The services of Veterans to the nation can’t be compensated equally with monetary or other benefits.
In order to motivate and appreciate our current and former Veterans, the department of Veteran Affairs Canada offers various benefits to improve the well-being of our Veterans.
The VAC disability program is one of such benefits. If you’re eligible and approved for this benefit, you will receive monthly or lump sum payments by cheque or direct deposit.
This article covers the VAC disability benefit payment dates for 2024, the benefit rates, eligibility, the application process, and additional benefits for Canadian Veterans.
VAC Disability Payment Dates 2024
The VAC disability benefit is paid monthly by the Veteran Affairs Canada usually a few days to the end of the benefit month.
Below are the VAC disability payment dates for 2024:
| Benefit Months | VAC Payment Dates |
| January | January 30, 2024 |
| February | February 28, 2024 |
| March | March 27, 2024 |
| April | April 29, 2024 |
| May | May 30, 2024 |
| June | June 27, 024 |
| July | July 30, 2024 |
| August | August 29, 2024 |
| September | September 26, 2024 |
| October | October 30, 2024 |
| November | November 28, 2024 |
| December | December 23, 2024 |
Eligible Veterans are issued the VAC disability payment on the above dates through cheque or direct deposit depending on their preferences.
As exposed, those who choose to receive the payment through direct deposit get their benefits faster than those that receive it via cheque.
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What is VAC Disability Benefit?
As the name implies, VAC disability benefit is a federal government benefit administered to veterans that got injured or ill while serving.
The benefit is tax-free and it’s administered monthly by the Veteran Affairs Canada from January to December.
How much benefit you get from this program depends on your service-related disability condition, its severity, and how it affects your living condition.
Once you enroll in the program, you will be receiving the VAC Disability benefit every month or as a lump sum. The benefit is adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index.
Who Qualifies For VAC Disability Payment?
Not every Canadian Veteran is eligible for the VAC disability. You must meet service and disability eligibility to receive the benefit.
For the service eligibility, you must be one of the following to qualify for VAC disability benefit:
- Member of Canadian Armed Forces or Veteran
- Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) (current or former)
- Veteran or Merchant Navy in Second World War or Korean War
- You’re one of the following civilians who served in the Second World War:
- Air Raid Precaution Workers
- Auxiliary Services Personnel
- Canadian Civilian Air Crew of the Royal Air Force Transport Command
- Canadian Merchant Seamen and Salt Water Fishermen
- Corps of (Civilian) Canadian Fire Fighters for Service in the United Kingdom
- Members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment
- Overseas Welfare Workers
- Personnel receiving remedial treatment while serving under the National Resources Mobilization Act
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (including Special Constables)
For the second eligibility, you must meet all the following requirements:
- You must have a diagnosed disability or medical condition
- You must show how your disability or medical condition relates to your service
VAC Disability Benefits 2024
The VAC disability program comprises two components -— pain and suffering compensation and disability pension. You’re free to choose either of the two.
How much you get from the program depends on your condition and the benefit component you choose.
Below is a detailed explanation of the two components of the program.
1. Pain and Suffering Compensation (PSC)
This component provides up to $1297.01 tax-free monthly benefits to CAF members and Veterans as compensation for the pain and suffering they incur while under a service-related injury or illness.
The PSC provides you with monthly or lump-sum benefits depending on your preference. It’s encouraged you receive the payment monthly to avoid spending it all at once.
In the subsequent section, we shall discuss the rates applicable to the PSC component of the program.
2. Disability Pension
This is a monthly benefit that’s provided to those that served in the Second World War or Korean War as Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Those that applied for the disability pension before April 1, 2006, will also be eligible even if they served under other CAF services.
Due to a discrepancy in calculations, Veteran Affairs Canada provides a corrective payment to those that received the VAC benefits between 2003 and 2010 under the Pension Act.
You may also apply for the correct payment if you’re legally entitled to inherit the assets of a deceased VAC disability recipient.
In the next section, we shall be looking at the current payment rates of the PSC and Disability Pension.
VAC Disability Rates 2024
As noted earlier, Veteran Affairs Canada adjusts the disability benefit annually to match the current rate of inflation.
However, your actual VAC disability rate depends heavily on the component of the program that you choose.
The following are the current VAC disability rates effective January 1, 2024:
Pain and Suffering Compensation Rates 2024
Below are the 2024 Pain and suffering compensation (PSC) rates on monthly payments and lump sum payments.
| Extent of Disability | Monthly Amount | Lump Sum Amount |
| 5% | $67.77 | $22,049.60 |
| 20% | $271.08 | $88,198.39 |
| 40% | $542.15 | $176,396.78 |
| 60% | $813.23 | $264,595.18 |
| 80% | $1,084.30 | $352,793.57 |
| 100z | $1,355.38 | $440,991.96 |
As you can see, the PSC rate varies depending on the extent of your disability, and your preferred payment method.
VAC Disability Pension Rates 2024
The disability monthly rates vary per disability class and marital status. The Disability Pension also has an additional rate that varies per the number of children in your household.
That being said, let’s take a look at the VAC Disability Pension rates for 2024.
