Providers and Professionals – Introduction

Disability pensions are awarded under the Pension Act.

Canadians may be eligible for disability pension benefits if they have a permanent disability resulting from an injury or disease that was attributable to, incurred during, or aggravated by service during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War or a Special Duty Area (SDA).

Canadians may also be eligible for a disability pension if they have a permanent disability that arose out of, was aggravated by, or is directly connected with peacetime Regular or Reserve Force service in the Canadian Forces.

As a provider or professional, you may have been asked to:

• represent a client by preparing their claim or
• provide medical evidence in support of a client's claim.

Once complete, a VAC disability pension application (pen923e.pdf) is submitted to a VAC District Office.

Once a client's application is submitted, a VAC Pension Adjudicator will:

• Review the pension application and accompanying documentation;
• Rule on the client's eligibility for pension entitlement and the assessment of disability;
• Mail the client the decision.

Pension Entitlement is:

• Based on the relationship between service and disability;
• Awarded in fifths: from one-fifth (1/5), if service played only a minimal part in the cause or worsening of the disability, to five fifths (5/5) if the disability was incurred during, or was caused in its entirety by military service;
• Entitlement may also be awarded for a disability which is a consequence of a pensioned service-related disability.
• Guided by Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines, policy statements used in determining the relationship of a client's medical condition or disability to military service.