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Questions and answers

Background

Support from caregivers is important to the well-being of Veterans and their families. The Caregiver Recognition Benefit (CRB) is a monthly, tax-free payment of $1,000 (indexed annually by the Consumer Price Index) paid directly to informal caregivers to recognize the contribution they make to the health and well-being of disabled Veterans.

General

Q1. What is the Caregiver Recognition Benefit?

The Caregiver Recognition Benefit recognizes the contribution that informal caregivers make to the health and well-being of ill and injured Veterans. This is a monthly, tax-free $1,000* benefit paid directly to a qualified informal caregiver.

*Indexed annually by the Consumer Price Index.

Q2. Is the CRB monthly payment amount indexed annually?

Yes, the CRB monthly payment amount is indexed annually by the Consumer Price Index.

Q3. What is the current CRB monthly payment amount?

You can find the current CRB payment amount on our rates page.

Q4. Are Caregiver Recognition Benefit payments taxable?

No. A CRB recipient does not need to report their CRB payments on their annual income tax. CRB payments are not considered income. The CRB is intended to recognize the contribution that an informal caregiver makes to the health and well-being of the Veteran.

Qualifications

Q5. Who can qualify for the CRB?

You may qualify for the CRB if you:

  • are a former Canadian Armed Forces member.
  • have been approved for a Disability Award or Pain and Suffering Compensation.
  • have not been awarded a Disability Pension or a Prisoner of War Compensation of least 1 per cent*.
  • are not a permanent resident of a nursing home or long-term care facility.
  • need ongoing care, expected to last for at least 12 months, because of the physical, mental, or cognitive health condition(s) for which your Disability Award or your Pain and Suffering Compensation was approved.
  • need at least one of the following:
    • a level of care and supervision consistent with admission to an institution.
    • daily physical assistance of another person for most activities of daily living.
    • ongoing direction and supervision during the performance of most activities of daily living.
    • daily supervision and is not considered safe when left alone.
  • have an unpaid informal caregiver who is 18 years of age or older who plays an essential role in the provision or coordination of your ongoing care.

*If you have been awarded a Disability Pension or a Prisoner of War Compensation of 1 per cent or more, you may qualify for support through Attendance Allowance.

Q6. What are activities of daily living?

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are a set of activities necessary for self-care and are used to determine if a Veteran qualifies for the CRB. The following 7 ADLs are considered when a decision maker reviews a CRB application:

  • Mobility (1 ADL) - ability to do transfers and ambulation (e.g., climbing stairs, walking, etc.)
  • Self-care (6 ADLs)
    • Feeding - ability to eat and drink prepared foods (e.g., cutting up food, buttering bread, etc.)
    • Washing - ability to wash their face, trunk, extremities, and hair
    • Dressing - putting on and taking off all pieces of indoor and outdoor clothing
    • Grooming/Foot Care/Personal Care - ability to brush their hair and teeth, shave and apply make-up, skin and nail care, cleansing and personal care associated with toileting
    • Toileting - ability to get to and from the toilet facilities and the ability to control continence of bowel and bladder
    • Taking medication - ability to prepare and self-administer medication

Q7. What if I am awarded a Disability Award and/or a Pain and Suffering Compensation for a mental health condition and not a physical condition? Can I still qualify for the CRB?

Yes. If you have been awarded a Disability Award and/or a Pain and Suffering Compensation for a mental health condition, you can be considered for the CRB.

Q8. I am a serving Canadian Armed Forces member. Can I be approved for the CRB?

No. A current member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) does not qualify for the CRB. You should only apply for CRB if you have an anticipated release date occurring within the next 6 months. A CRB application decision will be rendered once the CAF has verified your release date.

If you are approved for the benefit when you release, your designated informal caregiver’s effective payment date will be the first day of the month of your verified release date. If you released on the last day of the month, the effective payment date will be the first day of the following month.

Application Process

Q9. What is the CRB application process?

Both you and your designated informal caregiver must complete and sign sections of the Caregiver Recognition Benefit Application – VAC1540.

A completed CRB application form can be submitted to us in the following ways:

  1. Online through My VAC Account (preferable option); or
  2. Downloading the application form and mailing it to:    
    Veterans Affairs Canada
    PO Box 6000
    Matane QC G4W 0E4

Note: It is not mandatory for you to provide medical evidence when applying for CRB; however, you do have the option of supplying supportive medical documentation regarding your ongoing needs. You may be required to undergo an assessment as part of the application process.

Q10. What if I need assistance with the CRB application?

If you require assistance with the CRB application, please contact us by:

Q11. Is there a time limit to apply for the CRB?

No, you can apply for the CRB at any time.

