Program profile
The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) was established by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) in 1981. The objective of the program is to help eligible recipients remain in their homes and communities by providing financial assistance toward services that support their independence and health.
In 2019-20, 83,855 Veterans, survivors and primary caregivers received VIP and program expenditures were approximately $339.2M, with nearly 79% going to grants for housekeeping and grounds maintenance.
Evaluation purpose and background
The evaluation was conducted according to the Treasury Board of Canada’s 2016 Policy on Results and Section 42.1 of the Financial Administration Act. The evaluation assessed the relevance and performance (effectiveness and efficiency) of VIP. The findings and conclusions are based on the analysis of multiple lines of qualitative and quantitative evidence and resulted in the following recommendations:
Recommendation 1:
The Director General, Service Delivery and Program Management, work in collaboration with the Director General, Policy and Research and the Director General of Health Professionals enhance employee training and update the functional guidance for VIP to address clients’ evolving needs. Particular attention should be paid to:
- Guidance in support of VIP applications related to mental health issues; and
- Situations where VIP is required for short-term or temporary needs.
Recommendation 2:
The Director General, Policy and Research in collaboration with the Director General, Service Delivery Program Management, determine if there are unintended gender-related impacts occurring relating to VIP services eligibility for primary caregivers.
Recommendation 3:
The Director General, Service Delivery and Program Management, work in collaboration with the Director General, Policy and Research to review and enhance the tools and processes to assess client needs. Priority areas include:
- Explore the development of a tool/instrument and associated process to support evidence-based and consistent assessment of personal care needs;
- Identify vulnerable clients and undertake more frequent follow-up with them clients; and
- Assess the precision of the Grant Determination Tool and its relative adaptability in view of evolving client needs, and the adequacy of the process for rate adjustments.