The Government of Canada is reminding Veterans, Canadian Forces members and their families that there is free help available to them to access disability benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada.
"One of the things that makes Canada unique in the world is we provide legal services to ill and injured Veterans and other applicants free of charge," says Mr. Brian McKenna, executive director and chief pensions advocate of the Bureau of Pension Advocates. "We have lawyers based in 14 offices across the country and they follow all the codes of professional conduct, including the same solicitor-client relationship as a lawyer in private practice," says Mr. McKenna. "That means our lawyers' first priority is serving Veterans."
The Bureau's legal services are free to a variety of potential clients, including war-service Veterans, current and former members of the Canadian Forces, the RCMP, the Merchant Navy and their families.
In providing this service, the Bureau also works closely with the Royal Canadian Legion, other Veterans organizations and private lawyers to ensure the best representation possible.
The approach is clearly working. Surveys consistently show the Bureau gets high marks from more than 95 per cent of the men and women it helps.
For further information about the Bureau of Pensions Advocates, please visit the Department's Web site at veterans.gc.ca or call the Bureau, toll-free, at 1-877-228-2250.
Veterans should also know that Veterans Affairs Canada offers free help with submitting an application to the Department for disability benefits.
For this assistance, please contact Veterans Affairs Canada by telephone, toll free at 1-866-522-2122, or visit one of the Department's 32 district offices .
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