The Caregiver Recognition Benefit (CRB) is a tax-free monthly payment from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to the unpaid person who cares for a seriously injured Veteran at home. The Veteran applies, but the money goes straight to the caregiver. For 2026 it pays $1,264.25 a month.
How much you’ll get
The CRB is a flat amount. It doesn’t depend on the caregiver’s income or the Veteran’s income. It goes up once a year with the Consumer Price Index.
| Amount (January to December 2026) | |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Each month | $1,264.25 |
| Over 12 months | $15,171.00 |
| Tax | Tax-free. VAC says CRB payments aren’t counted as income by the Canada Revenue Agency. |
Only one caregiver can be paid at a time. VAC also says plainly that the CRB is meant to recognize care, not to replace lost wages.
Example. Sam is a Veteran who gets Pain and Suffering Compensation for a service-related injury and can’t safely be left alone, so he needs daily supervision. His daughter cares for him at home without pay. If Sam applies in March 2026 and is approved, his daughter gets $1,264.25 a month, back-dated to March 1, 2026.
Who qualifies
The Veteran must meet all of these:
- You’re a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces with an approved Disability Award or Pain and Suffering Compensation.
- You need ongoing care because of the condition that award was approved for.
- You need at least one of these: care at the level of a nursing home, daily physical help, or ongoing direction and supervision, with at least four activities of daily living, or daily supervision because it isn’t safe to leave you alone.
- You don’t live permanently in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
- You don’t have a Pension Act disability pension of 1% or more.
The caregiver must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Play an essential role in providing or coordinating the Veteran’s ongoing care at home.
- Not be paid for that care.
How to apply
- The Veteran applies, or someone with power of attorney applies for them.
- The caregiver fills out and signs their own section of the application.
- Send it online through My VAC Account, by mail using form VAC1540, or in person at an appointment.
- VAC may ask for an assessment of the Veteran’s care needs. Expect a decision letter within about 8 weeks of a complete application.
- If approved, the first payment reaches the caregiver within about a week of the decision. It’s back-dated to the first day of the month VAC received the application.
There’s no deadline. You can apply at any time. For help with the form, call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
When the CRB is paid
VAC pays the CRB monthly, but it doesn’t publish a payment day for it. VAC’s published monthly dates are for disability benefits, so we don’t show them for the CRB. The calendar at the top of this page will show CRB dates if VAC publishes them. Your own deposit dates appear in My VAC Account.
What changed in 2026
The monthly amount rose to $1,264.25 on January 1, 2026, with the yearly cost-of-living increase. The eligibility rules didn’t change.
Payment late, missing or different?
VAC doesn’t give a waiting period. If a payment hasn’t arrived by the end of the day you expected it, check with your bank first. Then check My VAC Account or call VAC at 1-866-522-2122 (French 1-866-522-2022; TDD/TTY 1-833-921-0071), Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm local time. From the US, call 1-888-996-2242.
Common reasons a payment stops or changes:
- The Veteran moves permanently into long-term care. Tell VAC right away, or the caregiver may have to repay money later.
- The caregiver changes. Only one designated caregiver can be paid. The benefit stops for the old caregiver when a new one is named.
- A death. Payments stop on the first day of the month after the Veteran or the caregiver dies.
- Care needs change. VAC can reassess the Veteran’s needs and ask both of you for updated information.
- New bank details. Update your direct deposit before the next payment.
Watch for scams. VAC will never ask for a fee, gift cards or your password by text or email to release a payment. If you’re unsure, hang up and call VAC yourself at 1-866-522-2122.
Other help you might be missing
- VAC Pension for Life: Pain and Suffering Compensation, the extra monthly amount for severe conditions, and income replacement. The Veteran must have a Disability Award or PSC to qualify for the CRB anyway.
- Veterans disability pension: the monthly dates VAC publishes for disability benefits.
- War Veterans Allowance: monthly help for low-income Second World War and Korean War Veterans and survivors.
- Canada Disability Benefit: a federal monthly payment for working-age adults with a disability tax credit certificate.
- Benefits checkup: a quick way to see what else your household might get.
Common questions
Who gets the Caregiver Recognition Benefit money, the Veteran or the caregiver?
The caregiver. The Veteran applies and names the caregiver, and VAC pays the caregiver directly.
Is the Caregiver Recognition Benefit taxable?
No. It’s a tax-free benefit, and VAC says the Canada Revenue Agency doesn’t count it as income.
Can a spouse get the Caregiver Recognition Benefit?
Yes, as long as the spouse is 18 or older, plays an essential role in the Veteran’s care at home, and isn’t paid for it. Only one caregiver can receive it at a time.
How long does it take to get the CRB?
Expect a decision letter within about 8 weeks of a complete application. If you’re approved, the first payment comes within about a week of the decision, back-dated to the month VAC got the application.
What happens to the CRB if the Veteran goes into a nursing home?
If the move is permanent, the Veteran no longer qualifies. Tell VAC so payments stop and you don’t end up with an overpayment to repay.