"Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) presently provides support to access cellular telephones for eligible Veterans with a physical disability who drive their own cars. The cellular telephone is intended to be used to summons assistance if the Veteran encounters difficulties that his
disability prevents him from addressing.
VAC will pay for a cellular telephone at the lowest cost that will provide help in an emergency situation. Other costs permitted at departmental expense, as appropriate, are the cost of a hands-free feature, warranty charges, installation fees and operation charges (i.e. registration, monthly service fees, etc). Payment is not made, by the Department, for long distance charges or air time over and above that provided as part of the monthly service fee.
General Direction
Staff should take a cautious approach when giving consideration to the approval of hand-held electronic devices as these are not devices normally used for a medical purpose. It is the Department's position that hand-held electronic devices be approved on an exceptional basis only and be based on a hierarchy of interventions: simpler, less
costly equipment should be considered before more complex and costly equipment, as appropriate."
