Fill Out DVA Form D0503 Online
Claim for Service Pension Part A - Eligibility
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Claim a service pension as a veteran with qualifying service, covering the eligibility part of the two part claim.
Reviewed July 2026
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DVA Form D0503 is the Claim for Service Pension Part A, Eligibility, published by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. It is the first half of a two part paper claim for the service pension, an income support payment for veterans with qualifying service. Part A gathers eligibility information: your personal and service details, your partner and any dependent children, your residence in Australia, your living arrangements, and your bank account and tax details. Part B, Form D0648, covers income and assets, and DVA asks that both parts be lodged together to avoid processing delays.
You can open Form D0503 in the Universal PDF editor, work through the questions on screen and download a completed PDF ready to sign and lodge with Part B. Many DVA claims can also be made online through MyService, and an ex-service organisation advocate or DVA staff member can help you prepare the paper claim if you prefer that route.
What is DVA Form D0503 used for
The service pension is an income support payment paid under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Form D0503 establishes whether you are eligible to claim it, and on what basis. The form distinguishes between the age service pension and the invalidity service pension, and asks different questions depending on which you are applying for. Invalidity applicants may need to attach additional forms or medical reports, such as an ophthalmologist report where the ground is blindness.
The form also deals with the Pension Bonus Scheme. Because receiving the service pension permanently affects Pension Bonus entitlement, registered members must claim the bonus at the same time as the pension, using the separate claim form the D0503 refers to.
Who uses DVA Form D0503
Veterans and mariners with qualifying service use this form to claim the service pension for themselves. If you have a partner, you must provide the partner's details even if the partner is not claiming, and the form asks whether the partner wishes to apply for the partner service pension at the same time.
Partners, former partners, widows and widowers claiming a service pension on the basis of a veteran's service use a different form, D0504, rather than this one. Commonwealth or Allied veterans who have not yet had their qualifying service determined can ask DVA to decide that question first using Form D0507.
How to fill out DVA Form D0503
Use black or blue pen if completing by hand, or type the entries on screen and print. The booklet About Claiming Service Pension, which accompanies the form, explains many of the questions and the proof of identity requirements.
- Answer the opening questions about whether you are claiming the age or invalidity service pension, and attach the documents each pathway requires.
- Declare any Pension Bonus Scheme registration for you or your partner, and attach the bonus claim form if registered.
- Complete your veteran details, including service number, country of enlistment and any former names, with certified evidence of name changes.
- Provide proof of identity documents if you have not previously done so, following the category lists in the booklet.
- Record your current relationship status with supporting documents such as a certified copy of a marriage certificate where relevant.
- Complete your partner's details in full, including their identity documents, any DVA or Centrelink payments they receive, and whether they are claiming too.
- Lodge Part A together with Part B, Form D0648, which covers income and assets.
Lodging the claim
The claim is not complete until both parts arrive at DVA. Lodging Part A without Part B, or the reverse, delays the assessment. Certified copies of supporting documents are required unless you show DVA the originals, and the booklet lists who may certify copies.
If anything is unclear, DVA and Veterans' Access Network offices can help, and ex-service organisations offer experienced assistance with income support claims. Decisions about eligibility, rates and start dates rest with DVA, and the department contacts you if further documents or information are needed.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. D0503 is Part A of a two part claim. Part B, Form D0648, collects your income and assets details, and DVA asks that both parts be lodged together to avoid delays in processing the claim.
Yes. The form requires details of your current partner even if the partner is not applying for a service pension, because the pension is assessed on a couple basis where you have a partner.
The form asks which you are claiming. Age service pension claimants attach a certified copy of their full birth certificate. Invalidity claimants indicate the ground, and depending on it may attach an ophthalmologist report or additional invalidity and work test forms.
Yes. Once you receive the service pension you can no longer receive the Pension Bonus, so registered members must claim the bonus at the same time as the pension using the separate bonus claim form referred to in D0503.
DVA's MyService portal handles many claims online, and DVA can confirm whether your service pension claim can be lodged that way. The paper D0503 and D0648 remain available for anyone who prefers to claim on paper.
No. Universal PDF is an independent PDF editor for completing the official form. The form is published by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and eligibility questions should be directed to DVA or an ex-service organisation.
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