Veterans Affairs Canada is made up of three branches which report to the Deputy Minister. These are Service Delivery and Commemoration; Policy, Program and Partnerships; and Corporate Services. There are six organizations which also report to the Deputy Minister which include the Champion for Public Service Renewal, Audit and Evaluation, Human Resources, Strategic Policy and Liaison, Communications and the Bureau of Pension Advocates.

Veterans Affairs Canada delivers various programs to eligible Veterans and other clients to assist them in achieving their optimum level of well-being through programs and services designed to support their care, treatment, independence and re-establishment. Programs delivered provide a wide range of benefits and services in the area of pensions, awards, allowances for disability and death and financial support, health care and re-establishment benefits and services, remembrance programming, and independent review and recommendations on individual complaints and systemic issues through the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman. In 2007-2008, activities were delivered by a staff complement of 3,744 full-time equivalents from a decentralized organization consisting of a Head Office in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the National Capital Office in Ottawa, Ontario, and a national service delivery network across Canada. The Department also operates a hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, and maintains battlefield memorials in Europe.

Pensions, Awards, Allowances for Disability and Death; and Financial Support
Veterans Affairs Canada provides, upon eligibility, pensions or awards for disability or death and financial support as compensation for hardships arising from disabilities and lost economic opportunities. Veterans Affairs Canada has a comprehensive and integrated range of compensation and wellness programs to support its clients. These clients include: Veterans of the First World War, the Second World War, and Veterans of the Korean War, Merchant Navy Veterans, Canadian Forces Veterans, Canadian Forces members, spouses, common-law partners, certain civilians, and survivors and dependents of military and civilian personnel. Veterans Affairs Canada also administers disability pensions for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police under a Memorandum of Understanding.

Disability pensions and disability awards recognize and compensate Veterans, Canadian Forces Members, dependents and eligible civilians for the effects of a service-related disability, including pain and suffering, and functional loss. Disability pensions, awarded under the Pension Act, are paid monthly. They are tax-free and indexed annually. Disability Awards are provided in tax-free lump sum payments offering immediate financial opportunities for the Veteran and his/her family. Special allowances are available to eligible Veterans, Canadian Forces Members and pensioners to provide additional assistance for various conditions. For example, a member of the forces who has been awarded a pension or compensation, or both, under the Pension Act, who is totally disabled and is in need of assistance or supervision with feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility and medication administration shall, on application, be awarded an Attendance Allowance. The Exceptional Incapacity Allowance is available if the Veteran is in receipt of a pension or compensation and it has been determined that the Veteran's pensioned condition has resulted in an exceptional life situation. A Clothing Allowance recognizes the costs associated with wear and tear of clothing as the result of a disability, and Treatment Allowances compensate eligible disability pensioners on a temporary basis during a period of acute care for a pensioned condition.

Veterans Affairs Canada also provides compensation and support for other pensions, awards and allowances including Flying Accidents Compensation and Gallantry Awards.

Veterans Affairs Canada delivers programs to provide financial support and assistance to eligible Veterans and others in recognition of the economic impact of a career-ending and/or service-related injury has on their ability to earn income. In recognition of war service, eligible persons are provided with a regular, monthly income to meet basic needs.

The Earnings Loss program ensures income replacement of up to 75% of the Veterans' gross pre-release military salary while the Veteran is participating in an active Rehabilitation or Vocational Assistance Plan. The Canadian Forces Income Support Program provides income support to CF Veterans who have successfully completed a rehabilitation program, are capable of working, but are not yet employed. Through the Supplementary Retirement Benefit, Veterans Affairs Canada recognizes the lost opportunity to contribute to a retirement pension due to a severe career ending or service-related disability.

Allowances and Assistance Funds also provide financial support to Veterans. The Permanent Impairment Allowance recognizes the lost opportunity effects that a service-related, permanent severe impairment has on employment potential and career advancement opportunities through a lump sum payment to eligible Veterans. The War Veterans Allowance provides qualified Veterans with a regular, monthly income to meet basic needs in recognition of war service. The Assistance Fund provides War Veterans Allowance recipients, residing in Canada, with financial assistance to meet an emergency or unexpected contingency for which they do not have the resources.

Other financial programs and support provided by Veterans Affairs Canada to eligible Veterans include Children of Deceased Veterans education assistance; Assistance to Canadian Veterans – Overseas District; Returned Soldiers Insurance Actuarial Liability Adjustment; Veterans Insurance Actuarial Liability Adjustment; Re-establishment credits under Section 8 of the War Services Grants Act; and, Repayments under Section 15 of the War Service Grant Act.

The Bureau of Pensions Advocates provides advice, assistance and representation before the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (the Board) to individuals dissatisfied with decisions made with respect to their claims for disability benefits. The Bureau also provides representation for War Veterans Allowance Appeals before the Board.

Health Care and Re-establishment Benefits and Services
Veterans Affairs Canada provides health benefits, a Veterans Independence Program, long-term care, and rehabilitation and re-establishment support to eligible Veterans and eligible clients. The Health Care Program is designed to enhance the quality of life of Veterans Affairs' clients, promote independence, and assist in keeping clients at home and in their own communities by providing a continuum of care.

Veterans Affairs Canada is responsible for supporting eligible Veterans with the cost of long-term care. Long-term care may be provided in: the only remaining Departmental facility, Ste-Anne's Hospital, located in Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec; in designated Veterans' beds (contract beds) in provincial or community facilities; or, in beds located in community facilities. Ste-Anne's Hospital's mission is to provide a continuum of high quality care and services as well as a wide range of programs to Veterans and eligible civilians. The Hospital provides long-term and respite care. Through its Day Centre, it is able to offer support services to those still residing in their communities. Through the Ste-Anne's Centre, it provides mental health services to Canadian Forces members and Veterans.

