War Veterans Allowance (Canada)

Responsibility: Veterans Affairs Canada

Under certain conditions, if your deceased spouse or common-law partner was receiving the War Veterans Allowance, you may be eligible for a surviving spouse's and orphan's allowance, if you have a dependent child.

Your benefits will end if you remarry, live with a common-law partner, or if you die.

The War Veterans Allowance is a form of financial assistance provided by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). In recognition of their wartime service, those who qualify receive a regular monthly income to meet their basic needs.

The monthly allowance rate is based on income, family situation and number of dependants. The allowance is paid at the rate applicable to a single person, a person in a couple relationship or an orphan. Common-law partners may also be eligible for an allowance at the married rate.

Eligibility
Eligibility is determined by wartime service as a veteran or eligible civilian, age, health, income, and residence.

SERVICE CRITERIA

  • Canadian Forces or Merchant Navy veterans who served in the First or Second World War or the Korean War;
  • Allied Veterans who served in the First or Second World War and who were domiciled in Canada at the time of enlistment or at any time during service;
  • Civilians who served in a theater of war in close cooperation with the Canadian Armed Forces.

SURVIVORS

Surviving spouses, surviving common-law partners and orphans may also be eligible for the allowance if the deceased Veteran or civilian met the service criteria.

INCOME TEST

The Veteran's Allowance is subject to an income test that considers most regular income to determine eligibility. The Department may round up your income to a maximum set by law. This maximum is increased four times a year based on increases in the Consumer Price Index. Our method of assessing income is similar to that used by other federal income support programs, such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Both programs use the same definition of "income" - a definition that is based on the Income Tax Act. Annual exemptions allow the recipient to receive certain income without reducing the amount of their allowance. These exemptions include casual earnings exemptions ($4,200 for married or common-law recipients and $2,900 for single recipients), and interest exemptions ($140 for married, common-law or single recipients).

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must reside in Canada at the time of application. As a result of amendments to the Act in 1995, official Allied Forces war service Veterans no longer need to have resided in Canada for ten years to meet the residency requirement. Recipients who were receiving benefits on or before February 27, 1995, may continue to apply for and receive benefits as long as they reside in Canada and meet the income test.

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