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BUMP.........is there anything new going on with the case?
Bigrex said:Yes, if you are under the "class", then if it is certified as a class action, and won, all in the class will benefit, unless they opt out of the lawsuit. I think the database they have created is more for their records, maybe to present in court, as further proof that this affects a great deal of disabled/ medically released veterans, not just Dennis Manuge, he only had the willingness to take it to court first. Contacting the layers doesn't mean you will be subpoenaed or anything, so it cannot hurt. Those who do contact them will be notified via email of all important information from the lawyer, or it can usually be read shortly afterwards at veteransvoice.info, so it's up to you.
Also I'm alot better off than some of the young privates that have been injured in Afghanistan, if they were severely injured and unable to return to work and relied on SISIP to give them money to live off, all that their ruined lives are worth is between $1861.00 and $2735.00 per month plus 2 % each year until 65. So a 20year old who went to Afghanistan , right after battle school, gets injured to the point where he can no longer work, and goes on SiISIP LTD, in 45 years, his monthly earning will go from a max of $1861.00 to $2996.00, just over the unofficial poverty line for a household. And while on SISIP LTD, he cannot seek any additional income other than employment, he cannot apply for CPP disability, because that would get deducted from his sisip cheque 100%, he cannot get any money from VAC, including extra money for dependants, other than the new disability awards, which aren't that big of an amount if you need to make it last all your life. So that 20 year old, injured while serving his country will possibly never own his own house, probably never know the feeling of purchasing a brand new car, never afford to give his children a decent Christmas, or take them to Disneyland, all because of SISIP and greedy uncaring bureaucrats. If we get this settlement, and SISIP stops clawing back our money, people will not get rich, like one guy thinks, and there is a big difference between getting rich and being financially comfortable.
Steve-O- said:...on a side note, Jack Layton of the NDP is promising to get rid of the sisip clawback in his campaing for PM...
The Canadian Press via CP24, 16 Nov 11After almost five years of legal wrangling, Dennis Manuge says he's relieved that Canada's disabled veterans are finally getting their day in court.
"How I feel about it is a little bit of relief and absolute faith in the justice system that we are going to begin to have our case (heard)," he said Tuesday.
Manuge, of Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S., is the representative plaintiff in a lawsuit against the federal government that alleges it is illegally clawing back the long-term disability insurance benefits of injured veterans.
The Federal Court in Halifax will begin hearing arguments Wednesday in the class action, which could potentially affect the benefits of as many as 6,000 injured veterans ....
Rifleman62 said:It is a step. The government will appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. A long way to go yet.
Jim Seggie said:The government lawyer was on TV last night and expressed concern that the taxpayer will be stuck with the bill - who else would be?
Besides - it was the government, elected by taxpayers, that sent us to weird and exotic places - we didn't go on our own.
krustyrl said:This wheel of bureaucracy is moving very slowly.......
:crickets:
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, is proud to announce enhancements to the minimum benefits paid under the Canadian Forces (CF) Long Term Disability (LTD) program to medically released CF personnel. With an investment of nearly $113 million, these enhancements are now in line with the Earning Loss Benefits (ELB) offered by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to disabled veterans.
“Canadians and the Government of Canada have been clear; they want our Veterans and our men and women in uniform to receive the care, the support, and the recognition they earned in the service of their country,” said Minister MacKay. “From now on retroactive to October 3rd, 2011our ill and injured veterans will receive a minimum pre-tax income of $40,000 a year while continuing to have access to vocational rehabilitation training. This financial support will help ill and injured CF Veterans focus on what matters most - their wellness,” added Minister MacKay.
The CF LTD is a disability group insurance plan administered by Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) Financial Services, which provides CF members with replacement income protection if they are released from the CF for medical reasons or take a voluntary release but are deemed as being totally disabled. The enhancements to the plan will see an increase to the minimum gross monthly benefit climb to 75% of the basic salary rate of a Corporal, which is currently $4,554/month. Previously, the minimum benefit calculation was based on the salary rate of a senior private. In addition, the minimum benefit for the Primary Reserve Force members on short-term class of service who are medically released, or take a voluntary release but qualify as being totally disabled will increase to 75% of the deemed salary of $2700/month from the previously used $2000/month rate.
