March 2022 Edition
Summary of Program Recipients
Traditional Programs
| Program | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 Forecast |
Forecasted Percentage ChangeFootnote 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disability Pensions | 92,881 | 87,554 | 80,318 | 75,500 | -6.0% |
| Treatment BenefitsFootnote 2 | 78,220 | 74,730 | 76,969 | 82,000 | 6.5% |
| Veterans Independence Program (VIP) | 83,855 | 81,709 | 79,863 | 81,600 | 2.2% |
| War Veterans Allowance | 1,391 | 1,174 | 1,014 | 880 | -13.2% |
Veteran Well-Being Act (VWA) Programs
| Program | 2019–20 | 2021–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 Forecast |
Forecasted Percentage ChangeFootnote 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disability AwardsFootnote 3 | 2,457 | 161 | 81 | 60 | -25.9% |
| Pain and Suffering Compensation | 82,367 | 88,744 | 99,460 | 107,400 | 8.0% |
| Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation | 14,223 | 18,326 | 21,846 | 26,300 | 20.4% |
| Rehabilitation | 14,199 | 14,377 | 13,363 | 13,540 | 1.3% |
| Earnings Loss | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 |
| Income Replacement Benefit | 21,729 | 24,420 | 26,697 | 29,000 | 8.6% |
| Career Impact Allowance (CIA) | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 |
| Canadian Forces Income Support | 95 | 106 | 104 | 110 | 5.8% |
| Supplementary Retirement BenefitFootnote 4Footnote 5 | 10,333 | 181 | 222 | 100 | -55.0% |
| Retirement Income Security Benefit (RISB) | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 | n/aFootnote 4 |
| Critical Injury Benefit | 11 | 18 | 14 | 22 | 57.1% |
| Caregiver Recognition Benefit | 756 | 852 | 1,078 | 1,360 | 26.2% |
| Education and Training Benefit | 1,700 | 1,933 | 2,219 | 2,600 | 17.2% |
| Veteran and Family Well-Being FundFootnote 6 | 32 | 22 | 63 | n/aFootnote 7 | n/aFootnote 7 |
| Veteran Emergency Fund | 865 | 620 | 585 | n/aFootnote 8 | n/aFootnote 8 |
Note: the following programs came into effect April 1, 2018: Education and Training Benefit; Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund; Caregiver Recognition Benefit; and Veteran Emergency Fund. The following programs came into effect April 1, 2019: Pain and Suffering Compensation; Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation; and Income Replacement Benefit.
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Summary of Program Expenditures
Traditional Programs
| Program (in $ millions) | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 ForecastFootnote 9 |
Forecasted Percentage Change Footnote 10Footnote 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disability Pensions | $1,227.6 | $1,125.5 | $1,065.1 | $1,046.6 | -1.7% |
| Other Health Purchased Services (incl. Treatment Benefits) | $630.2 | $627.6 | $699.8 | $793.7 | 13.4% |
| Veterans Independence Program | $339.2 | $339.1 | $340.4 | $347.5 | 2.1% |
| War Veterans Allowance | $4.6 | $3.9 | $3.3 | $3.1 | -6.7% |
Veteran Well-Being Act (VWA) Programs
| Program (in $ millions) | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 ForecastFootnote 9 |
Forecasted Percentage Change Footnote 10Footnote 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disability Awards Footnote 12 | $115.6 | $3.0 | $1.7 | $1.5 | -13.5% |
| Pain and Suffering Compensation | $917.0 | $1,085.5 | $1,543.0 | $1,506.2 | -2.4% |
| Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation | $119.1 | $154.1 | $180.3 | $228.0 | 26.4% |
| Rehabilitation | $48.3 | $55.2 | $69.3 | $81.3 | 17.4% |
| Veterans Support Services | $12.1 | $8.0 | $8.1 | $10.6 | 30.7% |
| Career Transition Services | $1.8 | $2.3 | $2.4 | $3.8 | 58.3% |
| Earnings LossFootnote 13Footnote 14 | $13.9 | $7.0 | $7.7 | $6.5 | -15.9% |
| Income Replacement Benefit | $777.5 | $868.4 | $962.9 | $1,114.0 | 15.7% |
| Career Impact Allowance (CIA)Footnote 15 | $0.0 | $0.1 | $0.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Canadian Forces Income Support | $1.9 | $2.1 | $2.0 | $2.3 | 14.4% |
| Supplementary Retirement BenefitFootnote 13Footnote 5 | $40.6 | $0.9 | $1.4 | $0.5 | -60.7% |
| Retirement Income Security BenefitFootnote 13 | $0.1 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.1 | 534.2% |