The Veterans Independence Program assists clients to remain self-sufficient in their own homes for as long as possible. It does this by offering a variety of services to those who meet the eligibility requirements. The Home Care and Independence programs of the Veterans Independence Program provide eligible clients with access to services including: home care; ambulatory health care; transportation to foster independence; home adaptations; and intermediate care in a community facility.

Also provided through the Department are Treatment Benefits and Other Health and Re-establishment Services. These services include medical, surgical or dental examination or treatment provided by a health professional as well as the provision and maintenance of surgical or prosthetic devices or aids and approved home adaptations necessary to accommodate or facilitate use of the aid. Other services include preventive health care and pharmaceuticals prescribed by a physician, dentist or other person authorized to prescribe pharmaceuticals. These programs are referred to as the Programs of Choice. Rehabilitation programs encompass rehabilitation services (medical, psychological, social, and vocational assistance) which provide eligible Canadian Forces Veterans and others access to services that will help them function to their maximum capacity at home, at work or within their communities and offer support with finding suitable employment.

Veteran Affairs Canada is also a member of, and has responsibilities under, the Federal Healthcare Partnership which operates with the goal of achieving economies of scale, enhancing the provision of care and providing strategic issues leadership with respect to health care programs and services.

Remembrance Programming
Remembrance Programming keeps alive the achievements and sacrifices made by those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace; engages communities in remembrance of these achievements and sacrifices; and, promotes an understanding of their significance in Canadian life as we know it today.

The Remembrance Outreach component is responsible for providing to Canadians, especially youth, remembrance-related learning opportunities and learning materials; all forms of information about remembrance subjects and engaging communities in ceremonies and events that recognize and honour Canada's war dead and Veterans. Other Remembrance Outreach services are providing a leadership role in conducting ceremonies and events nationally and internationally that recognizes and honour Canada's war dead and Veterans. Services are also provided to assist Veterans and their families in locating missing medals through the Honours and Awards Program.

The Partnership Contribution Program allows Veterans Affairs Canada to partner with non-profit organizations, registered charitable organizations and associations, museums and historical organizations, the provinces, territories and municipalities, as well as education, research and health institutions to promote awareness and appreciation amongst the Canadian public for the achievements and sacrifices made by Veterans and their historical significance to Canada as a nation. Contributions through these partnerships include support for commemoration projects, events and community remembrance as well as funding for the restoration of community monuments and cenotaphs.

The National and International Memorials Program delivers funeral, burial and grave marking services; cemetery and grave maintenance; and the maintenance, preservation and presentation of remembrance memorials, both nationally and internationally, to allow Canadians to honour and preserve the memory of those who defended our freedom. Services under these programs provide eligible Veterans and civilians with a dignified funeral and burial through the Last Post Fund and support and maintenance of memorials for those with no known grave through a partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Veterans Affairs Canada also maintains a program to provide funding to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea as well as ensuring the maintenance of graves of Veterans buried by the Government of Canada, the National War Memorial in Ottawa, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa and the Cross of Sacrifice in Arlington National Cemetery in the United States.

Veterans Affairs Canada International Operations is responsible for the maintenance of thirteen memorials in France and Belgium, including the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and the Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel. In addition to these responsibilities, International Operations provides support to the numerous Government of Canada commemorative activities which take place every year in Europe as well as managing the Student Guide Program which provides interpretive guides for the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial.

Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman provides War Service Veterans, Veterans or members of the Canadian Forces; members or former members of the RCMP; other clients of Veterans Affairs Canada; spouses, common-law partners, or dependent children of a person in the aforementioned groups, or the survivors or orphans of deceased persons who qualified under one of these groups; and representatives of the aforementioned groups with the opportunity to request independent reviews of their complaints by an impartial individual who was not part of the original decision-making process. The Veterans Ombudsman has the mandate to review and address complaints by clients and their representatives arising from the application of the provisions of the Veterans Bill of Rights and complaints related to programs and services provided or administered by the Department, or by third parties on the Department's behalf. The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman is also mandated to identify and review emerging and systemic issues related to programs and services provided or administered by the Department, or by third parties on the Department's behalf, that impact negatively on clients. This includes individual decisions related to the programs and services for which there is no right of appeal to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. Other key mandates include the review systemic issues related to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board and the facilitation of access by clients to programs and services offered by the Department by providing them with information and referrals.

Ex-gratia Payments
Veterans Affairs Canada has been responsible in the past and present for administering ex-gratia payments under the authority of the Governor in Council. These payments may be made to eligible persons for loss or expenditure for which the Crown has no legal liability. Ex-gratia payments that have been administered in the past include those for eligible First Nations Veterans, Merchant Navy Veterans and former Prisoners of War. Currently, Veterans Affairs Canada administers ex-gratia payments related to the testing of unregistered military herbicides such as Agent Orange at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick.

Internal Services
Internal Services are those functions which are common to the whole of the Veterans Affairs Portfolio and provide an administrative, consultative and supportive role to the delivery of all of the Department's programs and services. They include: Financial Management which is the activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources; Human Resources Management Services which are the services that ensure the effective use of human resources to enhance organizational efficiency; Information Management Services which direct and support the effective and efficient management of information in an organization; Information Technology Services which involve the effective use of automation resources to enhance organizational performance and support the achievement of programs and services; Public Affairs and Communication Services which enable the public to interact with government services; Management and Oversight Services which involve the activities of determining strategic direction, allocating resources analyzing risk exposure and determining appropriate countermeasures; Evaluation Services which provide evidence-based assessments of the relevance and effectiveness of policies and programs; Internal Audit Services which provide assurance on risk management, control and governance processes; Legal Services which allow the pursuit of policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework; and other support delivery services such as administrative support and travel.