Personal Law: Veterans - Guides
Veterans
5. Needs Assessments
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 27 Aug 2015
- Veterans and other persons entitled to compensation for a service-related injury or disease are required to participate in a needs assessment to determine which services they require. The assessment is undertaken after your claim is lodged and after the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has accepted liability for your service-related injury or disease.
- The assessment process involves evaluating your current circumstances and key areas of potential need such as:
- medical treatment;
- psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation;
- compensation for economic and non-economic loss;
- help with household activities;
- aids and appliances; and
- any other necessary assistance.
- Following your needs assessment the DVA delegate who carried out your assessment will send you a letter. This letter will summarise the information that was discussed as part of your needs assessment and will set out any further action to be taken. You should ask your lawyer to review this letter to make sure it adequately reflects your situation and circumstances. Your level of assistance will be determined by the information contained in the letter and your needs assessment.
- If you are satisfied that the letter accurately reflects what was agreed upon then you will be required to sign it and return it to the DVA delegate by the specified deadline.
- Subsequent needs assessments may be undertaken if your circumstances change such as where:
- your medical condition is becoming worse or has been aggravated;
- your diagnosis or treatment has changed;
- your employment is being affected by your medical condition; or
- you are no longer able to undertake certain tasks at home or work that you were previously able to.
- Any subsequent needs assessment is likely to focus on those specific areas of need which have changed as a result of your changing circumstances rather than involve a full review of all your needs.
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