Veterans Affairs Canada disability pension miscalculation $817.3M class action settlement

Veterans Affairs Canada agreed to a $817.3 million settlement to resolve claims that it miscalculated yearly benefit increases, causing Canadian veterans to be underpaid for Veterans Affairs Canada disability pension benefits. 

The settlement benefits current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their spouses and their dependents who were eligible for disability pensions, disability awards and other benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada since 2002 and whose benefits were affected by the annual adjustment of the basic pension under various laws and regulations.

Plaintiffs in the pension class action lawsuit claim that Veterans Affairs Canada miscalculated yearly increases to monthly disability benefits since 2002. These errors allegedly caused veterans and their surviving family members to be underpaid each month.

Veterans Affairs Canada is the branch of the Canadian government that supports military and mounted police veterans with various benefits.

Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian government have not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $817.3 million settlement to resolve the Veterans Affairs Canada disability pension class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the Veterans Affairs Canada disability pension settlement, class members can receive a payment based on the amount they received in benefits between 2003 and 2023. Claimants who received benefits for all of these years will receive a larger share of the net settlement fund. 

Class members who currently receive disability pensions from Veterans Affairs Canada will automatically receive their settlement payment. Those not currently receiving benefits must file a claim form.

There is no exclusion or objection deadline for this settlement.

The final approval hearing for the Veterans Affairs Canada disability pension settlement was held Dec. 18, 2023.

To receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by March 19, 2025.

Who’s Eligible

The Veterans Affairs Canada disability pension settlement benefits current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their spouses and their dependents who were eligible for disability pensions, disability awards and other benefits from the Veterans Affairs Canada since 2002 whose benefits were affected by the annual adjustment of the basic pension under various laws and regulations

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

VAC identifiers (CSDN ID, K Number or Service Number) and, if filing for a deceased person, the will, court appointment or other document that demonstrates the person filing is the estate trustee, estate administrator or executor of the deceased’s estate.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

03/19/2025

Case Name

Manuge v. His Majesty the King, Case No. T-119-19, in the Canadian Federal Court

Final Hearing

12/18/2023

Settlement Website

VeteransPensionSettlement.kpmg.ca

Claims Administrator

833-839-0648

Class Counsel

MCINNES COOPER, GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP

KOSKIE MINSKY LLP

MURPHY BATTISTA LLP

MICHEL DRAPEAU LAW OFFICE

Defense Counsel

N/A