Recourse for Compensation and Benefits Issues

It is important for you to allow the chain of command to resolve informally your compensation or benefit issue.

That said, you may also choose to submit a grievance. Informal resolution and a grievance submission may occur concurrently.

Keep in mind that you must submit a grievance no later than three months following your issue incident. Remember as well that submitting a “Notice of Intent” does not count as a grievance submission within the three-month timeframe. For more information, consult the CAF grievances page of our web site.

You should keep in mind that the Treasury Board determines and regulates all compensation and benefit payments to CAF members. This means that the CAF’s Initial and Final authorities have little flexibility to remedying grievances.

In addition, remember as well that the Treasury Board does not receive individual member grievances. Even though the Chief of the Defence Staff is the Final Authority for member grievances, the CDS cannot grant a remedy that could be interpreted as representing the creation of a new benefit or the extension of a benefit already regulated by Treasury Board.

You may decide not to submit a grievance because of questions concerning benefit entitlement or existence. In such circumstances, you may inform your chain of command if you think that a compensation and benefits instruction does not meet your needs.

It is your chain of command’s responsibility to notify the Director of Compensation and Benefits Administration (DCBA) if they perceive significant issues with certain compensation and benefit instructions. In turn, this will inform the DCBA about issues to present to the Treasury Board Secretariat during their cyclical policy updates. You should note, however, that policy changes are rarely retroactive and will probably not result in any change to your entitlement.

Allowances are different types of financial compensation. You may be eligible for an allowance if you have performed specific duties. Examples of such allowances include environmental allowances, special allowances, and clothing allowances.

To receive an allowance, you should take the following steps:

1. Familiarize yourself with Compensation and Benefits Instructions Chapter 205, Allowances for Officers and Non-Commissioned Members.
2. Direct any questions you may have to your OR support staff. They are your main point of contact for any pay and allowance questions. If the support staff have informed you that your entitlement to an allowance has ceased, you may submit a written request for support staff review of your entitlement. If you anticipate experiencing financial hardship because of the cessation recovery action, you may also request a repayment plan.
3. If your OR support staff cannot answer your questions or have provided an unsatisfactory decision concerning your allowance eligibility, you may take these matters through your OR support staff to the Administrative Response Centre (ARC). You can also escalate your issues through your chain of command.
4. You may request an adjudication if you are not satisfied with the responses provided by the OR support staff and the ARC. To do this, submit an electronic “request for adjudication” to the Director Compensation Benefits Administration (DCBA).
5. If you are unsatisfied with the DCBA’s adjudication decision, you may submit a grievance to your Commanding Officer via the digital grievance submission. Consult our CAF grievances page for more information.

Military Pay is processed through the Central Computation Pay System (CCPS) for Regular Force and Reserve Force Class C service. The Revised Pay System processes pay for the Reserves (RPSR) for the Reserve Force Classes A and B.

Ensure you receive your military pay by following carefully these steps:

1. Regularly check your pay statement. You can access your statement through the Employee Member Access Application(EMAA), and have it sent directly to your personal e-mail account. The default password is your Service Number. However, you may change your password on the EMAA. QR&O 203.4 Overpayments requires that every officer and non-commissioned member know their rates of pay, allowances, and other financial benefits. In addition, you should also know about the reimbursable expenses for which you may be entitled, including the conditions governing their payment to you.

2. If you are a serving CAF member, direct your questions to your OR support staff. Former members should contact the Release Benefits Administration (RBA) for help with pay issues. Be sure to keep copies of all written communications. Your written inquiry should include the following information in the e-mail subject line: your component (i.e. Reg. Force or Res. Force), service number, surname and initials as well as the reason for your inquiry (e.g. Status of Severance, T4, or Address Change).
   • If you are currently a regular force or a reserve force member, you should note that your unit OR support staff have access to the electronic pay system that contains the original documents on your file. Most of these documents are held at the unit level. The support staff may also review the Military Pay Administrative Instructions (MPAI) in order to provide you with the appropriate policy references that relate to your pay issues.
   • If you are a released CAF member, you may pose your questions to the Release Benefits Administration (RBA) about:
     • military pay,
     • severance pay,
     • Government of Canada T4 and T1 taxation forms,
     • Military Personnel Records Resumé (MPRR),
     • change of address,
     • change of banking information, and
     • other pay-related issues.
   • Remember to keep your address and banking information up to date. The RBA is responsible for administering any retroactive economic or pay increases paid to released members.

