Skip to main content
  • 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.
    Veteran Card
    Your rights and responsibilities
    ​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.
    Invoicing us
    How to invoice us to ensure we pay you quickly and correctly.
    Treating our clients
    Information for healthcare professionals providing treatment to our clients.
    Councils and local authorities
    Guidance for councils and local authorities relating to services cemeteries and memorials
    Forms
    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.
Check Your Eligibility
Check Your Eligibility

Discretionary Veterans' Independence Programme (VIP) Services

Discretionary VIP Services are distinct from VIP Services (Case managed). Veterans who are eligible for Discretionary VIP Services meet the following criteria.

Who can get this

The Discretionary Veterans' Independence Programme (VIP) Services are available to veterans:

  • that do have qualifying service
  • who do not have service-related illness
  • who are 80 or over (as of 1 July 2024) or have a terminal illness.

Qualifying service explained

What you can get

These needs-assessed services aim to help a veteran live independently in their own home. They are not health or rehabilitation support services.

The services include:

  • garden maintenance
  • lawn mowing
  • foot care
  • exterior house washing
  • interior house cleaning
  • a personal medical alarm.

How to apply

  • Step 1 Complete the first three pages of the application form

    Discretionary Veterans' Independence Programme (VIP) Services application form

  • Step 2 Contact your doctor, specialist, or registered health professional

    A registered health professional or registered medical practitioner will complete the needs assessment for these services.

    They need to complete questions 7–10 on page 4 of the form.
    Section 9 is split into two different sections — 9a and 9b. Your circumstance will determine who can complete the page and which version of section 9 they need to complete:

    If you are 80 years or over

    A registered health professional must complete sections 7–10 and section 9a.

    Some examples of a registered health professional include:

    • Doctor (GP)
    • Practice nurse
    • District nurse
    • Support needs assessor.

    If you are younger than 80 years and have a terminal illness

    A medical practitioner must complete sections 7–10 and section 9b.

    Examples of a medical practitioner include:

    • Doctor (GP)
    • Specialist.

  • Step 3 Send us the completed form

    You can either:

    Download, scan, or take photos of the completed form and email it to us:

    veterans@nzdf.mil.nz

    Make sure your attachment follows our guidelines. For example, the total size of the files in your email must be under 15MB.

    Email guidelines

    Post the form to us:

    Veterans' Affairs
    PO Box 5146
    Wellington 6140
    New Zealand

Find out more

Contact us for more information

We strive to be transparent. The internal policy explains how this entitlement is administered.

Discretionary Veterans' Independence Programme (VIP) Services policy [PDF, 433 KB]

Veterans' Independence Programme

  • Discretionary Veterans' Independence Programme (VIP) Services
Eligibility checker
Last Modified: 1 July 2024
Print