Pension for Life is the group of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) benefits for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans who are ill or injured because of their service. It has three main parts: Pain and Suffering Compensation, Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation and the Income Replacement Benefit. In 2026, Pain and Suffering Compensation pays up to $1,419.82 a month, tax-free, for life.
How much you’ll get (2026 rates)
VAC rates are set each January 1. These are the amounts for January to December 2026.
| Benefit | 2026 amount | Taxable? |
|---|---|---|
| Pain and Suffering Compensation, 100% disability, monthly | $1,419.82 a month | No |
| Pain and Suffering Compensation, 100% disability, lump sum | $461,956.71 once | No |
| Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation, grade 1 (highest) | $1,851.93 a month | No |
| Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation, grade 2 | $1,234.62 a month | No |
| Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation, grade 3 | $617.31 a month | No |
| Income Replacement Benefit, minimum income | $60,002.64 a year before tax | Yes |
Pain and Suffering Compensation
The amount depends on how much your condition is related to your service and how severe it is, shown as a percentage. The full amounts above are for 100%. Lower percentages get a smaller share. For example, a 50% assessment works out to about $709.91 a month in 2026.
It is paid monthly for life unless you choose a lump sum. If you start with monthly payments, you can later ask for the rest as a lump sum.
Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation
This is an extra monthly payment for a service-related condition that is severe and permanent and makes life after service harder. VAC gives you a grade from 1 to 3 based on how independent you are, such as your mobility and whether you need help with bathing or dressing. Your earnings don’t affect it.
Income Replacement Benefit
The Income Replacement Benefit (IRB) tops up your income while a service-related health problem affects your ability to work. It brings your total income to at least 90% of your gross pre-release military salary, or $60,002.64 a year in 2026, whichever is higher. It is taxable.
- It is reduced by other income such as a military pension, CPP or QPP, Old Age Security and disability insurance.
- You can earn up to $20,000 a year from work without losing any IRB. Above that, it goes down by one dollar for every dollar you earn.
- If VAC finds you have a diminished earning capacity, the IRB continues after 65 at 70% of the amount you got before 65, minus offsets.
Example
A Veteran assessed at 100% who chose monthly payments and has grade 2 Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation gets $1,419.82 + $1,234.62 = $2,654.44 a month tax-free in 2026. Any Income Replacement Benefit is paid on top and is taxable.
Who qualifies
- Pain and Suffering Compensation: you are a CAF member or Veteran with a diagnosed medical condition or disability related to your service.
- Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation: you already get a VAC disability benefit, and your service-related condition is permanent and severe and is a barrier to re-establishing in civilian life.
- Income Replacement Benefit: you are a CAF member or Veteran under 65 in VAC’s Rehabilitation Program for a service-related health problem, or VAC has found you have a diminished earning capacity.
- Survivors and orphans can get the IRB if the member or Veteran died before 65 of a service-related illness or injury, or died while getting the IRB.
Current and former RCMP members, Second World War and Korean War Veterans, and CAF members who applied before April 1, 2006, get the Veterans Disability Pension instead of Pain and Suffering Compensation.
How to apply
None of these benefits is automatic. You apply for each one.
- Online: sign in to My VAC Account and use the guided forms. This is usually the easiest way.
- On paper: download the form (PEN-923 for disability benefits) and mail it to Veterans Affairs Canada, PO Box 6000, Matane QC G4W 0E4.
- In person: drop it off at a VAC office, a CAF Transition Centre or a Service Canada office.
Apply for disability benefits first. You need to be getting one before you can get Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation. For help, call VAC at 1-866-522-2122, or ask a Service Officer at the Royal Canadian Legion or the War Amps of Canada. Help is free.
What changed in 2026
- All Pension for Life rates were indexed on January 1, 2026. The 100% monthly Pain and Suffering Compensation is $1,419.82 and the IRB minimum is $60,002.64 a year.
- The next increase is due January 1, 2027. The 2027 rates and payment dates have not been published.
Payment late, missing or different?
Monthly Pain and Suffering Compensation is paid on VAC’s disability benefit dates, near the end of each month. They’re in the calendar at the top of this page. VAC doesn’t publish separate dates for Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation or the IRB, so check My VAC Account for those.
If a payment hasn’t arrived by the end of the payment day, 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, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. From the United States, call 1-888-996-2242.
Common reasons a payment is late or different:
- Your bank details or address changed. Update direct deposit in My VAC Account.
- Your IRB went down because you started getting CPP, a military pension or other income that VAC offsets.
- You earned more than $20,000 from work, which lowers the IRB.
- You chose a lump sum, so monthly Pain and Suffering Compensation stopped.
- Rates changed on January 1.
Watch for scams. The government never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords by text or email. If a message about your benefits seems off, call VAC directly.
The VAC Assistance Service offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day at 1-800-268-7708.
Other help you might be missing
- CPP disability: if you can’t work regularly and paid into CPP. It can reduce your IRB, so tell VAC.
- Federal public pensions: if you also get a pension from your CAF service.
- Canada Disability Benefit: if you are 18 to 64, have the Disability Tax Credit and a low income.
- GST/HST credit: a quarterly tax-free payment for lower incomes. You just file your taxes.
- Canada Child Benefit: if you have children under 18.
Common questions
Is Pain and Suffering Compensation taxable?
No. Pain and Suffering Compensation and Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation are tax-free. The Income Replacement Benefit is taxable.
Should I take the lump sum or monthly payments?
It is your choice. Monthly payments are for life. If you start monthly, you can later ask for the rest as a lump sum. Talk it through with VAC or a Legion Service Officer before deciding.
How much is Pain and Suffering Compensation per month in 2026?
Up to $1,419.82 a month at 100%. Lower assessments get a proportionally smaller amount.
What happens to the Income Replacement Benefit at 65?
It generally ends at 65. If VAC has found you have a diminished earning capacity, it continues at 70% of your pre-65 amount, minus offsets.