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Contact Information: Early Years Centres

This dataset provides a breakdown of requests to the Cyber Centre Contact Centre by client type and by contact type.

The evaluation of the Disability Benefits program was conducted in accordance with the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Multi-Year Risk-Based Evaluation Plan 2014–19. The objective of the Disability Benefits program is to compensate Veterans/members and other individuals in recognition of the effects of service-related disabilities, death or incarceration/evasion/escape. The Disability Benefits program consists of both the Disability Pension and the Disability Award. The Pension Act of 1919 provides the framework for the Disability Pension (DP) which is a tax-free monthly payment, with the amount of the payment based on the extent of the Veteran's diagnosed medical disability related to their service.

An effective and efficient phone system is crucial to providing Veterans, their families, and service providers with access to information from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) staff. The National Contact Centre Network (NCCN) provides a central point of contact for external callers to obtain general information and request benefits and services. NCCN Analysts either answer questions or immediately transfer callers to staff who can better respond to a caller’s inquiry. The objective of the audit was to assess the management control framework, compliance with applicable policies and processes, and performance against the service standard.

Veterans Affairs Canada has 60 points of service or responsibility centres, including regional and district offices that provide a wide range of services and programs. District offices provide direct service for programs, with regional offices providing functional direction and oversight. The three largest points of direct service are the Quebec, Halifax and Edmonton district offices which combined serve almost one-third of participants in the Rehabilitation Program. All three District Offices have approximately three client service teams and a varied mix of program participants.

This Rehabilitation Services Evaluation was conducted in accordance with Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) approved Multi-year Risk Based Evaluation Plan 2013-2018. Established in 2006, the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act (hereinafter referred to as the New Veterans Charter or NVC), shifts the Department's focus from one of disability to one of wellness and responds to Canada's commitment to injured Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans. As part of the NVC, the Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program (hereinafter referred to as the Program) provides eligible Veteran recipients and their spouse/survivor(s) with one or more of the following types of rehabilitation services: medical, psychosocial, or vocational. In fiscal year 2012-13, the Program funded $18.4 million in benefits and services.

The evaluation of Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) Disability Pension and Disability Award Programs originated in the requirement to support the renewal of the Terms and Conditions of the Disability Award Program by March 2011. The Disability Award Program is part of the New Veterans Charter (NVC) suite of programs introduced in 2006 in order to meet the needs of a shifting client demographic. The NVC represents the most sweeping changes to Veterans’ benefits and services in the past 60 years.

In the fall 2012, some family members raised concerns related to: the quality of care provided, complaints being ignored, room changes without notice, and staffing levels. All areas of concern were investigated; however, family dissatisfaction persisted. The Department’s expectation is that all Veterans will be treated with respect by any and all who serve them and will receive quality care in provincial long term care facilities. The seriousness of the concerns prompted the Minister to announce that Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) would conduct an audit of the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre (SBVC).

The purpose of this audit is to provide assurance that departmental activities with respect to the processing of overpayments are in compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations. The audit reviewed the overpayments of four programs: Disability Award, Disability Pension, War Veterans Allowance, and Earnings Loss.

An overpayment is any amount paid to a beneficiary to which there is no entitlement, or which exceeds entitlement and are "debts to the Crown". Veterans Affairs Canada is required to pursue and collect any outstanding amounts of overpayments.

The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) was introduced in 1981 to respond to an aging demographic Veteran population and to help reduce long-term care (LTC) bed waitlists by providing care to Veterans at home. The national Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) home care program assists qualified Veterans, still-serving Canadian Forces (CF) disability pensioners, surviving spouses/primary caregivers, and certain civilians to maintain their health, quality of life and independence in their own home for as long as possible. At the point where care in the home is no longer possible, the VIP will assist in providing care in long-term care facilities in the community of the Veteran. The VIP is not intended to duplicate or replace existing provincial/territorial or community services, but complements these programs to best meet the needs of Veterans.