Veterans

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) offers programs which enhance the autonomy and quality of life of veterans and their families. For example, VAC provides health care and home support programs, disability pensions and income support, allowances to compensate caregivers, health promotion services, advocacy services and commemoration services to honour the achievements and sacrifices of Canadians during war and conflict.

Through services such as counselling, assessment and care planning, VAC ensures that clients and their families receive a continuum of care based on viable, community-based social support networks. VAC also supports the health and well-being of eligible clients through comprehensive health care programs and services which include health promotion initiatives, treatment benefits, medical and nursing services. For example, the Veterans Independence Program offers a number of valuable home support care services targeted to meeting the specific needs of an aging client and his or her caregiver.

The financial needs of Canadian veterans are also addressed by the federal government. The War Veterans Allowance (WVA), an income-tested program, ensures that Canadians who have served in wartime receive a monthly income to meet their basic needs. Widow(er)s and orphans may also qualify. WVA recipients can also receive funding to meet emergency needs that threaten their health and safety. As well, eligible veterans receive pensions to compensate them for service-related disabilities. The Veterans Review and Appeal Board provides clients with full opportunity to request review and appeal hearings to ensure a fair adjudicative process for disability pension and war veterans allowance claims.

The number of Canadian war service veterans is declining. However, as they reach their eighties and nineties, many of them will require enhanced health care services. At the same time, the overall number of Canadian Forces (CF) veterans and still-serving pensioners is increasing and by 2005, widow(er)s of war veterans will form the majority of clients accessing VAC benefits or services. These client groups are generally younger and require a more diverse range of services. The federal government is responding by developing service improvement options and by engaging veterans and retired personnel in program enhancement initiatives and new program development.

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