Service can leave lasting marks that nobody else can see. PTSD, depression and anxiety are common among people who served, and they can shape work, family and sleep for years. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) offers disability benefits for service-related conditions, including mental health conditions. Applying can also open coverage for mental health treatment while you wait. This guide explains who qualifies, how to apply and how to get support along the way.
This is general information. Veterans Affairs Canada makes every decision, and its current pages and policies are the ones that count.
What VAC disability benefits are
A VAC disability benefit is a tax-free financial payment. VAC describes it as recognition of the impact a service-related condition can have on your life.
If you qualify, you receive Pain and Suffering Compensation. You can choose a monthly payment for life or a lump sum. A separate Disability Pension still applies to some people, such as those who served in the Second World War or the Korean War, or who applied before April 1, 2006.
How much you get depends on two things:
Entitlement. How much your condition is related to your service.
Assessment. How severe your condition is, including its effect on your quality of life.
VAC publishes its current rates on its website. We don't quote them here because they change.
Who can apply
VAC says you can qualify if you are:
a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member or Veteran
a current or former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
a Second World War or Korean War Veteran, including the Merchant Navy
certain civilians who served in the Second World War
You should apply if you have a diagnosed medical condition and can show that it's related to your service. Mental health conditions such as PTSD can qualify. You don't need to wait until things are at their worst.
Mental Health Benefits while you wait
This is one of the most useful things to know. If you're a former CAF member and you apply for disability benefits for an anxiety disorder, depressive disorder or trauma-and-stressor-related disorder (which includes PTSD), you can get Mental Health Benefits right away.
Here's how it works, according to VAC:
There's no separate application. You become eligible on the date VAC receives your disability benefits application.
It covers treatment while you wait. This includes certain prescription drugs and treatment by a mental health professional, in person or online.
It lasts up to two years from the date VAC receives your completed application, or until you get a favourable decision. If the decision is favourable, your coverage moves to VAC's Treatment Benefits program for as long as you need it.
You can keep your current provider. VAC says you can stay with your current health professional.
Still-serving CAF members get mental health care through the CAF health plan instead. The exception is some Reserve Force members on Class A or Class B service under 180 days.
Once you're found eligible, VAC sends a letter. Medavie Blue Cross then sends you a health card if you don't already have one. Some services need pre-authorization before your first treatment. You or your provider can ask for it.
How to apply, step by step
Get your diagnosis in writing. VAC needs a diagnosed condition. If you don't have one yet, a diagnosis is your first step.
Apply online through My VAC Account. VAC says the guided form makes applying easier. You can also download a paper form and drop it off at a VAC office, CAF Transition Centre or Service Canada office, or mail it.
Complete the medical questionnaire. VAC uses medical questionnaires to support your diagnosis and add to its Table of Disabilities. Your health professional fills in the clinical parts.
Show the link to your service. Describe the events, duties or exposures you connect to your condition. Include dates and places where you can.
Ask for help if you need it. VAC staff can help at its offices, at CAF Transition Centres or by phone at 1-866-522-2122. Service Officers with The Royal Canadian Legion or The War Amps can also help for free.
Keep copies of everything you send, and note the date you applied. That date matters for Mental Health Benefits.
How VAC reviews your claim
A trained decision-maker called an adjudicator reviews your application. VAC says it uses:
Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines, which describe known injuries and diseases related to service
The Table of Disabilities, which helps measure your level of impairment and its effect on your quality of life
Medical questionnaires, which support the diagnosis
Clear, detailed medical information helps. So does a plain description of how your symptoms affect your daily life. For example, you might describe trouble sleeping, pulling away from people or struggling in crowds.
If you disagree with the decision
You can ask for a Departmental review in writing if you're not satisfied. VAC's reviews and appeals page explains the options and next steps.
If your condition gets worse later, you can ask for a reassessment. You'll need medical evidence that shows the change. If the reassessment confirms it, VAC adjusts your benefit, unless you already get the maximum.
If your disability decision isn't favourable, your Mental Health Benefits coverage stays active until the end of its two-year period.
What about your family?
Service affects the whole household. Partners and children often carry stress too. Family members can't apply for Mental Health Benefits themselves, because they don't qualify for VAC disability benefits. But VAC says that if your health professional believes treatment for one or more family members will help your own health, family members may qualify for coverage too.
If you'd like your partner involved in your care, raise it with your provider early. Couples sessions can be done in person together or online together. With us, both partners need to be in Ontario for an online session. A shared plan can make home feel less tense while you wait for a decision.
Keeping track of receipts
If you pay out of pocket for covered treatment, keep your receipts. VAC says you can ask to be paid back within 18 months of getting the service, and that this can be extended while your application is still being decided. Receipts should show the date, the service, the amount paid and the provider's name and address. The provider must be licensed or certified in your province.
Therapy for Veterans and RCMP members
You don't have to have the right words for what you're carrying. Therapy can help with trauma, sleep, anger, grief and the move back to civilian life. It's also a place to talk about the hard parts of applying, which can mean reliving events you'd rather forget.
Learn more about our counselling for Veterans, what treatments work for PTSD and how to choose a trauma therapist. Our clinicians can provide supporting documentation where appropriate, as part of your care with us.
You can see us in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge or Ottawa, or by secure video from anywhere in Ontario.
Cost, billing and your first step
Sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician.
We can direct bill Veterans Affairs Canada. VAC decides what it approves and covers, so we can't promise that a claim or a session will be covered.
We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs), and we can direct bill many other insurers. Coverage depends on your plan.
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. Let them know you're a Veteran or RCMP member and whether you've applied to VAC, and they'll help you find a good fit.
If you're in crisis: if you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911. If you're thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Disability benefits, Veterans Affairs Canada
Mental Health Benefits, Veterans Affairs Canada
Mental Health Benefits FAQ, Veterans Affairs Canada