A Better Social Safety Net

The NVC introduces a “dual award approach” which compensates CF Veterans for service-related or career ending disabilities. This dual award system offers both a lump sum disability award and a monthly Earnings Loss Benefit for those most in need.

The disability award is a lump sum paid to you or on your behalf for the pain and suffering you have incurred as a result of your disablility and is paid out to a maximum of $250,000. The second part of the dual award is an Earnings Loss payment to help support you financially if you can’t work right away. This monthly payment is paid out while you complete a rehabilitation program and amounts to 75 percent of your pre-release salary. For those of you who are seriously disabled, the income will continue up until you turn 65. After that, other benefits are available.

For soldiers killed in the line of duty, the Earning Loss Benefit is payable to the surviving spouse and/or dependent children until the deceased would have turned 65 years old.

In addition to the dual award approach, the new Charter includes rehabilitation services, vocational assistance, health benefits, and job placement. Other financial benefits include a Permanent Impairment Allowance, CF Income Support, and a Supplementary Retirement Benefit. Programs are also available to help your spouse find employment.

Under the original Veterans Charter, you could only apply for health care benefits if you received a disability pension and then these benefits were directly related to your pensioned condition. Now health benefits are available regardless of pension status.

The NVC makes sure those with the greatest need receive the most support. For more detailed information on what is available to you through the NVC go to www.vac-acc.gc.ca or call 1-866-522-2122.