A report by Dr Alice Aiken and Amy Buitenhuis of Queen’s University explored the social and physical welfare of veterans living with disability, compared to previous generations of veterans.
Until 2006, the Pension Act (1985) determined financial benefit eligibility of veterans with disabilities. The benefits consisted of a number of monthly pensions and allowances. In 2006, the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act, referred to as the New Veterans Charter (NVC) was enacted, changing the way that veterans with disabilities are compensated. A new publication by Dr Alice Aiken and Amy Buitenhuis compares the benefits available to Veterans under both of these Acts and finds that some Veterans are receiving considerably less than they did under the Pension Act.
The study found that under the New Veteran’s Charter Veterans who live longer, are married, have more children, have a higher disability assessment, and those who were released at a lower rank are financially disadvantaged compared to what they would have received under the Pension Act. The authors recommend changes need to be made to the NVC to ensure that veterans with severe disabilities receive compensation equivalent to that under the Pension Act.
To download a copy of the report click here.