Which System Applies to Me?
Start here if you are not sure where to apply. Most people are told about one system and never learn another one exists. This page sorts out which door is yours.
Not legal advice. This routes you to the right starting point. Program rules change — confirm with the administering body before acting.
The one question that decides everything
What caused your disability or injury?
| If the cause was… | The system is… | You start at… |
|---|---|---|
| Your job | WSIB (Ontario) or the WCB in your province | The board for your province |
| Military service | VAC (Veterans Affairs Canada) | Veterans Affairs Canada |
| Neither — illness, condition, or circumstance | Disability income support (provincial or federal) | ODSP · AISH · CPP disability · EI sickness |
| Age (65+) | Senior benefits | Old Age Security |
| Someone else’s situation | Family/caregiver supports | Family & caregivers and provincial caregiver programs |
The mistake that costs people the most
Work injury and service injury are separate systems. A decision from one says nothing about the other.
If you are a veteran who was injured on the job:
- You may have a WSIB claim (workplace)
- You may also have a VAC claim (service-related)
- They are not substitutes. A WSIB denial does not decide your VAC claim.
If you were injured at work but have no WSIB coverage (self-employed, informal work, or outside Canada), that is not the end of it. You may still qualify for VAC, provincial disability support, CPP disability, or the Disability Tax Credit.
Start with the one that fits
🦯 I was injured at work
→ WSIB (Ontario) or your provincial WCB. Your employer files the report. You then file a claim with the board.
- Ontario: WSIB · Tribunal: WSIAT
- Find your province’s board: workers’ compensation boards are provincial — search “[your province] workers compensation board.”
- Already have a claim? The injury guides and appeals material are in the Knowledge Base home page.
🎖️ I served in the military
→ VAC. Eligibility needs a diagnosed condition and a connection to your service.
- Full breakdown: Veterans Benefits and Services (VAC)
- Free help with an application: The Royal Canadian Legion and The War Amps assist at no charge.
🧠 I have a disability that is not work- or service-related
→ Income support varies by province. You are not out of options.
- Ontario: Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Alberta: AISH
- All provinces/CPP: CPP disability benefits
- Short-term: EI sickness benefits
- Tax relief: Disability Tax Credit (CRA)
👴 I am 65+ or retiring
→ Old Age Security, including the Guaranteed Income Supplement for lower incomes. Age discrimination in employment and services is prohibited under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
👥 I am caring for someone with a disability
→ Family and caregiver programs exist and are frequently overlooked. See the family/caregiver section of the knowledge base.
Common combinations
You do not have to pick one. These overlap:
- Work injury + other health issues — WSIB for the work injury; provincial disability support or CPP for conditions that aren’t work-related.
- Service injury + work injury — a VAC claim and a WSIB claim, both valid.
- Disability + low income — income support (ODSP/AISH) and the Disability Tax Credit and provincial or federal tax credits.
- Senior + disability — OAS/GIS and CPP disability and the Disability Tax Credit.
If you are denied
Every one of these systems has an appeal route, and the route differs by system:
| System | Appeal route |
|---|---|
| WSIB (Ontario) | Internal review, then WSIAT |
| WCB (other provinces) | The provincial board’s review and appeal process |
| VAC | Departmental review |
| CPP disability | Dispute Resolution Appeals Board (DRAB) |
| ODSP / AISH | The provincial internal review process |
A denial is not always the end. Ask for the reasons in writing, check whether the decision followed the rules, and consider a representative.
What this knowledge base covers
Our guides are built from real tribunal decision data, so they are strongest on WSIB/WCB injury claims — denial patterns, medical evidence, and appeals.
For programs outside that dataset, we point you to the official source rather than paraphrase it, so you are never misled by a secondhand summary.
Not legal advice: these guides help you understand patterns and prepare evidence. They are not a substitute for a qualified legal or paralegal representative.
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