The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) was introduced in 1981 to respond to an aging demographic Veteran population and to help reduce long-term care (LTC) bed waitlists by providing care to Veterans at home. The national Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) home care program assists qualified Veterans, still-serving Canadian Forces (CF) disability pensioners, surviving spouses/primary caregivers, and certain civilians to maintain their health, quality of life and independence in their own home for as long as possible. At the point where care in the home is no longer possible, the VIP will assist in providing care in long-term care facilities in the community of the Veteran. The VIP is not intended to duplicate or replace existing provincial/territorial or community services, but complements these programs to best meet the needs of Veterans. Under the VIP, a recipient may receive funds to help pay for: • ambulatory health care services (e.g., adult day programs); • access to nutrition (e.g., Meals on Wheels); • health and support services (e.g., nurses, occupational therapists); • personal care (e.g., bathing and dressing); • housekeeping (e.g., laundry, vacuuming, meal preparation); • grounds maintenance (e.g., grass cutting, snow removal); • social transportation (e.g., to activities, shopping, banking) • home adaptations; and • nursing home intermediate care. A goal of the evaluation was to provide timely and value added information to assist management and serve as a basis for decision-making regarding future program direction and design. The VIP evaluation team used multiple lines of evidence, including: statistical data, a literature review, research studies, survey results, file reviews, internal analysis reports, key informant interviews and peer reviews.

The Audit of the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) was approved by the Departmental Audit Committee in 2009. The objectives of the audit were to determine if: 1. up-to-date policies and procedures were in place to support program delivery; 2. program payments were accurately calculated and paid to eligible clients and approved providers; 3. regulatory and policy requirements were complied with; and 4. the quality assurance function provides an ongoing assessment of compliance requirements and identifies opportunities for improvement.

The purpose of the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) is to assist recipients in maintaining their independence through the provision of home and community care. As per the VIP Terms and Conditions, Veterans and other recipients in receipt of funding for VIP services must be contacted at least once annually to confirm the benefits are meeting the recipient’s needs. In January 2013, Canada Post, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and a third-party contractor became part of the Annual Follow-up and Survivor Renewal process. The objective of the audit was to assess the management control framework, the compliance with applicable policies and processes, and determine performance against the Annual Follow Up and Survivor Renewal service standard. The scope of this audit included all VIP Veterans and survivors due for follow-up or renewal between May 1, 2014 and September 30, 2014.

Since 1981, Veterans Affairs Canada has administered a community-based, national program to eligible Veterans, their families, and other primary care-givers. These services include home care, home adaptations, ambulatory health care, and intermediate nursing home care. Now known as the Veterans Independence Program, it offers self-managed care in co-operation with provinces and regional health authorities. The program allows eligible Veterans, their families, and other primary care-givers to focus on maintaining their health, independence, and their quality of life. Every effort is being made to integrate the Veterans Independence Program administration with provincial and local resources to ensure a cost-efficient choice of service is available and to avoid duplication of service delivery. Veterans Affairs Canada is responsible for setting up and amending the contribution arrangements while an external Contractor, Medavie Blue Cross, is responsible for processing the claims. In the Spring of 2011, Senior Management requested an audit of the Veterans Independence Program reimbursement process to identify opportunities to further improve the process. This audit builds off the results of a 2010 audit of Veterans Independence Program and is focused on a single objective to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the reimbursement process. The scope covered the period from November 2010 to April 2011.

This evaluation of the Intermediate and Long Term Care Programs was conducted in accordance with the approved Veterans Affairs Canada Multi-Year Risk-Based Evaluation Plan 2012-2017. The Veterans Independence Program Intermediate Care (VIP IC) Program and the Long Term Care (LTC) Program, hereinafter referred to as "the Programs", support eligible Veterans and other individuals who require facility-based long term care. There are two types of beds under the Programs: community beds and contract beds. Community beds are beds in a facility operated by health authorities, private and not-for-profit sectors. Contract beds are beds that are set aside in a community facility pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the facility and VAC. Eligibility for these bed types varies. Community beds fall under both the VIP IC Program and the LTC Program, while Contract beds fall solely under the mandate of the LTC Program. The evaluation examined the relevance and performance of the Programs, and was conducted in accordance with Treasury Board policy requirements and guidance material. The evaluation findings and conclusions are based on the analysis of multiple lines of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

This evaluation of the Health Care Benefits and Services Program was conducted in accordance with Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) approved multi-year, risk-based Evaluation Plan 2012-2017. The Health Care Benefits and Services Program, commonly referred to as the Treatment Benefits Program, provides Veteran recipients with access to extended health care. There are 14 benefits and services groups comprising a wide range of offerings. An overview of the benefits and services can be found in Appendix A. The evaluation examined the relevance and performance of the Program, and was conducted in accordance with Treasury Board policy requirements and related Treasury Board Secretariat guidance material. The evaluation findings and conclusions are based on the analysis of multiple lines of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

The War Veterans Allowance (WVA) Program, which began in 1930, provides monthly financial support to low-income war service Veterans and civilians (e.g., Overseas Welfare Workers, Auxiliary Services Personnel) or their survivors/dependents to help them meet their basic needs. This evaluation was conducted in accordance with Section 42.1 of the *Financial Administration Act* which requires that every federal department conducts a review of the relevance and effectiveness of each ongoing program of grants and contributions programs every five years.

The evaluation of the Financial Benefits Program was conducted in accordance with the Veterans Affairs Canada Multi-Year Risk-Based Evaluation Plan 2014-19. The program was last evaluated as part of an overall New Veterans Charter Evaluation in 2010-11. The Financial Benefits Program was established in 2006 under the authority of the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act, with subsequent amendments expanding eligibility and adding programs. It provides economic support to eligible Canadian Armed Forces Veterans, survivors, and dependents in recognition of the economic impact that a career ending and/or service-related injury or death can have on a Veteran’s ability to earn income, advance in a career or save for retirement. As per Treasury Board Secretariat policy requirements and guidance, this evaluation examined the Financial Benefits Program’s relevance and performance. The evaluation findings and conclusions are based on the analysis of multiple lines of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) provides a wide range of health care benefits and services to eligible program recipients as specified under the authority of the Veterans Health Care Regulations. These entitlements are made available under the Treatment Benefits Program and Veterans Independence Program (VIP). The objective of these programs is to ensure program recipients are provided, according to their treatment eligibility, with reasonable and timely services that the Department considers to be an appropriate response to their assessed health needs. This audit was recommended for Deputy Minister approval by VAC’s Departmental Audit Committee on September 17, 2010. The objectives of the Federal Health Claims Processing System (FHCPS) Service Provider Audit were as follows: 1. To assess the adequacy of the service provider registration process; 2. To assess the adequacy of the requirements for service providers; 3. To determine compliance with service provider requirements; 4. To assess the efficiency of the appointment of service providers.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services is a component of the Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Program. It provides vocational assistance services and benefits to eligible Veterans who have a health problem, and their families, to assist them in their re-establishment to civilian life. Vocational services and benefits include vocational assessments, employability skills, training, career exploration, job placement and follow-up support. The purpose of the audit was to provide assurance that financial controls were working as intended, to deliver results in accordance with related authorities. This is the first audit of Vocational Rehabilitation since its inception in 2006.