant entitlements. In many cases the war widow pension includes access to a Gold Card covering all health conditions — not just service-related ones. An advocate can assess the full entitlement picture for your specific situation at no cost.
Start with a free consultation with Advocates Online. We will assess the veteran's service history, identify which conditions are claimable, and explain the process from the beginning. You can attend together or contact us first on their behalf. There is no paperwork required to start the conversation. Book a free consultation →
Yes. Open Arms — Veterans and Families Counselling provides free counselling and mental health support to veterans and their immediate families. You do not need an accepted DVA condition to access Open Arms. Call 1800 011 046 — available 24 hours, 7 days. Partners, children and parents of veterans are all eligible.
The DVA Gold Card covers all health conditions — not just service-related ones. It is the most comprehensive DVA health entitlement. War widows and widowers who receive the war widow pension may be entitled to a Gold Card in their own right. Dependants of Gold Card holders may also have access in specific circumstances. An advocate can assess your eligibility. Book a free assessment →
You can contact Advocates Online and we will talk you through it. We have worked with many families in exactly this situation. You can gather information, understand the process and the likely outcomes, and find the right moment to have the conversation — without putting pressure on the veteran before they are ready.
For mental health support for yourself while navigating this situation, Open Arms (1800 011 046) provides guidance specifically for families of veterans who are struggling. You are allowed to ask for help for yourself.
You don't have to navigate this alone either.
Whether you are a partner, a parent, a carer or a war widow — Advocates Online is here for you. The first consultation is always free. You do not need to have everything worked out before you call.