How DVA funding works
DVA household services explained
What household services are, which tasks they can cover, and how DVA writes an approval.
Veteran Home Help is an independent private business. We are not part of, endorsed by or acting for the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) or any government agency. DVA decides what you are approved for.
What are DVA household services?
Household services are help with everyday tasks at home that DVA can pay for when you can't manage them because of an accepted service-related injury or condition, and DVA has assessed that you reasonably need the help. DVA's own page says they may include cleaning, shopping, laundry, ironing, lawn mowing, gardening and meal preparation, and its policy manual adds window cleaning, gutter cleaning and solar panel cleaning. They are normally tasks you did yourself before your injury. Household maintenance, tree work, pest control and landscaping are not household services. From 1 July 2026, DVA considers all new household services claims under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA), whenever and wherever you served. If DVA approves your claim, your approval letter lists each service type, how many services you can have a year and the maximum cost of each, with a start and end date. DVA pays only for the services on that letter, and you choose who provides them.
Which tasks can be household services?
DVA names these tasks. Whether you can have any of them depends on your own approval.
Tasks DVA lists
- Domestic cleaning, including window cleaning, dusting and vacuuming
- Laundry and ironing
- Lawn mowing and gardening
- Gutter cleaning and solar panel cleaning
- Shopping and meal preparation
From DVA's page (“may include”) and DVA's policy manual.
Not household services
- Household maintenance
- Tree work and landscaping
- Pest control
- Synthetic lawn installation
- Dog washing or walking
From DVA's policy manual.
How DVA writes your approval
Your approval lists each service type with a number of services per year and a maximum cost per service, including GST, for a set period. DVA pays for each service up to that amount, and you pay anything above it or above the weekly limit.
Example only
| Service type | Frequency | Maximum per service (inc GST) |
|---|---|---|
| House cleaning | 26 services per year | $239.70 |
| Solar panel cleaning | 2 services per year | $319.60 |
See rates and weekly limits and what to send us once you're approved.
What we provide under household services
Six services, each booked as your approval lists it. Window, gutter and solar panel cleaning are for single-storey homes.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from DVA's own website and documents.
- DVA: Household services compensation
- DVA policy manual 1.1.1: what are household services?
- DVA policy manual 1.1.2: tasks that are not household services
- DVA policy manual 1.2.1: tasks you did yourself before your injury
- DVA: Household services, attendant care and Veterans' Home Care (2026 changes)
Checked against DVA's website on 25 October 2026. DVA decides what you are approved for; if anything here differs from your own letter, your letter is what counts.