Implemented in April 2006, , the New Veterans’ Charter (NVC) programs offer Job Placement Assistance, Rehabilitation Services, Financial Benefits, Health Services, Education Assistance, and Disability Benefits to current or former members of the Canadian Forces (CF), including certain Reservists.
Job Placement Assistance provides practical help such as job-search training and career counselling to CF members who are transitioning to civilian life. CF Veterans can apply up to two years from date of release. Job Placement services are provided by the contractor approved by the Government.
Rehabilitation includes one-on-one case management, medical services, mental health services and various programs to help a Veteran establish a civilian career. All medically released CF members are eligible for Rehabilitation, including any former member who has an injury or illness from his/her military service that is making their transition to civilian life difficult or impossible.
The following may benefit from Rehabilitation:
- CF Veteran medically released;
- CF Veteran who has a physical or mental health problem mainly caused by service that is interfering with reintegration into civilian life;
- Spouse or common-law partner of a CF Veteran who qualifies for Vocational Rehabilitation but is unable to take part because of severity of disability;
- CF Reservists depending on class of service and assigned duties; and
- Survivor of a CF Veteran whose death is related to service.
There are three types of Rehabilitation:
- Medical Rehabilitation: includes psychiatric treatments, prescription medicine, surgery, physiotherapy and pain management;
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation: includes counselling, group therapy, life skills training, and other similar services to restore independent living; and
- Vocational Rehabilitation: includes one-on-one career counselling, including support for training costs.
Financial Benefits include the following:
- Earnings Loss (EL): a taxable monthly benefit that equals 75% of gross pre-release salary, as determined by VAC, minus the sum of the monthly amounts of other income from prescribed sources. Can be provided on a temporary basis during a period of participation in an approved Rehabilitation program, or until age 65, if deemed “Totally and Permanently Incapacitated” for the purpose of suitable and gainful employment, or until the day of the Veteran’s non service related death if Veteran has not reached age 65.
- Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA): a taxable benefit to compensate for lost job opportunities due to injury;
- Supplementary Retirement Benefit (SRB): a taxable lump-sum payment payable at age 65, representing 2% of the total Earnings Loss (EL) benefits that would have been payable to an eligible Veteran or survivor without regard to any income offsets. Since SRB is payable on the basis that a Veteran “would have been receiving EL benefits, Veterans are encouraged to apply for EL benefits even if they received other sources of income which raised their total income above the maximum limit of 75% of gross pre-release salary; and
- CF Income Support (CFIS): a non-taxable benefit available after applicant has completed Rehabilitation and is deemed employable. A Veteran must demonstrate that he/she is no longer eligible for EL benefits, meets the Canadian residency requirement, meets the criteria related to employment and job placement and is deemed eligible to receive CFIS benefits.
The eligibility for the various Financial Benefits is described in following sections.
One may qualify for Earnings Loss (EL) Benefits if:
- A CF Veteran who has a rehabilitation or vocational assistance plan developed; or
- The survivor (or orphan) of a CF member who dies due to a service-related injury or disease or a non-service related injury or disease aggravated by service.
One may qualify for Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA) if a CF Veteran who has:
- A permanent and severe physical and/or mental impairment;
- A rehabilitation plan that is approved by VAC; and
- Received a disability award related to this impairment.
One may qualify for Supplementary Retirement Benefit (SRB) if:
- A CF Veteran who is totally and permanently incapacitated and no longer qualify for EL Benefits because he/she has reached the age of 65 or now has a suitable job; and
- A survivor of a CF members or Veteran, based on specific eligibility criteria
One may qualify for Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) if:
- A CF Veteran who no longer qualifies for EL benefits and he/she has successfully completed the rehabilitation program, needs financial help because household income is insufficient to meet basic needs and he/she is unable to find a suitable job. For eligibility, CF veteran must reside in Canada.
Health Benefits Program provides eligible CF Veterans and survivors who do not otherwise have access to the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) insurance benefits with the opportunity to purchase lifetime, post-release group health insurance for themselves and their families.
The following may qualify for PSHCP benefits:
- CF Veterans who have been approved for benefits under the Service Income Security Insurance (SISIP) Plan Long Term Disability (LTD) and do not qualify for PSHCP;
- CF Veterans with a rehabilitation need related to service who did not qualify for PSHCP after their release; and
- The survivors of CF members or Veterans whose death is service-related and are not eligible for PSHCP.
PSHCP beneficiaries pay a monthly premium. Most expenses are reimbursed at 80% with a 20% co-payment and an annual deductible. Recipients of PSHCP who are receiving the CF Income Supplement will not have to pay any monthly contributions, deductibles or co-payments.
The Children of Deceased Veterans Education Assistance Act was introduced in 1953 to provide assistance for higher education for children of certain deceased members of the Canadian Forces. This program was discontinued in 1995 as part of the federal Government’s austerity budget measures. The Act was however, re-established on 7 November, 2003 while a legislative amendment was approved under subsection 99(2) of the New Veterans Charter (NVC).
To qualify for benefits under the Education Assistance Program (EAP), children must meet the definition of “orphan” under the NVC. Under the EAP, education benefits may be paid to surviving children of a deceased Veteran / member of the Canadian Forces:
- Whose death was directly or indirectly attributable to military service; or
- Who died after being granted a disability award paid at the 48% rate or higher; or
- Who died and a subsequent posthumous disability award(s) was paid at the 48% or higher rate; or
- Who died after being granted a disability award and disability pension, which together amounted to an assessment of 48% or greater; or
- Who died and subsequent posthumous awards under the NVC and PA together amounted to an assessment of 48% or greater.
Such benefits are paid to assist the surviving children in pursuing full-time educational studies at an approved post-secondary institution in Canada as long as they enter the program before he/she reaches twenty-five (25) years of age. Assistance may continue to the end of the academic year in which the student attains the age of thirty. Benefits under the EAP are tax-exempt.
Applications should be sent to the following address:
Education Assistance Program
P.O. Box 7700
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 8M9
There are a number of other benefits that are available under the NVC. These include the following:
- Priority Job Appointment in the Federal Public Service. This is available to all medically-releasing CF members. If a job opens up in the Federal Public Service and a Veteran has the skills needed to fill that position, he/she will be given priority.
- Death Benefit is a tax-free lump sum paid to a spouse or common-law partner, and/or dependent children if CF member is killed while in service or is injured while in service and dies within 30 days of injury.
- Clothing Allowance if a CF member or Veteran has received a disability award due to an amputation, or other disability that causes wear and tear on clothing, or a disability that requires specially-made clothing.
- Detention Benefit will be awarded, as a tax-free lump sum to CF member or Veteran if he/she, while serving in the CF, was detained by an enemy, opposing force or group carrying out a terrorist activity, and/or evaded capture or escaped from any power.
For information on programs offered under the NVC described above, applicants should contact VAC at the following Toll Free numbers:
Applicants can e-mail to information@vac-acc.gc.ca or write to:
P.O. Box 7700
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 8M9