| Critical Injury Benefit | $0.8 | $1.4 | $1.1 | $1.8 | 66.3% |
| Caregiver Recognition Benefit | $9.5 | $10.6 | $13.1 | $17.3 | 31.8% |
| Education and Training Benefit | $20.6 | $23.4 | $25.8 | $31.9 | 23.7% |
| Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund | $4.8 | $7.0 | $8.0 | $7.0 | -12.5% |
| Veteran Emergency Fund | $1.5 | $1.5 | $1.3 | $1.0 | -23.6% |
Note: the following programs came into effect April 1, 2018: Education and Training Benefit; Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund; Caregiver Recognition Benefit; and Veteran Emergency Fund. The following programs came into effect April 1, 2019: Pain and Suffering Compensation; Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation; and Income Replacement Benefit.
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Analysis of VAC Facts and Figures
The 2021 Census saw the addition of a question on military service for the first time in 50 years. This census release includes relevant and timely information on Veterans and serving members of the Canadian military. The census counted fewer Veterans than VAC’s estimated number; as documented in the technical report “Veterans data in the 2021 Census”, Statistics Canada concluded that these differences are due to differing data sources, methods, and statistical concepts. VAC will continue to work closely with Statistics Canada and other partners to strengthen data on the Veteran population going forward.
As of March 31, 2022 VAC served 5,880 WS Veterans and 118,820 CAF Veterans. In addition, VAC provided benefits to 30,411 WS survivors, 16,630 CAF survivors, and administers benefits on behalf of 20,564 RCMP members or former members and their survivors.
VAC’s budget fluctuates each year due to the demand-driven nature of its programs which are based on Veterans’ needs and entitlements. In other words, a Veteran who is entitled to a benefit is paid that benefit, whether 10 Veterans come forward or 10,000.
Overall, total VAC clients (Veterans and survivors) increased by 2.1% in 2021-22. It is forecasted that growth in CAF and RCMP Veterans and Survivors will slightly outpace the decline of WS Veterans and Survivors, resulting in an average of 1.4% total VAC client growth over the next 5 years.
Pension For Life
April 1, 2019, Pension for Life (PFL) was introduced. Pension for Life includes three new benefits: Pain and Suffering Compensation; Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation; and Income Replacement Benefit. The Pension for Life Benefits package is intended to meet the following objectives:
- Providing recognition, income support and better overall stability to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans who are living with a disability due to a service-related injury and/or illness.
- Providing a holistic package that reintroduces lifelong monthly pain and suffering payments; implement a new recognition benefit, and consolidate six of seven existing income-related financial benefits.
- Addressing concerns raised by military and Veteran communities and families by empowering CAF members and Veterans living with a disability, caused by a service-related illness or injury, to choose the form of compensation that works best for them and their families.
VAC’s actual spending for 2020-21 was lower than planned due mainly to the demand for certain programs being less than originally forecasted as well as the impacts of the pandemic.
Retired Programs
The former Career Transition Services Program was discontinued as of April 1, 2018 and replaced by the new Career Transition Services Program.
The Family Caregiver Relief Benefit was discontinued as of April 1, 2018 and replaced by the Caregiver Recognition Benefit.
Automation of the VAC Facts & Figures
The VAC Facts & Figures is transitioning from its current format to an automated dashboard in 2023. The dashboard will contain automated client data which will be updated on a monthly basis. It will provide access to client figures for each program with drill-down capability by geographical area, province, age, service type, sex, client type and urban/rural breakdown and will link to the following information: