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    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.
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    Non-military personnel can have Qualifying Operational Service in certain circumstances.
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    We help look after Services Cemeteries. We're also able to contribute towards plaques and headstones.
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    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.
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    We may be able to provide support when someone who had Qualifying Service dies.
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    Learning more about your family's military history is a great way to honour their service.
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    The Certificate of Appreciation and Veteran's Pin recognise operational service.
  • Eligibility
    To be eligible to receive support from us, you — or certain family members — need to have Qualifying Service.
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    Check the support, services, or entitlements you may be able to get from us.
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    You can still get support from us even if you live outside NZ.
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    You may be able to get support if you're the spouse, partner, child or dependant of someone with Qualifying Service.
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    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.
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    Your treatment card helps you get no-cost treatment and medication for your approved conditions.
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    You may be able to access a range of discounts and benefits. Not only that, your family may get access too.
  • For providers
    Information for providers of services to Veterans' Affairs and our clients.
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    To help you identify our clients, we issue treatment cards and letters.
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    Guidance for councils and local authorities relating to services cemeteries and memorials
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Home / Get support / Ex-serving / If you can't work

If you can't work

If you can't work

If you are unable to work we may be able to help.

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If you served before 1 April 1974 or in Viet Nam

Qualifying Service explained

Weekly Income Compensation — You may be able to get Weekly Income Compensation if you can't work full-time because of a condition — this does not need to be because of service.

Vocational Rehabilitation — You may be able to get Vocational Rehabilitation if you can't work full-time because of a condition and you need to get new skills or retrain.

 
If you served after 31 March 1974 on Qualifying Operational Service

You may be able to get support for a condition that stops you from working full-time. The condition needs to be related to Qualifying Operational Service.

Qualifying Operational Service explained

Weekly Compensation —You may be able to get Weekly Compensation for those with a condition that stops them from working full-time. 

Vocational Rehabilitation — You may be able to get Vocational Rehabilitation if you can't work full-time because of a condition and you need to get new skills or retrain.

ACC support if you cannot work because of a workplace injury (external link)— ACC may be able to help with income support if your condition wasn't caused by Qualifying Operational Service.

If you cannot work because of a condition that isn't linked to Qualifying Operational Service, you will need to contact your income insurance provider.

Ex-serving

Eligibility checker
Last Modified: 8 February 2023
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