Veterans’ Education and Training Benefit (FAQs)

This program would provide up to $80,000 in funding to cover tuition, fees, materials, and some incidental and living expenses for participants for most types of formalized educational programs, while they are attending school.

A Veteran who served 6 years in the military would be eligible for up to $40,000 in funding for education; a member who served 12 years would be eligible for up to $80,000 to cover tuition, course materials, and some incidentals and living expenses.

Yes - all honourably released Veterans (Regular Force and Reservists) with at least 6 years of service will be eligible for the Education and Training benefit and Veterans will have up to 10 years following their release date to use the benefit.

For the Veterans who have at least 6 years of service but released on or after April 1, 2006, and before the coming into force date of April 1, 2018, they would have access to the funding for 10 years from the coming-into-force date.

The eligibility criteria for the Education and Training Benefit was designed to align with the coming into force of the New Veterans Charter. A number of benefits are aligned with the April 1, 2006 date including the introduction of the Disability Award as well as eligibility for the Critical Injury Benefit introduced in Budget 2015.

Veterans with less than six years of service are not eligible for the Education and Training Benefit.

If a Veteran is medically-released with less than six years of service, he/she will be able to access vocational rehabilitation through Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP)’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. If he/she has health problems primarily related to service which are causing a barrier to his/her re-establishment in civilian life, he/she may be able to access vocational rehabilitation through VAC’s Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program.

The Education and Training Benefit cannot be paid during a Veteran’s participation in the Rehabilitation Service and Vocational Assistance Program. However, an eligible Veteran could receive the Education and Training Benefit either before or after his or her participation in the Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance program.

Eligible Veterans who released between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2018 will have up until March 31, 2028 to receive funding under the Education and Training Benefit. Eligible Veterans who release after April 1, 2018 will have ten years fr

om the date of their release to receive funding under this program.

Reservists will be eligible for the Veterans’ Education and Training Benefit. However, we are still finalizing the specific details for implementation of this benefit and how time served will be calculated. As soon as more information is available, we will share it immediately. Please feel free to reach out again closer to the April 1, 2018 implementation date.

Veterans Affairs Canada will be using all channels available to connect with Veterans to ensure they know they are entitled to this benefit. This includes our website, Facebook, Twitter and other social media. We will also be working with stakeholders groups and our Ministerial Advisory Committees to share this information and reach as many Veterans as possible.

Our partners, the Canadian Armed Forces, will also be sharing information and promoting this benefit among its serving members.

Over the next year, VAC will be undertaking a major outreach effort to ensure CAF members, Veterans, and their families know and understand all of the benefits available to them, how they work together, and how to access them without hassle.

We ask that Veterans and their families help spread the information regarding benefits as well.

Education and training must lead to the completion of a degree, diploma, certification or designation from an educational institution and be pre-approved by VAC.

Universities, colleges and technical institutions are acceptable.

Yes. The proposed Veterans’ Education and Training Benefit could be used to get a master’s degree.

If university or college is not the Veteran’s choice, a portion of the total funding earned would be available to all eligible Veterans who released on or after April 1, 2006 for career and personal development courses such as small business boot camps, continuing education, etc.

The benefit will be paid directly to the Veteran. The Veteran will then be responsible for paying the tuition at the institution of their choice. The remaining funds are intended to be used to cover other costs including books and costs of living during the term of study.

Tuition paid prior to April 1, 2018 will not be reimbursed.

Come April 1, 2018, the proposed education or training must be pre-approved by VAC for an upcoming program and then paid directly to the Veteran. The Veteran will then be responsible for paying the tuition at the institution of their choice. The remaining funds are intended to be used to cover other costs including books and costs of living during the term of study.