The changes to the SISIP LTD program announced today will not impact the premiums paid by insured CF members. Retroactive payments will be issued starting immediately.
Thank you for joining me today on this important occasion.
It is a great pleasure to announce new measures in support of the military families who make such great sacrifices in their service to Canada.
The government knows that the well-being and security of our country rests in large part on the work of our military personnel.
And we know that it is our duty to make sure that both they – and their loved ones – have what they need to accomplish what we expect of them.
This goes beyond making sure that our personnel are properly equipped.
We must also ensure that the men and women of the Canadian Forces, Veterans and their families get the support they need and they deserve.
Since 2006, the Government has introduced a number of new initiatives that reflect the complex and changing needs of our military personnel, our veterans and their families…
… and together, they form an integrated support system that helps our people as they work through the successive phases of recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Programmes like Soldier On, which has been active since 2006 and uses physical fitness, sports and healthy living to enhance the quality of life for Canadian Forces members who have been seriously injured while serving in the military.
Or the establishment of Legacy of Care, announced in 2010 – a series of five new initiatives that assist in the recovery and rehabilitation of our injured soldiers, sailors and air personnel, as well as their eventual reintegration, along with their families, back into military or civilian life.
Or the introduction of the Shoulder to Shoulder initiative in 2011 – a programme that links the families of fallen Canadian Forces members with the many resources and compassionate services developed to meet their unique needs for as long as support is required.
Or through the creation of the Joint Personnel Support Unit, whose mandate is to provide streamlined “one stop” access to important services for all personnel – regardless of their situation – through a network of 24 Integrated Personnel Support Centres across the country.
This comprehensive framework and approach to effectively treat our ill and injured personnel are detailed in a newly-released publication entitled Caring for our Own.
But while our programs are extensive and wide-ranging, we recognize that National Defence shares responsibility with Veteran Affairs to support our ill and injured personnel who retire or are medically released after years of distinguished service.
Last fall, the Minister of Veterans Affairs announced enhancements to the New Veterans Charter, which will increase Earning Loss Benefits payments for ill and injured Veterans.
Today, I am pleased to announce nearly 113 million dollars in new funding to bring the Canadian Forces Long Term Disability benefit into alignment with this program.
As some of you will already know, the Long Term Disability group insurance plan for Canadian Forces members is administered under the Service Income Security Plan, or SISIP.
Depending on the nature of their disability, some members receive SISIP benefits up to the age of 65.
In other cases, members receive payments on a short-term basis before transferring to the Earning Loss Benefits plan under Veterans Affairs Canada.
Today’s announcement will ensure that the benefit payments to our ill and injured veterans are consistent – regardless of which program they fall under.
It will also ensure that our ill and injured veterans receive a minimum pre-tax income of $40,000 a year, and that they have the opportunity to participate in vocational rehabilitation training.
I am proud to say that these enhancements will benefit up to 2000 Canadian Forces members.
And although financial benefits cannot fully compensate our ill and injured personnel for their sacrifices…
…we certainly hope that with this support in place, injured and ill Canadian Forces Veterans will now be able to focus on what matters most – their recovery.
Canadians have been clear: they want to see our Veterans and our men and women in uniform receive the care, the support and the recognition they’ve earned.
This Government is dedicated to meeting this commitment.
That is why we are working to ensure that our long-term disability plan continues to meet the evolving needs of our veterans and our serving men and women in uniform.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the men and women of the Canadian Forces are some of this country’s finest citizens.
They are the people who regularly put themselves in harm’s way in the service of our country.
With all that they give on our behalf, we must be prepared to give back.
They deserve nothing less.
Thank you.