Streamline the suite of benefits, improve transparency and communications, and improve the experience of Veterans as their needs change throughout their lives.

What success looks like

A streamlined, client-centric process that is easier to navigate, provides timely service and helps Veterans transition to civilian life.

Government's narrative on progress

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is streamlining its suite of benefits with the goal of reducing overlap and administrative burden to ensure a positive client experience for Veterans both as they transition to civilian life and as their needs change throughout their lives. A three-year communications and outreach strategy was launched to ensure that Veterans and their families are well-informed of the range of supports and services available to them. On December 20, 2017, the government announced its Pension for Life plan which will reintroduce lifelong monthly pain and suffering payments with the Pain and Suffering Compensation, implement a new recognition benefit through the Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation, and the Income Replacement Benefit (IRB) that simplifies VAC’s financial support programs through replacing six existing financial benefits with the new IRB. Specifically, the new IRB will replace the Earnings Loss Benefit; Extended Earnings Loss Benefit, Retirement Income Security Benefit, Supplementary Retirement Benefit, the Career Impact Allowance and Career Impact Allowance Supplement. This will reduce the burden on the Veteran and their Caregivers as there will be one application form where there used to be six. The streamlining will come into force April 1, 2019.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.