Knowledge Centre
Plain-language guides, checklists, and resources to help you understand the system — at your own pace.
Veterans Transition Roadmap
See how release planning, health care, income, benefits, documents, education and post-release support may fit together.
Knowledge Hubs
Explore focused topic areas that bring together guides, programs, tools, timelines, and checklists.
Medical Release
Understanding the medical release process, transition phases, and what to expect before, during, and after release from the Canadian Armed Forces.
Disability Claims
How disability claims work, what evidence may help, and how to prepare an application that clearly explains your condition and its impact.
Income & Benefits
Understanding how income programs work together after release, including pensions, disability benefits, tax credits, and financial planning.
Health & Rehab
Accessing treatment, rehabilitation services, mental health support, and health coverage after release.
Decisions & Appeals
Understanding VAC decisions, departmental reviews, and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board process.
Education & Employment
Exploring education funding, career transition services, vocational rehabilitation, and employment after release.
Families & Caregivers
Supports for family members, caregivers, and survivors of veterans, including recognition benefits, independence programs, and survivor benefits.
Life After Release
Navigating the first years after release, ongoing needs, reassessments, and long-term life after service.
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Explore topics at your own pace. Each category connects you to guides, tools, and resources relevant to your situation.
Getting Started
New to the system? Start here for orientation and your first steps.
Medical Release
Phases, records, health coverage, income and transition planning.
Benefits
Understanding VAC, CRA, CPP-D, SISIP, and provincial programs.
Claims & Evidence
Tools and guides for preparing applications and evidence.
Health & Wellness
OSI clinics, treatment pathways, mental health, and daily functioning.
Families & Caregivers
Supports for family members, caregivers, and survivors.
Education & Employment
ETB, career transition, rehabilitation and credential recognition.
Housing & Community
Housing programs and community-based supports.
Money, Taxes & Disability
Multiple payers, taxable income, DTC, CDB and RDSP explained.
Downloads
Checklists, worksheets, templates, and printable guides.
Benefits by Type
The Benefits Library is organized by program type. Explore a specific category or browse the full library.
Featured Resources
A few guides to get you started.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a non-refundable federal tax credit that can reduce income tax payable by an approved person or, where conditions are met, a supporting family member. Eligibility is based on the effects of a severe and prolonged impairment, not on diagnosis, employment status, income level or military service. Approval can also open access to other programs, including the RDSP and Canada Disability Benefit, subject to their separate rules.
CRARegistered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a long-term savings plan for a person approved for the Disability Tax Credit. Private contributions are not tax-deductible, but investment growth is sheltered while inside the plan. Depending on age and family income, the plan may receive Canada Disability Savings Grants and Bonds. Withdrawals can trigger repayment of recent grants and bonds under the assistance holdback rules, so the RDSP should be treated as long-term planning rather than an ordinary savings account.
VACDisability Pension
The Disability Pension is a tax-free monthly disability benefit under the Pension Act. It generally applies to eligible service before April 1, 2006 and to certain groups and service types still governed by the Pension Act, including eligible RCMP service. Like PSC, the decision involves both entitlement - the relationship between disability and service - and assessment - the extent of disability. Additional Pension Act allowances may become relevant in some cases.
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Browse DownloadsGlossary
Common acronyms you may encounter, explained in plain language.
CAF — Canadian Armed Forces
Canada’s military, including the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
Responsible: DND/CAF
DND — Department of National Defence
The federal department responsible for defending Canada and its interests.
Responsible: DND/CAF
VAC — Veterans Affairs Canada
The federal department that delivers benefits and services to veterans and their families.
Responsible: VAC
CAF TC — CAF Transition Centre
A centre that helps CAF members plan and manage their transition to civilian life.
Responsible: DND/CAF
MEL — Medical Employment Limitation
A medical designation that describes functional limitations on a member’s ability to perform military duties.
Responsible: CAF Health Services
DMCA — Director Military Careers Administration
A Canadian Armed Forces authority responsible for military-career administration and specified administrative decisions, including parts of the medical-release process.
Responsible: Department of National Defence
ITP — Integrated Transition Plan
A personalized plan that outlines the steps, resources, and support for a member’s transition to civilian life.
Responsible: DND/CAF
SCAN — Second Career Assistance Network
A CAF transition training program that helps members prepare for civilian life.