Monthly Rates
| Class | Single | Spouse |
| 1 | $3,357.30 | $839.33 |
| 5 | $2,685.84 | $671.46 |
| 10 | $1,846.52 | $461.63 |
| 15 | $1,007.19 | $251.80 |
| 20 | $167.87 | $41.97 |
Additional Monthly Amount Rates
| One Child | Second Child | Additional Child |
| $436.45 | $318.94 | $251.80 |
| $349.16 | $255.15 | $201.44 |
| $240.05 | $175.42 | $138.49 |
| $130.93 | $95.69 | $75.54 |
| $21.82 | $15.95 | $12.59 |
VAC Disability Benefit Increase 2024
Section 63.1 (1) of the Veterans Well-being Regulations requires the VAC Disability Benefit to be adjusted every January 1 to reflect the current level of the Consumer Price Index.
The increase is expected to round to the nearest 0.10% and reflect with immediate effect on the next VAC payment starting January of the current year.
So if you receive the VAC Disability benefit monthly, you should expect an increase every year.
Besides the regular annual increase in January 1, 2024, there’s no increase on the VAC Disability benefit in 2024 yet.
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How to Apply For VAC Disability Payment
You can apply for the VAC disability program online, by mail, or in person.
To apply online, all you need is to follow the steps below:
- Sign in or register for My VAC Account
- Search for the VAC disability program
- Initiate the application process
But if you want to apply for the disability program by mail or in person, below are the steps to follow:
- Download the application form
- Fill the form
- Submit the form by mail through the address on the application form or
- Submit the form to the nearest VAC office CAF Transition Centre or Service Canada Office.
Check out the application package to know what you need to include in your application.
How VAC Application is Processed
Upon applying for the VAC disability program, your application will be assigned to a decision maker.
The decision maker will go through the application and identify any missing information. If there’s missing information on your application, the decision maker will notify you, and pause your application until you provide the complete information.
If you’re an RCMP member (current or past), you will be given a medical questionnaire to be filled out by your treating healthcare practitioner.
And if you’re currently serving as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, your service health records will be reviewed.
The decision makers will review all claims to ensure that your health records correlate with your claimed condition and service.
Once you provide sufficient evidence, you will be approved for the program. This will be accompanied by a decision letter that details your assessment and entitlement.
Even if you’re not approved, a decision maker will send you a decision letter, detailing the reasons for your disapproval.
If you don’t agree with the decision or you have new evidence, you can appeal the rejection decision by requesting a departmental review.
VAC Reassessment
As noted under the VAC disability rates section, the disability amount is impacted significantly by your class of disability.
The PSC component disability classes range from 1-100 and the Disability Pension classes range from 1-20.
Regardless of the component you choose, you can request reassessment when your situation worsens.
All you need is to call or visit the nearest VAC office and provide them with the evidence of your new condition and your disability payment amount will be adjusted according to your new class.
It’s worth noting that you can only request a reassessment if you’re not receiving the maximum VAC disability amount.
VAC VIP Payment Dates 2024
The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) is a supplementary benefit that provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible Veterans.
VIP is designed to help Veterans cover the cost of personal care, housekeeping, meal preparation, grounds maintenance, and professional health and support services.
To qualify for this benefit, you must need home care services and meet any of the following eligibility:
- Qualified for a disability benefit
- Qualified for the War Veterans Allowance
- Be a recipient of Prisoner of War Compensation
- Be unable to access a Contract Bed (a Priority Access Bed) in a long-term care facility even though you’re eligible for it.
If you meet the above eligibility, you can complete the VIP form while applying for the Pain and Suffering Compensation.
That being said, the VIP payment is combined with the VAC disability payment. As a result, the VAC VIP payment dates for 2024 also go like this:
| Benefit Month | VAC VIP Payment Dates |
| January | January 30, 2024 |
| February | February 28, 2024 |
| March | March 27, 2024 |
| April | April 29, 2024 |
| May | May 30, 2024 |
| June | June 27, 2024 |
| July | July 30, 2024 |
| August | August 29, 2024 |
| September | September 26, 2024 |
| October | October 30, 2024 |
| November | November 28, 2024 |
| December | December 23, 2024 |
Learn more about VAC VIP and the application process.
Additional Benefits For Canadian Veterans
As a VAC Disability recipient, you may also be entitled to several Veterans-related benefits. This will help supplement your disability income which is not enough to sustain your monthly bills.
Here we shall take a brief look at some of the Veterans-related benefits you may be eligible for:
Attendance Allowance
If you’re a pensioner with a disability that requires daily personal care support, you may be eligible for the Attendance Allowance.
The allowance is paid monthly and the amount you receive depends on the level of your disability which is graded from 1-5.
Below are the current Attendance Allowance rates:
| Disability Grade | Allowance Amount |
| One | $2,221.53 |
| Two | $1,999.48 |
| Three | $1,332.97 |
| Four | $888.71 |
| Five | $355.57 |
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Attendance Allowance.
Exceptional Incapacity Allowance
This allowance also provides you with monthly benefits as a result of the impact of your illness or injury on your living condition.
