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  • Get support
    The support you may be able to get depends on your circumstances.
    Currently serving
    While serving, the NZDF will take care of your health and wellbeing issues. If you have qualifying service, we may be able to provide you with home help. Register now with Veterans’ Affairs, and when you need some support, we’ll be ready to help you.
    Ex-serving
    We can provide you with health, rehabilitation and financial support if you have a condition related to your service. We can also provide home help assistance and financial support for you to commemorate your service.
    Family and whānau
    How we can support you, your family and whānau.
    Non-military personnel
    Non-military personnel can have Qualifying Operational Service in certain circumstances.
    A-Z list of services and entitlements
    View all of the services and entitlements available to qualifying veterans and their family and whānau.
  • Remembrance
    We're proud to honour the service of the veteran community.
    Services Cemeteries and plaques and headstones
    We help look after Services Cemeteries. We're also able to contribute towards plaques and headstones.
    Commemorative funding
    There are two types of financial contributions available from the Commemorative Fund.
    Medals and service records
    The NZ Defence Force's Personnel Archives and Medals team ​administer medals and hold most New Zealand military service records.
    ​When someone dies
    We may be able to provide support when someone who had Qualifying Service dies.
    Your family's military history
    Learning more about your family's military history is a great way to honour their service.
    Certificate of Appreciation and Veterans' Pins
    The Certificate of Appreciation and Veteran's Pin recognise operational service.
    NZ Post Stamps
    This series of stamps explores the stories of 6 veterans deployed after 1995. You can purchase the stamps on the NZ Post website.
  • Eligibility
    To be eligible to receive support from us, you — or certain family members — need to have Qualifying Service.
    Check your eligibility
    Check the support, services, or entitlements you may be able to get from us.
    Qualifying Service
    To get support from us you — or certain family members — need to have Qualifying Service.
    Living outside NZ
    You can still get support from us even if you live outside NZ.
    Eligibility criteria for family and dependants
    You may be able to get support if you're the spouse, partner, child or dependant of someone with Qualifying Service.
    Veterans of foreign militaries
    Veterans' Affairs New Zealand was established to support New Zealand veterans.
  • For clients
    We put veterans and our clients at the heart of everything we do.
    If you have a question at any stage, please contact us — we're here to help.
    How we'll work with you
    We'll work with you to help you get the best support available.
    Your treatment card
    Your treatment card helps you get no-cost treatment and medication for your approved conditions.
    Your rights and responsibilities
    ​We want to make sure you have the best possible experience when you deal with us.
    Payments
    Information on payment rates and dates.
    How we make decisions
    We use a number of tools and processes to make decisions. This helps ensure each decision we make is fair and treats our clients consistently.​
    Living outside NZ
    You can still get support from us even if you live outside NZ.
    Other benefits
    You may be able to access a range of discounts and benefits. Not only that, your family may get access too.
    Information about claims
    Information on processing times, how to make a claim, and what happens next.
  • For providers
    Information for providers of services to Veterans' Affairs and our clients.
    Treatment cards and letters
    To help you identify our clients, we issue treatment cards and letters.
    Invoicing us
    How to invoice us to ensure we pay you quickly and correctly.
    Treating our clients
    Information for healthcare professionals providing treatment to our clients.
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    Guidance for councils and local authorities relating to services cemeteries and memorials
    Forms
    Forms for our clients, family and whānau, and our providers.
    Audiologists
    Schedules of fees, invoicing and application instructions, and information for treating hearing needs.
    How military service affects the health of veterans
    Veterans can experience physical and mental health conditions disproportionately compared to the general public. Different NZDF 'operations' may be linked to higher rates of specific conditions. Understanding a veteran's service can help you to understand their health.

Veteran's Pension

Veteran's Pension is a payment every two weeks similar to NZ Superannuation but with some additional benefits.

Veteran's Pension is administered and paid by the Ministry of Social Development, not Veterans' Affairs

Who can get this

You may get Veteran's Pension if you or your partner:

  • have Qualifying Operational Service
  • are an NZ resident and normally live here, and
  • are aged 65 years or over.

Qualifying Operational Service explained(external link)

What you can get

The amount you receive depends on:

  • whether you are single, married or in a relationship
  • your living situation if you're single
  • whether your partner is included in your Veteran’s Pension payments or not
  • any overseas benefit or pension you may get
  • any payments you get from accident insurance or ACC.

Standard rates

Situation Amount per week ($NZD)
Single person living alone $627.14
Single person sharing accommodation $576.80
Relationship rate $476.47
Relationship (partner not receiving superannuation or pension) $903.42
Relationship (partner not receiving superannuation or pension) legacy rate $952.94

Non-taxable lump sum payments

Situation Rate (lump sum)
Lump sum payment on death of veteran $7,580.60
Lump sum payment on death of spouse or partner of veteran $5,780.43

View the maximum current rates for NZ Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension on the Work and Income website(external link)

Information on NZ Superannuation, Veteran's Pension and overseas pensions on Govt.nz(external link)

Tax and the Veteran's Pension

You pay tax on the Veteran's Pension. The amount you're taxed depends on whether you get any other income.

Income you pay tax on(external link)

Extra benefits you can get

You get extra benefits if you have a Veteran's Pension rather than NZ Superannuation.

  • You automatically get a Community Services Card — this will be combined with your Veteran SuperGold Card.
  • Your pension isn't reduced if you need long-term hospital care.
  • After your death, your partner or children may be able to get a lump sum payment.
  • You may be able to get lump sum payment on the death of your partner.

Community Services Card on Govt.nz(external link)

How to apply

You can apply for a Veteran's Pension eight weeks before you turn 65.

Contact the Veteran's Pension Centre to talk about your circumstances and they’ll explain how to apply.

Contact the Veteran's Pension Centre, part of the Ministry of Social Development(external link)

The date you apply is important

You get paid from the date you applied. If you apply after you turn 65 you won't be back-paid.

You have 20 working days after you first apply to give the Veteran's Pension Centre any other documents needed to complete your application. Otherwise, you may need to apply again. Contact them if you need more time.

Related pages

Last Modified: 25 March 2025
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