Veterans Independence Program (VIP)

This national home care program helps qualified Veterans, still-serving CF disability pensioners and certain civilians to remain healthy and independent in their own homes and communities.

Under VIP, you may receive funds to help pay for grounds maintenance (such as grass-cutting or snow-shovelling), housekeeping, personal care, certain changes to your home, care and support by health professionals, and some transportation. Your ability to access VIP services depends on your health needs and if these services are available to you through another federal, provincial or municipal program.

VIP housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services are also available to eligible primary caregivers of those Veterans who received these VIP services at the time of their death or admission to a long-term care facility in the years since the program began in April 1981. A primary caregiver can include a spouse, common-law partner, adult child or another individual.

Only those services that the Veteran was receiving at the time of his/her death or admission to a long-term care facility may be extended to the primary caregiver. That is, if a Veteran was only receiving grounds maintenance services, the primary caregiver will only be entitled to grounds maintenance services. To qualify, a primary caregiver must have a continuing need, due to health reasons, for the services to remain self-sufficient at home.

An overview of these services and benefits is available in the Veterans Independence Program booklet (back). To obtain a copy and to find out if you qualify for these services and benefits, please call VAC at
1-866-522-2122.