Some veterans are protesting unequal disability benefits for wounded veterans who fall under the New Veterans Charter, versus benefits for those under the traditional disability system. This, despite boosted benefits announced last December.

The federal government argues its revamped program offers more benefits than the traditional disability system, but concedes it’s less generous.

This chart appears to support the government’s position: Although expenditures for traditional disability-related benefits were more than double those of the New Veterans Charter in 2014-15, the 2017-18 forecast sees expenditures for Charter veterans being 71% higher than for those under the traditional system.

Overall Federal Program Expenditures for Veterans: Disability Benefits Under Traditional System vs. Under New Veterans Charter (in $ Millions)

Breakdown of Federal Program Expenditures for Veterans: Disability Benefits Under Traditional System vs. Under New Veterans Charter (in $ Millions)

The second chart below shows the breakdown of veterans’ benefits under the New Veterans Charter, such as the Earnings Loss Benefit and the Career Impact Allowance, supporting veterans’ position: that unequal disability benefits exist under the Charter.

New Veterans Charter disability benefits edged closer to traditional system benefits in 2016-17. However, certain Earnings Loss Benefit and Career Impact Allowance are deemed as income replacement. These benefits are reduced when veterans are hired.

Most traditional benefits are not taxable; New Veterans Charter benefits are.

New Veterans Charter benefits are for 600,300 veterans versus traditional benefits for only 58,100.

The chart directly above shows the breakdown of veterans’ benefits under the New Veterans Charter — which appears to support these veterans’ position that unequal disability benefits exist under the Charter.

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada Statistics — Facts and Figures Summary — Summary of Program Expenditures