If you hold a DVA Gold Card, you may be entitled to a fully funded electric wheelchair, with zero out-of-pocket cost. For many veterans and their families, this entitlement goes unclaimed simply because the process isn't well understood.
Here's what you need to know about DVA electric wheelchair funding, who qualifies, and how it works.
Key takeaways
- Gold Card veterans with a clinically recommended need for a power chair can receive it fully funded through DVA
- White Card veterans are covered only if an accepted condition directly causes the mobility need
- DVA also covers ongoing servicing and repairs for funded equipment. There is no yearly cap for Gold Card holders on aids and appliances
In this article
- Who is eligible for DVA-funded mobility equipment?
- How DVA electric wheelchair funding works
- How we can help
Who is eligible for DVA-funded mobility equipment?
Eligibility depends on the type of DVA card you hold. For White Card holders, your mobility need also needs to be linked to an accepted condition.
Gold Card veterans
Gold Card holders are entitled to comprehensive healthcare coverage, including aids and appliances recommended as clinically necessary. If your GP or specialist recommends a power wheelchair and an occupational therapist confirms the need, DVA will fund the chair at no cost to you. This applies regardless of whether your mobility condition is service-related.
There's no annual cap on aids and appliances for Gold Card holders. This is a commonly misunderstood point. Your entitlement covers the full cost of the recommended chair and any associated equipment.
White Card veterans
White Card holders are covered for specific accepted conditions only. A power wheelchair is funded through DVA if your accepted condition directly causes, or significantly contributes to, the mobility limitation that makes the chair necessary.
If you hold a White Card and aren't sure whether your condition qualifies, speak with your GP or a DVA-registered occupational therapist. They can assess your situation against the funding criteria before you take the first step.
How DVA electric wheelchair funding works
The process involves your doctor, an occupational therapist, and an approved DVA provider. Here's how it works from start to finish.
The approval process step by step
- GP or specialist referral: your treating doctor recommends a power wheelchair and refers you to an occupational therapist for an assistive technology assessment.
- OT assessment: the OT evaluates your functional mobility, home environment, and daily goals, then recommends the right chair type and configuration for your needs.
- Quote from a DVA-registered provider: the OT or you contact a registered DVA supplier (we're one) for a formal quote on the recommended chair.
- DVA approval: the OT report and quote go to DVA for approval. Processing times vary, but typically take two to four weeks.
- Delivery: once approved, the chair is ordered, delivered, and set up. DVA is invoiced directly. You pay nothing.
Servicing and repairs under DVA
DVA also covers approved servicing and repairs for equipment funded under your entitlement. If your chair needs a tyre replacement, battery swap, or general service after delivery, contact your DVA-registered provider. DVA covers the cost through the same approval process.
How we can help
We're a registered DVA provider. We can supply formal quotes for any chair the OT recommends, liaise with your OT and DVA case manager throughout the approval process, and arrange delivery and setup once you're approved.
If you or a family member holds a DVA card and may be entitled to a power wheelchair, give us a call. We can walk you through your entitlements and help you understand the process before taking the first step. Browse our electric wheelchair range to see what's available.