Q12. When can a CRB decision be expected?

You and your designated informal caregiver can expect to receive a CRB decision letter within 8 weeks of submitting a complete application. A CRB application is considered complete when it is signed by you and your caregiver, and we have all the supporting documentation required to render a decision.

Q13. If a CRB application is approved, when will my designated informal caregiver receive a payment?

If your CRB application is approved, your designated informal caregiver will receive a payment within 1 week of the decision date.

The CRB effective payment date is the first day of the month in which the application is submitted. This will be the earlier of the date stamped on the application when it is received and the date the application is received at the Digital Images Scanning Centre in Matane, QC.

Appeals

Q14. Can I appeal a CRB decision?

You can request a review of your CRB decision by contacting us in writing within 60 days of receiving the decision, via a My VAC Account secure message or by mail at:

Veterans Affairs Canada
National First Level Appeals
PO Box 6000
Matane QC G4W 0E4

Ongoing Qualifications

Q15. Do I need to requalify each year for the CRB?

No. The CRB is paid on an ongoing basis to your designated informal caregiver if you continue to meet the benefit’s qualifications. We may ask you and your designated informal caregiver to provide supporting information and for you to undergo an assessment to confirm that you still qualify for the benefit.

Q16. What happens when a Veteran feels they no longer require an informal caregiver?

It is your responsibility to inform VAC when your circumstances change, and you no longer require an informal caregiver. Once notified, we will stop payments to your designated informal caregiver to avoid overpayment.

Q17. What does a Veteran need to do if they move into a long-term care facility?

If you permanently move into a long-term care facility, you need to inform us immediately to stop payments to your designated informal caregiver to avoid overpayment.

Caregivers

Q18. Who is considered an informal caregiver?

An informal caregiver is a person 18 years of age or older who plays an essential role in the provision and/or coordination of ongoing care for a Veteran in their home who receive no payment for their work.

If you submit a CRB application, your designated informal caregiver will need to provide proof of identity (e.g., driver’s license) and attest to the fact that they are:

  • 18 years of age or older.
  • play an essential role in providing and/or coordinating your ongoing care in your home; and
  • not paid for providing and/or coordinating this care.

Q19. Why does someone have to be 18 years of age or older to be considered an informal caregiver for the purposes of the CRB?

The CRB legislation requires that an informal caregiver be at least 18 years of age or older. This age was determined to be appropriate given the nature and degree of the care that they will need to provide or coordinate.

Q20. If the CRB is paid to the informal caregiver, why do they not apply for the benefit?

As it is your health needs that require the services of an informal caregiver, you must apply for the CRB. If you have granted power of attorney (POA) to an individual, the POA may apply for the benefit on your behalf. The informal caregiver is always required to complete and sign a section of the CRB application.

Q21. Can I change my designated informal caregiver if I qualify for the CRB?

Yes. If you want to change your designated informal caregiver, you should let us know as soon as possible. You will need to submit a new Caregiver Recognition Benefit Application – VAC1540.

Your application will be processed within 8 weeks, and if approved, your new designated informal caregiver can expect payment within 1 week of receiving the decision. The effective payable date will be the first day of the month in which your application was received. 

Q22. My informal caregiver is receiving the CRB on behalf of another Veteran. Can they receive the benefit on my behalf too?

Yes. It is possible for more than one Veteran to designate the same informal caregiver. The caregiver must be capable off fulfilling the role of providing support to multiple Veterans to be entitled to receive the multiple CRB payments.

Q23. Can the CRB be paid to my informal caregiver if they do not live with me?

Yes. Your informal caregiver is not required to live with you, or even live in the same province/country as you, if they are coordinating your care.

Resources

Q24. What other resources are available for caregivers?

The following resources may be beneficial to you and/or your informal caregiver:

  • VAC Assistance Service is a 24/7 confidential and free service with mental health professionals by calling 1-800-268-7708 or 1-800-567-5803 for the hearing impaired.
  • Peer Support - A peer support network for Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans who are experiencing an operational stress injury (OSI).
  • LifeSpeak - A self-help website with videos and information about mental health, nutrition, and more.
  • Pastoral Outreach Spiritual - Support through VAC’s pastoral outreach service.
  • Veteran Independence Program - Payments for home services to help qualifying Veterans, survivors, or primary caregivers to remain independent and self-sufficient in their home.
  • Group Health Insurance - Voluntary health care coverage for qualified Veterans, their family members, and qualified survivors of a deceased CAF member due to a service-related injury.
  • Health-Related Travel Expenses - Qualified Veterans who travel to receive authorized healthcare services or benefits may be reimbursed by VAC.
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