Responsible: DND/CAF
SISIP — Service Income Security Insurance Plan
A CAF long-term disability insurance program administered by Manulife that provides income support to released members.
Responsible: SISIP / Manulife
CAF LTD — CAF Long Term Disability
The long-term disability insurance plan administered by SISIP/Manulife for CAF members.
Responsible: SISIP / Manulife
VRP — Vocational Rehabilitation Program
A program that may provide education, training, and vocational support to CAF LTD recipients.
Responsible: SISIP / Manulife
IRB — Income Replacement Benefit
A VAC benefit that provides monthly income support to eligible veterans participating in rehabilitation or who have a diminished earning capacity.
Responsible: VAC
DEC — Diminished Earnings Capacity
A VAC designation for veterans whose earning capacity is affected by a service-related condition and who may be eligible for ongoing IRB.
Responsible: VAC
PSC — Pain and Suffering Compensation
A VAC benefit that recognizes pain and suffering caused by a service-related injury or illness.
Responsible: VAC
APSC — Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation
A VAC benefit for severe and permanent impairment causing extraordinary pain and suffering.
Responsible: VAC
VIP — Veterans Independence Program
A VAC home-care program for veterans who need help with daily living activities.
Responsible: VAC
CRB — Caregiver Recognition Benefit
A VAC benefit that provides monthly financial recognition to informal caregivers of eligible veterans.
Responsible: VAC
ETB — Education and Training Benefit
A VAC benefit that provides funding for education, training, and related costs to help veterans transition to civilian employment.
Responsible: VAC
CTS — Career Transition Services
A VAC program that provides job-search assistance and career-transition support to veterans.
Responsible: VAC
VEF — Veteran Emergency Fund
A VAC fund that provides emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families in urgent need.
Responsible: VAC
CFIS — Canadian Forces Income Support
A VAC benefit that provides additional income support to veterans with low income who are receiving other VAC benefits.
Responsible: VAC
CIB — Critical Injury Benefit
A Veterans Affairs Canada tax-free lump-sum benefit for eligible CAF members and Veterans who experienced a sudden and single service-related incident after March 31, 2006 that immediately caused a severe traumatic injury or acute disease and severe impairment. Veterans Affairs Canada determines eligibility.
Responsible: Veterans Affairs Canada
CPP-D — Canada Pension Plan Disability
A federal disability benefit for people who have contributed to CPP and cannot work due to a severe and prolonged disability.
Responsible: Service Canada
DTC — Disability Tax Credit
A CRA tax credit for people with severe and prolonged impairments that affect basic activities of daily living.
Responsible: CRA
RDSP — Registered Disability Savings Plan
A savings plan for people with disabilities that may receive government grants and bonds.
Responsible: CRA
BPA — Bureau of Pensions Advocates
A federal organization that provides free legal representation to veterans at VRAB hearings.
Responsible: VAC
VRAB — Veterans Review and Appeal Board
The independent tribunal that reviews VAC disability benefit decisions at the review and appeal stages.
Responsible: VRAB
Departmental Review
The first level of review for a VAC disability decision, conducted within VAC.
Responsible: VAC
Reassessment
A request to VAC to review a disability decision when a condition has worsened or new information is available.
Responsible: VAC
Entitlement
A VAC decision that a condition is related to service. This is separate from the assessment (severity).
Responsible: VAC
Extent of Disability
A VAC assessment of the severity of a service-related condition, expressed as a percentage.
Responsible: VAC
Service Relationship
The connection between a condition and military service. VAC determines whether a condition is related to service.
Responsible: VAC
Programs of Choice
The categories of treatment services that VAC may cover for entitled conditions.
Responsible: VAC
Medavie Blue Cross
The third-party administrator that processes VAC treatment benefits claims and authorizations.
Responsible: VAC / Medavie Blue Cross
PSHCP — Public Service Health Care Plan
A health-care plan for CAF members and their families that may continue after release when eligible.
Responsible: CAF / Treasury Board
PDSP — Pensioners' Dental Services Plan
A voluntary contributory dental plan for eligible federal pensioners and eligible dependants, including qualifying retired Canadian Armed Forces members. Eligibility and coverage are governed by the official plan rules.
Responsible: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
IPR — Intended Place of Residence
The location a member intends to move to after release. Relocation benefits may have deadlines tied to the IPR.
Responsible: CAF
My VAC Account
The online portal where veterans can apply for benefits, check status, and communicate with VAC.
Responsible: VAC