federal · Canada-wide

Veterans Affairs disability benefits

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) disability benefits pay veterans and qualifying Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or RCMP members for an injury or illness connected to their service. Pain and Suffering Compensation is tax-free. At 100% impairment it pays up to $1,419.82 a month, or a $461,956.71 lump sum. Extra allowances are available for severe and permanent barriers.

Check if I qualify

Verified Aug 22, 2026
federal program · Canada-wide

Work & injury

At a glance

Worth:: pain-and-suffering compensation + allowances
Who:: You are a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces or a qualifying RCMP member (or, in some cases, a survivor or family member).
Apply:: Official program page

What it could be worth

Amount

pain-and-suffering compensation + allowances

Pain and Suffering Compensation (100%): $1,419.82 a month, or $461,956.71 as a lump sum (2026).
Partial extents scale linearly: 80% = $1,135.86 a month; 60% = $851.89 a month; 40% = $567.93 a month; 20% = $283.96 a month; 5% = $70.99 a month.
Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation: Grade 1 $1,851.93 a month, Grade 2 $1,234.62 a month, Grade 3 $617.31 a month.
Exceptional Incapacity Allowance: Grade 1 $1,859.93 a month down to Grade 5 $620.00 a month.

Example: A veteran assessed at 40% for a service-related back injury receives $567.93 a month tax-free (2026). VAC may add Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation or Exceptional Incapacity Allowance grades. Combined tax-free monthly amounts can exceed $3,000 for severe conditions. The assessment percentages decide the numbers.

How it benefits you

Tax-free monthly payments or a one-time lump sum. You choose between them when your assessed extent of disability is 100%.
It can come with extra payments: Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation (up to $1,851.93 a month), Exceptional Incapacity Allowance (up to $1,859.93 a month), and Attendance Allowance.
Being entitled also opens VAC treatment benefits for the accepted conditions. That means health care, medications, and aids.
Payments rise with inflation each year. The figures below rose on January 1, 2026.

What you need to qualify or apply

Eligibility

You are a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces or a qualifying RCMP member (or, in some cases, a survivor or family member).
Your injury or illness is connected to your service, or your service made it worse.
VAC assesses how severe the disability is, in 5% steps from 0% to 100%.
For conditions from service before April 1, 2006, the Pension Act applies, and the rules are different.

How to apply

Start with a VAC case manager or the VAC Assistance Service. They help show how your condition links to your service.
Apply through My VAC Account online (fastest). You can also apply by mail or with help from a case manager.
Send your service and medical records showing the condition and its link to service.
VAC decides whether you are entitled. Then it assesses how severe the disability is to set the payment.
If you disagree, ask for a review or appeal. The Veterans Review and Appeal Board is free.

Documents you may need

Service records and medical file relevant to the claimed condition.
Medical evidence linking the condition to service.
My VAC Account registration (for online application and payment updates).