The amount of Exceptional Incapacity Allowance you get depends on your disability level.
Below are the current rates.
| Disability Grade | Amount |
| One | $1,777.25 |
| Two | $1,481.01 |
| Three | $1,184.83 |
| Four | $888.71 |
| Five | $592.44 |
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Exceptional Incapacity Allowance.
Caregiver Recognition Benefit
This benefit provides you with monthly tax-free payments to cover the cost of a caregiver.
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Caregiver Recognition Benefit.
Clothing Allowance
If your disability condition requires wear and tear on your clothing or special clothing, you may be eligible for this allowance.
Below are the current rates of Clothing Allowance:
| Disability Grade | Allowance Amount |
| One | $251.74 |
| Two | $201.35 |
| Three | $151.06 |
| Four | $100.65 |
| Five | $89.44 |
| Six | $72.70 |
| Seven | $67.10 |
| Eight | $55.89 |
| Nine | $44.78 |
| Ten | $27.91 |
Income Replacement Benefit (IRB)
This taxable benefit covers up to 90% of your salary as a current or former participant in Rehabilitation Services or Vocational Assistance Program.
You may also be eligible if you have a Diminished Earning Capacity (DEC) or if you’re an orphan or survivor of a deceased CAF member.
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Income Replacement Benefit.
Canadian Forces Income Support
If you’re a low-income CAF member that’s no longer qualified for the Income Replacement Benefit, you may be eligible for the Canadian Forces Income Support.
You will get a tax-free monthly payment based on your household income, marital status, and number of children.
Below are the maximum monthly payment amounts:
| Veteran with Spouse/Partner | $2,936.91 |
| Additional amount per dependent child | $426.34 |
| Survivor | $1,994.19 |
| Orphan | $913.85 |
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Canadian Forces Income Support.
War Veterans Allowance
This allowance provides treatment monthly benefits to Veterans and qualified civilians with wartime service whose income is above the maximum amount due to their own or spouse/common-law partner’s participation on Old Age Security (OAS) Pension.
Below are the maximum monthly payment amounts.
| Veteran or Survivor | $1,994.19 |
| Veteran or Survivor (blind) | $2,065.59 |
| Veteran with Spouse/Partner | $2,936.88 |
| Veteran with Spouse/Partner (both blind) | $3,008.06 |
| Additional amount per dependent child | $304.99 |
| Orphan | $913.85 |
Learn about the eligibility and application process for War Veterans Allowance.
Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation
This is a tax-free monthly benefit to those with severe and permanent service-related disabilities that impact their living condition after service.
How much you get depends on the level of your disability as shown below.
| Disability Grade | Monthly Amount |
| One | $1,767.89 |
| Two | $1,178.59 |
| Three | $589.30 |
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation.
Critical Injury Benefit
This benefit provides up to $87,992.30 as a lump-sum tax-free payment to help affected Canadian Armed Forces members address the impact of severe and traumatic injuries or diseases after service.
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Critical Injury Benefit.
Death Benefit
This is also a lump-sum payment that provides a $440,991.96 tax-free benefit to the spouse/common-law partner and any dependent children of a Canadian Armed Forces member that died while serving.
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Death Benefit.
Education Training Benefit
This program helps you cover the cost of university, college, short-term programs, or technical education.
How much you get depends on your years of service or authorized paid days.
Below are the current rates.
| Years of Service | Maximum Amount |
| Six years | $48,274.98 |
| Twelve years | $96,549.95 |
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Education Training Benefit.
Health-Related Travel Expenses
With this program, you can have some or all of your health-related travel expenses covered so long as you have a VAC Health Identification card.
Below are the maximum payable rates.
| Time | Amount |
| 4 hours or less (Half-day) | $69.94 |
| Full day | $139.89 |
Learn about the eligibility and application process for Health-Related Travel Expenses.
Additional Benefits
• GST/HST Payment Dates
• Carbon Tax Rebate (CAIP) Payment Dates and Benefits
• Manitoba EIA Payment Dates
• BC Income Assistance Dates
• Alberta Seniors Benefit Payment Dates
• AISH Payment Dates
• Canada Fed Deposit Payment
• Nova Scotia Income Assistance Dates
• Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) Payment Dates
FAQs on VAC Payment Dates 2024
Is Veterans Disability benefit taxable?
The Veterans Disability benefit is not taxable because it’s not intended to replace your income. This means that you don’t need to report the benefit while filing income taxes.
However, the Income Replacement Benefit (IRS) is taxable.
Is the VAC monthly payment the same as the lump sum?
The rates of the monthly payments vary with the rate of lump sum payments. And since the monthly payments are paid for a lifetime, you will get more with VAC monthly payment than a lump sum.
How do I get a VAC account?
All you need is to visit the My VAC Account page on the Veteran Affairs Canada website and click on “Register” to sign up.
How do I make a claim with VAC?
You can make a claim with VAC online, by mail, or in person at the VAC office CAF Transition Centre or Service Canada Office.
How long does a VAC appeal take?
It takes an average of 4 months to receive a decision starting from the time your VAC appeal application was submitted.
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