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  • Get support
    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.
    Family and whānau
    How we can support you, your family and whānau.
    Non-military personnel
    Non-military personnel can have Qualifying Operational Service in certain circumstances.
    A-Z list of services and entitlements
    View all of the services and entitlements available to qualifying veterans and their family and whānau.
  • Remembrance
    We're proud to honour the service of the veteran community.
    Services Cemeteries and plaques and headstones
    We help look after Services Cemeteries. We're also able to contribute towards plaques and headstones.
    Commemorative funding
    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.
    ​When someone dies
    We may be able to provide support when someone who had Qualifying Service dies.
    Your family's military history
    Learning more about your family's military history is a great way to honour their service.
    Certificate of Appreciation and Veterans' Pins
    The Certificate of Appreciation and Veteran's Pin recognise operational service.
    NZ Post Stamps
    This series of stamps explores the stories of 6 veterans deployed after 1995. You can purchase the stamps on the NZ Post website.
  • Eligibility
    To be eligible to receive support from us, you — or certain family members — need to have Qualifying Service.
    Check your eligibility
    Check the support, services, or entitlements you may be able to get from us.
    Qualifying Service
    To get support from us you — or certain family members — need to have Qualifying Service.
    Living outside NZ
    You can still get support from us even if you live outside NZ.
    Eligibility criteria for family and dependants
    You may be able to get support if you're the spouse, partner, child or dependant of someone with Qualifying Service.
    Veterans of foreign militaries
    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.
    How we'll work with you
    We'll work with you to help you get the best support available.
    Your treatment card
    Your treatment card helps you get no-cost treatment and medication for your approved conditions.
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    ​We want to make sure you have the best possible experience when you deal with us.
    Payments
    Information on payment rates and dates.
    How we make decisions
    We use a number of tools and processes to make decisions. This helps ensure each decision we make is fair and treats our clients consistently.​
    Living outside NZ
    You can still get support from us even if you live outside NZ.
    Other benefits
    You may be able to access a range of discounts and benefits. Not only that, your family may get access too.
    Information about claims
    Information on processing times, how to make a claim, and what happens next.
  • For providers
    Information for providers of services to Veterans' Affairs and our clients.
    Treatment cards and letters
    To help you identify our clients, we issue treatment cards and letters.
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    How to invoice us to ensure we pay you quickly and correctly.
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    Information for healthcare professionals providing treatment to our clients.
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    Guidance for councils and local authorities relating to services cemeteries and memorials
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    Forms for our clients, family and whānau, and our providers.
    Audiologists
    Schedules of fees, invoicing and application instructions, and information for treating hearing needs.
    How military service affects the health of veterans
    Veterans can experience physical and mental health conditions disproportionately compared to the general public. Different NZDF 'operations' may be linked to higher rates of specific conditions. Understanding a veteran's service can help you to understand their health.

How applications for hearing loss work

Applications start with the veteran. Then Veterans' Affairs and audiologists work through steps with the veteran to process the application.

  • Step 1 The veteran makes an application for hearing loss, tinnitus, or both

    The veteran applies for hearing loss using either the Disablement Pension Application form or the Veteran Support application form.

    If they served before 1 April 1974 or in Viet Nam:
    Disablement Pension application form

    If they served after 31 March 1974:
    Veteran Support application form

    This application may be just for hearing loss or may include other issues.

    A veteran can request assistance from family or their audiologist to fill in the form.

    The veteran needs to satisfy the requirements for:

    • Qualifying service, and
    • Hearing loss or tinnitus.
      This can be either a suitable audiogram or their GP’s attestation that the veteran has a hearing loss.

    Qualifying service explained

  • Step 2 Veterans’ Affairs receives and acknowledges the claim and checks that the claim has all the required information

    We will send a letter acknowledging receipt and let the veteran know if more information is required.

  • Step 3 Veterans’ Affairs makes a decision on the claim, and will let the veteran know the outcome of the claim

    Hearing Aids are the standard treatment for hearing loss.

    Veterans’ Affairs has a funding package that is sufficient to provide a suitable aid to meet the needs of 90% of veterans.

  • Step 4 A Case Manager will contact the veteran if the claim is accepted

    They will confirm which audiology clinic the veteran wants to see for their hearing aids.

  • Step 5 The Case Manager will send a purchase order to the chosen audiology clinic

    The audiology clinic will contact the veteran to make an appointment.

    The Case Manager will also send a Your Plan letter to the Veteran to confirm funding.

  • Step 6 The Audiologist will provide suitable hearing aids that meet the veteran’s needs

    They will conduct a needs assessment and fit suitable hearing aids for the veteran.
    The veteran will be able to have a trial with the recommended aids.

    Accessories are not funded by Veterans' Affairs unless the veteran meets certain criteria.

    The Audiologist will develop a rehabilitation plan and finalisation form which is signed by the veteran and retained by the Audiologist.

  • Step 7 Once the veteran is satisfied, any repairs to the aids in the first year should be covered by the warranty

  • Step 8 If the veteran’s needs cannot be accommodated within the schedule:

    The Audiologist will discuss co-payment options with the veteran, or apply to Veterans’ Affairs if they think the veteran will meet the exceptional circumstances criteria.

    Hearing aid exceptional circumstances criteria

  • Step 9 The veteran must insure the hearing aids

    Veterans’ Affairs will not pay to replace lost aids or damaged aids which have been broken through accident or misuse.

  • Step 10 When a veteran requires an annual check up, some minor repairs or adjustments, or ear wax removal:

    They ask their Case Manager to issue a Hearing Aid Support and Maintenance Purchase Order which will cover the costs of standard support and maintenance services.

    An Audiologist could ask the Case Manager on behalf of the veteran.

  • Step 11 If a repair that exceeds $345 including GST is required, or the veterans’ hearing needs change significantly:

    Then the audiologist will need to use the Exceptional Circumstances Application Form on behalf of the veteran to request funding for repairs, early replacement or additional accessories.

    Hearing Exceptional Circumstances form

  • Step 12 Replacement aids will be funded when the veteran has had the aids for six years

    The veteran needs to contact their Case Manager to request new hearing aids.

    The Case Manager will issue a purchase order to the veteran’s choice of audiologist.

Audiologists

Last Modified: 4 September 2023
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