Supporting current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF)

When a serving member medically transitions (medically retires or discharges) out of the ADF, we determine if they’re eligible for invalidity benefits. Below are the key things we consider:

1. Are they eligible?

   All serving members on continuous full-time service are covered 24/7. However, a person might not be eligible for invalidity benefits where their incapacity:

   • is due to an intentional act committed with the purpose of obtaining the benefit,

   • happened while having been absent without leave (AWOL) for more than 21 days (60 days for DFRDB members), or

   • is caused, or substantially contributed to, by a pre-existing condition if they’re medically transitioning within 2 years of joining (1 year for DFRDB members). At the time of transition we’ll review any pre-existing conditions to establish whether there’s been material aggravation by the person’s ADF service, and if so they’ll be eligible for invalidity benefits.

2. What’s their level of incapacity?

   The member’s level of incapacity for civilian employment determines the type of invalidity benefit payable. To determine this, we consider:

   • their skills, qualifications and experience both pre- and in-service,

   • the civilian employment types that can be undertaken with those skills, qualifications and experience, which is guided by ANZSCO, and

   • the level of incapacity they would experience in performing those civilian employment types given the condition/s they were medically transitioned out for, which are known as retiring impairments.

After considering the above we can determine the person’s invalidity classification:

• Class A – 60% or more incapacity (high)
• Class B – 30-59% incapacity (moderate)
• Class C – less than 30% incapacity (small)

The invalidity classification determines their benefit:

• Class A or B – an invalidity pension is payable from the date following transition. A lump sum may also be payable depending on the scheme—more information is available on the invalidity application form.
• Class C – no invalidity pension is payable.
• DFRDB and MilitarySuper members will have their benefit preserved in the fund until they meet other eligibility requirements, such as retirement age.
• ADF Super members can continue to contribute to their account if they meet eligibility requirements. Otherwise, their benefit will be preserved in the fund until they meet preservation age, unless they decide to access it after meeting other eligibility requirements.

We use a very similar test to the initial classification, and we also take into account any changes, including:

• any new skills, qualifications or experience,
• possible new employment opportunities from any new skills, qualifications or experience (again being guided by ANZSCO),
• any conditions that are causally connected to their retiring impairments,
• the level of incapacity that the member would experience in performing new or previously identified civilian employment.

After the review, we may change the member’s invalidity classification or keep it the same. If their invalidity classification changes, their benefit will change too.

A person may apply for retrospective invalidity benefits if they believe that they should have been medically transitioned out of the ADF. Depending on the scheme, there may be additional super related requirements a person needs to meet. We will consider whether they were suffering from a medical condition/s that would have justified a medical transition when they left the ADF. If we find that they should’ve medically transitioned, we’ll determine their invalidity classification as if they had been medically transitioned when they left the ADF.*