Legacy Expands Eligibility to Support More Veterans’ Families

On 13 February 2026, Legacy announced the most significant change in our history, expanding support to more families of veterans. Held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the event brought together Legacy families, Defence representatives and ministers to celebrate an important evolution in how Legacy serves the veteran community.

For over 100 years, Legacy has supported the families of veterans who could no longer provide for their loved ones due to service-related death, injury or illness, or who have later died.

A major change to eligibility

From early 2026, the requirement for a veteran to have completed a period of operational service has been removed. This major eligibility change is in direct response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide findings on military life’s far-reaching impacts.

Legacy will now support families of:

• former permanent Australian Defence Force members, and
• reservists who have served on continuous full‑time duty,

regardless of the nature of their service.

This shift means that thousands more families can now be welcomed into Legacy’s care.

Supporting families when service impacts a veteran’s ability to provide

The change is particularly meaningful for families of current serving ADF members who are medically assessed as MEC 5 – Separation and transitioning out of Defence. Many of these members will face challenges providing for their families due to service‑related incapacity, making Legacy’s support more vital than ever.

Honouring Legacy’s promise for the next century

Legacy’s founding promise – to ensure veterans’ families are never left behind – remains unchanged. By expanding eligibility, Legacy is strengthening this promise and ensuring its support reflects the modern realities of military service.

This historic step allows Legacy to stand beside more families, offering stability, connection and care when it is needed most.