3. If your unit OR support staff cannot resolve your pay issue, they will contact Director Military Pay and Allowance Processing (DMPAP) on your behalf. In this regard, only the unit’s Pay Manager at the minimum rank of Sargeant or the Military Pay Administration Officer (MPAO) may contact the DMPAP. This is to be done using the process defined in the Incident Submission Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) found on the DMPAP website.
   • Be specific about your pay issue and how you would like it to be resolved. Include information such as when the issue arose, when it was reported and to whom as well as the issue’s impact.
   • You cannot contact or send inquiries directly to DMPAP.
   • DMPAP addresses requests according to priority. Processing timelines can vary based on the nature of the concern. For more information, consult the DMPAP Intranet site. This site is available only on the National Defence network. If you are unable to access this Network, contact your supervisor or our office for assistance.

4. Submit a written complaint through your chain of command if you encounter delays.

5. Submit a grievance to your commanding officer if you are not satisfied with how the Unit OR staff and DMPAP have addressed your issue. For more information, consult our CAF grievances

Leave for you as a CAF member involves an approval process covering many different circumstances. Before you request leave, you should be prepared to pursue the following steps:

1. Familiarize yourself with the Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual, particularly section 1.1.11 (Imperative Military Requirements).

• Different leave types may be granted based on different criteria.
• Leave may be denied or cancelled due to the Imperative Military Requirements as defined in section 1.1.11 of the Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual.
• There are similarities and differences in terms of leave entitlements for Regular Force members versus those for Reserve Force members.

2. If your leave is refused or cancelled, consult your immediate supervisor or your OR support staff in order to understand why this decision was made. If necessary, you may escalate the matter through the chain of command.
3. Submit a grievance to your commanding officer if you are not satisfied with how your issue has been addressed during the previous step. For more information, consult our CAF grievances

As part of Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Government of Canada Pension Centre administers the CAF pension plans for current and former CAF members. These plans are the Canadian Armed Forces Pension and Bridge benefit - Plan information.

You may learn more by calling the Government of Canada Pension Centre toll-free at 1-800-267-0325. Contact the Pension Centre well in advance of your release date to obtain information about your entitlements and the processes you must follow to receive these benefits.

Based on your past circumstances, you may have access to other recourse or complaint mechanisms involving non-CAF compensation and benefits.

Since CAF authority does not apply to such access, you cannot try to resolve non-CAF compensation or benefit issues via the CAF grievance process. Learn more about the appropriate authority to deal with your concern by contacting Conflict Solutions and Services. You can also contact our Office so we can refer you to the right authority.

CAF Long-term Disability (LTD)

The Canadian Armed Forces Long-Term Disability (CAF LTD) program provides income replacement benefits to eligible Regular Force and Reserve Force members who can no longer serve due to an illness or injury.

If you apply for CAF LTD and you are dissatisfied with a decision taken about that application, you may appeal it. Learn more by reviewing the Long-Term Disability Appeal Process.

Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VRP)

The Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VRP) program provides training and education to eligible members to help them find civilian employment.

If you disagree with a decision made about your VRP claim, you can appeal it. Review the Appeal Process section of Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Benefits and Services

Current and former CAF members may be eligible for a range of VAC benefits and services.

Sign in to your "My VAC Account" to apply for benefits and services as well as to track the status of your applications. This is the recommended and most secure way to contact VAC. You can also contact VAC by calling toll-free 1-866-522-2122 or by making an appointment for an in-person meeting at one of VAC’s area offices.

An application for VAC benefits may require a copy of your medical records. If you are still serving or you have recently released, contact your nearest Canadian Armed Forces Transition Centre for assistance. If your service ended more than five years ago, contact Library and Archives Canada for help. In terms of completing a medical form, contact your healthcare provider for assistance.

If you are dissatisfied with a decision made about your VAC application for compensation or benefits, contact the Veterans Review and Appeal Board for a review or an appeal hearing. In both cases, the Bureau of Pension Advocates may provide you with free legal assistance and representation. You may also request assistance from the Royal Canadian Legion.

If you believe that VAC has treated you unfairly, contact the Office of the Veterans Ombud for information and assistance.

If compelling reasons such as time sensitivity, health, security, financial concerns, or other barriers prevent you from addressing your concerns through regular channels, you or any member of your family can contact our office. With your written permission, we can ensure that all relevant parties know about your circumstances. We do not have the power to change decisions. However, we can make recommendations if we believe that you were treated unfairly within the process.