DVA Travel for Treatment: Complete Guide to Transport Support and Reimbursements
Getting to medical appointments shouldn't drain your finances or cause unnecessary stress. The DVA travel for treatment program helps eligible veterans and their attendants access healthcare by covering transport costs, accommodation, and meals. Yet many veterans miss out on thousands of dollars in travel reimbursements simply because they don't understand their entitlements or find the claims process overwhelming.
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Know Your DVA Travel for Treatment Entitlements
The Department of Veterans' Affairs provides travel assistance to help you attend medical appointments for conditions covered by your Veteran Card. However, your specific entitlements depend entirely on which Act covers your service and what type of card you hold.
According to the Department of Veterans' Affairs travel for treatment guidelines, Gold Card holders can claim travel expenses for any medical appointment, while White Card holders can only claim for treatment of accepted service-related conditions. The type of support available - from simple reimbursements to pre-arranged transport - varies significantly based on your eligibility under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), or Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988.
Which Act covers your service directly impacts your entitlements - each has different rates, rules, and claiming procedures. Our Permanent Impairment Claims service helps veterans understand which Act applies to your service and confirms you're claiming under the correct legislation.
Current Travel Reimbursement Rates and Allowances
Travel reimbursement rates change annually, and knowing the current rates keeps you from being left out of pocket when attending medical appointments.
Private Vehicle Allowances
As outlined in the DVA's MRCA and DRCA travel expenses guidelines, private vehicle travel is currently reimbursed at 68 cents per kilometre for veterans covered under MRCA or DRCA. Veterans under the VEA receive 44.3 cents per kilometre, though this will increase to match the MRCA rate from July 2026.
The minimum distance requirements also differ between Acts. MRCA and DRCA require a round trip of at least 50 kilometres to qualify for private vehicle allowances, though exceptions exist for veterans without access to public transport or with mobility issues. VEA has no minimum distance requirement for private vehicle claims.
Accommodation and Meal Allowances
Recent changes to the MRCA and DRCA reimbursement system mean that from July 1, 2025, veterans automatically receive meal allowances for round trips over 100 kilometres without needing receipts. The amount depends on the distance travelled and whether overnight accommodation was required.
For accommodation, DVA uses Australian Taxation Office rates as threshold amounts. If your accommodation costs less than the threshold, you'll receive full reimbursement. Costs above the threshold require explanation of why the higher amount was reasonable - perhaps due to limited availability or specific medical needs.
Public Transport and Air Travel
DVA covers the full cost of public transport fares when travelling to approved medical appointments. Air travel requires prior approval but may be arranged when it's the most practical option for long-distance travel or urgent medical care.
Booked Car with Driver (BCWD) Service
The BCWD service removes the stress of arranging transport and paying upfront costs for eligible veterans. This pre-arranged taxi or hire car service transports you directly to medical appointments with no out-of-pocket expenses.
Eligibility Criteria for BCWD Access
According to the DVA's BCWD access criteria, automatic eligibility applies to VEA cardholders who are:
Aged 80 years or older
Legally blind
Living with dementia
Receiving Disability Compensation Payment Special Rate (TPI) or Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
Veterans aged 79 or younger can access BCWD if they have specific medical conditions affecting their ability to use public transport, including respiratory issues, significant arthritis, mental health conditions, or recent surgery.
How to Book BCWD Transport
Booking BCWD transport is straightforward - call 1800 550 455 during business hours or book online through MyService. Your healthcare provider can also arrange transport on your behalf if they're registered with DVA's online services. Remember that weekend or after-hours travel must be arranged during business hours, or you'll need to pay upfront and claim reimbursement later.
How to Claim DVA Travel Expenses
Successfully claiming travel expenses requires knowing the process and keeping proper documentation. Many veterans miss out on reimbursements due to incomplete claims or missed deadlines.
Using MyService for Travel Claims
The MyService online portal offers the quickest way to submit travel claims. The system guides you through each step, calculates allowances automatically, and provides real-time updates on your claim status. From July 2025, MRCA and DRCA claims will show detailed status updates throughout the assessment process.
Required Documentation and Receipts
Keep all receipts for expenses over $30, including:
Fuel receipts for private vehicle travel
Parking and toll receipts
Accommodation invoices
Public transport tickets
Meal receipts (for travel before July 2025 or trips under 100km)
The DVA requires you to retain receipts for four months after your claim is processed. Digital copies stored in MyService satisfy this requirement.
Claiming Timeframes and Deadlines
Time limits for submitting claims vary by Act. Under MRCA and DRCA legislation, you must submit claims within 12 months of travel, though delegates can extend this for exceptional circumstances. VEA claims have more flexible timeframes, but submitting promptly gets your money in your account faster.
Travel Support for Different Veteran Groups
Your Veteran Card type and accepted conditions determine available travel support. Understanding these differences helps maximise your entitlements.
Gold Card Holders
Gold Card holders enjoy the broadest travel support, covering transport to any medical appointment regardless of the condition being treated. Whether visiting your GP for a general check-up or attending specialist appointments, all travel costs are claimable. Our Gold and White Cards service helps veterans understand their full entitlements.
White Card Holders
White Card holders can only claim travel expenses when attending treatment for accepted service-related conditions. This includes conditions covered under Non-Liability Health Care, such as mental health treatment. Make certain your healthcare provider knows exactly which conditions your White Card covers - otherwise, you'll get stuck with the bill.
Attendant Travel Support
If you need someone to accompany you to medical appointments, DVA covers their travel costs too. Attendants don't require medical qualifications - they can be family members or friends who help with your physical, emotional, or logistical needs during travel. Both transport costs and accommodation allowances apply to approved attendants.
Major Changes Coming July 2026
Significant reforms to the travel for treatment legislation will simplify the system from July 1, 2026. All travel entitlements will be processed under MRCA, meaning:
Uniform reimbursement rate of 68 cents per kilometre for all veterans
Removal of the 50-kilometre minimum distance for MRCA claims
Consistent claiming procedures regardless of service period
Simplified eligibility assessment
Current Gold and White Card holders won't lose existing entitlements, but new claims from July 2026 will follow MRCA rules exclusively.
Maximising Your Travel Entitlements with Professional Support
Many veterans miss out on thousands in travel reimbursements because they don't understand which Act covers their service or how travel fits within their DVA claim. At Veterans First Consulting, we specialise in DVA claims and help you understand every entitlement available under your specific legislation, including travel support.
While we don't lodge travel claims directly, we identify which Act applies to your service and explain how these reimbursements work within your broader DVA compensation framework. If you're unsure about your DVA entitlements or need support with the claims process, contact Veterans First Consulting today - we'll assess your eligibility and make sure you understand exactly what DVA should be paying you.
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