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Another claim to remove red tape probably...
SISIP LTD 2002 - 2018
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Maybe, maybe not - they're using the phrase "financial benefits" in this media advisory.PuckChaser said:
The last time VAC previewed a "less red tape" announcement, it mentioned "the improvement of service for Veterans" in the media advisory.
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http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/department/press/viewrelease/1578
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Eve Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced today that effective immediately, the Government of Canada will deliver increased benefits to Canadian Forces Veterans. This will be accomplished by ending the deduction of Veterans’ disability pensions when calculating their Earnings Loss and Canadian Forces Income Support benefits.
“We have worked quickly to make changes to Veterans’ benefits to put more money in the pockets of Veterans and their families, including some who haven’t been receiving these benefits until now,” said Minister Blaney. “We are also working quickly to make the necessary changes to the War Veterans Allowance Act so a disability pension will no longer be considered when calculating the War Veterans Allowance benefit.”
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Eve Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced today that effective immediately, the Government of Canada will deliver increased benefits to Canadian Forces Veterans. This will be accomplished by ending the deduction of Veterans’ disability pensions when calculating their Earnings Loss and Canadian Forces Income Support benefits.
“We have worked quickly to make changes to Veterans’ benefits to put more money in the pockets of Veterans and their families, including some who haven’t been receiving these benefits until now,” said Minister Blaney. “We are also working quickly to make the necessary changes to the War Veterans Allowance Act so a disability pension will no longer be considered when calculating the War Veterans Allowance benefit.”
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dapaterson said:
The bit that jumps out at me from the news release:
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OTTAWA - Canada's Department of Veterans Affairs has ended its long-standing, controversial policy of clawing back the benefit payments of disabled soldiers, sailors and aircrew — a move critics say has been far too long in coming.
Effective immediately, the Harper government will no longer deduct the amount of a veteran's pension from benefits for lost earnings and Canadian Forces income support, which were introduced in 2006 under the New Veterans Charter.
Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney made the announcement Wednesday at a news conference at Valcartier Garrison, outside Quebec City.
"We have worked quickly to make these changes to put more money in the pockets of veterans and their families, including some who haven't been receiving these benefits until now," Blaney said.
The move is a consequence of last spring's Federal Court ruling, which rejected the clawback of disability benefits from eligible veterans in a case waged against the Department of National Defence.
Back in July, Defence Minister Peter MacKay ended the deduction for most disabled soldiers, but it took a special cabinet order passed just recently to get the measure enacted for those affected under the veterans affairs system.
Ending the clawback immediately will cost the federal treasury $177.7 million over the next five years.
Depending upon the severity of the injury and whether they receive the earnings loss or the income support benefit, the change could mean between $1,100 and $1,500 per month to individual veterans.
More changes are on the way, affecting those veterans who entered the system prior to the introduction of the updated veterans charter.
"We are also working quickly to make the necessary legislative changes to the War Veterans Allowance Act so a disability pension will no longer be considered when calculating the War Veterans Allowance benefit," Blaney said.
New Democrat veterans critic Peter Stoffer said he was pleased with the decision, but irritated by the government's blatant politicking — including the claim it has "worked quickly" to help affected veterans.
The Conservative government could have implemented Wednesday's changes years ago, Stoffer said.
"It's hard to criticize them when they do the right thing, but these problems have been around a lot longer than the current government and it is something they should have done when they came to office," he said.
"They're not doing this out of the goodness of their heart. They're doing it because a judge ordered them to."
The changes announced Wednesday are separate from ongoing negotiations meant to establish retroactive compensation for disabled military veterans, many of whom have had their pensions deducted since 1976.
Some internal government estimates suggest that settlement could run as high as $600 million, depending upon the cut-off date established through negotiations involving lawyers for 4,500 veterans who launched a class-action lawsuit and federal negotiators led by Stephen Toope, the president of the University of British Columbia.
Veterans affairs officials, speaking on background, said the issue of retroactivity as it relates to Wednesday's announcement will be dealt with "at another point down the road."
Going forward, the veterans department will increase monthly payments starting in November, but issue cheques to make up for the deduction in October.
Groups representing ex-military members, including the Canadian Peacekeepers Association and the Royal Canadian Legion, are generally pleased with the decision.
But the question of money still owing looms large.
"All that is left for Minister Blaney to do is address the retroactive money owed to these veterans back to 2006, when the (New Veterans Charter) was enacted by Parliament," said Ron Cundell, a former sergeant and disabled veteran who runs the website veteranvoice.info.
Wednesday's announcement will have a major impact on modern-day soldiers, Cundell said.
"The Afghan vets who were severely injured and are unable to work will now be able to live a more financially comfortable life."
Stoffer called on the government to settle a separate lawsuit launched by members of the RCMP who've also had their disability pensions clawed back.
The government should also halt deductions for all federal employees whose Canada Pension Plan disability benefits are deducted dollar-for-dollar from their superannuation payments, he added.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Ottawa+ends+clawback+veterans+affairs+pensions+after+Federal/7368500/story.html#ixzz28vysc0tT
Effective immediately, the Harper government will no longer deduct the amount of a veteran's pension from benefits for lost earnings and Canadian Forces income support, which were introduced in 2006 under the New Veterans Charter.
Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney made the announcement Wednesday at a news conference at Valcartier Garrison, outside Quebec City.
"We have worked quickly to make these changes to put more money in the pockets of veterans and their families, including some who haven't been receiving these benefits until now," Blaney said.
The move is a consequence of last spring's Federal Court ruling, which rejected the clawback of disability benefits from eligible veterans in a case waged against the Department of National Defence.
Back in July, Defence Minister Peter MacKay ended the deduction for most disabled soldiers, but it took a special cabinet order passed just recently to get the measure enacted for those affected under the veterans affairs system.
Ending the clawback immediately will cost the federal treasury $177.7 million over the next five years.
Depending upon the severity of the injury and whether they receive the earnings loss or the income support benefit, the change could mean between $1,100 and $1,500 per month to individual veterans.
More changes are on the way, affecting those veterans who entered the system prior to the introduction of the updated veterans charter.
"We are also working quickly to make the necessary legislative changes to the War Veterans Allowance Act so a disability pension will no longer be considered when calculating the War Veterans Allowance benefit," Blaney said.
New Democrat veterans critic Peter Stoffer said he was pleased with the decision, but irritated by the government's blatant politicking — including the claim it has "worked quickly" to help affected veterans.
The Conservative government could have implemented Wednesday's changes years ago, Stoffer said.
"It's hard to criticize them when they do the right thing, but these problems have been around a lot longer than the current government and it is something they should have done when they came to office," he said.
"They're not doing this out of the goodness of their heart. They're doing it because a judge ordered them to."
The changes announced Wednesday are separate from ongoing negotiations meant to establish retroactive compensation for disabled military veterans, many of whom have had their pensions deducted since 1976.
Some internal government estimates suggest that settlement could run as high as $600 million, depending upon the cut-off date established through negotiations involving lawyers for 4,500 veterans who launched a class-action lawsuit and federal negotiators led by Stephen Toope, the president of the University of British Columbia.
Veterans affairs officials, speaking on background, said the issue of retroactivity as it relates to Wednesday's announcement will be dealt with "at another point down the road."
Going forward, the veterans department will increase monthly payments starting in November, but issue cheques to make up for the deduction in October.
Groups representing ex-military members, including the Canadian Peacekeepers Association and the Royal Canadian Legion, are generally pleased with the decision.
But the question of money still owing looms large.
"All that is left for Minister Blaney to do is address the retroactive money owed to these veterans back to 2006, when the (New Veterans Charter) was enacted by Parliament," said Ron Cundell, a former sergeant and disabled veteran who runs the website veteranvoice.info.
Wednesday's announcement will have a major impact on modern-day soldiers, Cundell said.
"The Afghan vets who were severely injured and are unable to work will now be able to live a more financially comfortable life."
Stoffer called on the government to settle a separate lawsuit launched by members of the RCMP who've also had their disability pensions clawed back.
The government should also halt deductions for all federal employees whose Canada Pension Plan disability benefits are deducted dollar-for-dollar from their superannuation payments, he added.
Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Ottawa+ends+clawback+veterans+affairs+pensions+after+Federal/7368500/story.html#ixzz28vysc0tT
the 48th regulator
Army.ca Fixture
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ZERO SUM CLIENTS
Peter Driscoll October 9, 2012
VVi 9 Oct 2012 db
Class Members:
We understand there has been confusion with respect to the commencement of the processing of “zero sum” claims on October 9th by Manulife Financial on behalf of SISIP. We have just received the following from the Department of Justice confirming what steps will be taken, beginning today,
to process “zero sum” member benefits:
“Beginning today, October 9, 2012 Manulife Financial has started the processing for qualifying "zero sum" class members (those members of the Class who received nothing from SISIP LTD due to the deduction of their VAC disability payments).
We require that you provide your current contact information so that we can send you an information package requesting a status update on your medical condition and financial circumstances since your file was closed with Manulife Financial.”
What this means is that SISIP/Manulife is “open for business” for “zero sum” members whose file has been closed. As you can imagine, some class member files are more complete than others. Some members may not have been in contact with SISIP/Manulife for some time, and some may be in regular contact and have up to date information on file. What is being required from members above is what is required under the terms of the SISIP LTD policy. If you have an “open file” with SISIP/Manulife your case manager may be able to assist you.
Manulife may be contacted by using toll free 1-855-370-0025.
Please keep in mind this is just the initial manner in which we are attempting to get benefits into the hands of zero sum class members. As outlined in the memorandum concerning the negotiations, we are still in the process of finalizing proxies (such as a determination of total and permanent disability under CPP, for example) and an independent adjudication process as ways members can qualify for benefits outside of the normal process required under the SISIP LTD Policy. We will update you further as soon as we are able.
Peter Driscoll October 9, 2012
VVi 9 Oct 2012 db
Class Members:
We understand there has been confusion with respect to the commencement of the processing of “zero sum” claims on October 9th by Manulife Financial on behalf of SISIP. We have just received the following from the Department of Justice confirming what steps will be taken, beginning today,
to process “zero sum” member benefits:
“Beginning today, October 9, 2012 Manulife Financial has started the processing for qualifying "zero sum" class members (those members of the Class who received nothing from SISIP LTD due to the deduction of their VAC disability payments).
We require that you provide your current contact information so that we can send you an information package requesting a status update on your medical condition and financial circumstances since your file was closed with Manulife Financial.”
What this means is that SISIP/Manulife is “open for business” for “zero sum” members whose file has been closed. As you can imagine, some class member files are more complete than others. Some members may not have been in contact with SISIP/Manulife for some time, and some may be in regular contact and have up to date information on file. What is being required from members above is what is required under the terms of the SISIP LTD policy. If you have an “open file” with SISIP/Manulife your case manager may be able to assist you.
Manulife may be contacted by using toll free 1-855-370-0025.
Please keep in mind this is just the initial manner in which we are attempting to get benefits into the hands of zero sum class members. As outlined in the memorandum concerning the negotiations, we are still in the process of finalizing proxies (such as a determination of total and permanent disability under CPP, for example) and an independent adjudication process as ways members can qualify for benefits outside of the normal process required under the SISIP LTD Policy. We will update you further as soon as we are able.
PrairieThunder said:
How do you figure that? We already have one of the best pension plans to be found anywhere in the country, derived from a pretty damned decent salary and benefits. Why should we not continue to pay tax on income after retirement?
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Brihard said:
I always thought that taxing the pension of Veterans was wrong. That's all. For the 20-25 years of selfless service and unlimited liability to your country that is required to qualify for a full pension, it just seems wrong for the government to continue to scrape money out of Veterans.
One could go work for CATSA for 30 years by sitting on their rump and walk out with larger pension payments than the CF, but I'm not in it for the money.
PrairieThunder said:
Unlimited liability and physical hardship (relatively little of either of which most military members actually ever face) are accounted for by the 'military factor' applied in deriving our salaries from the public service. We're already paid very good salaries to account for this. We're well comped for our 'selfless service'. There's no reason for us not to face the same tax burden as the rest of Canadians; we aren't particularly special.
We get a lot out of our country, we make a very good income serving it, and we in turn pay back in proportionately.
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PrairieThunder said:
That is for an unreduced pension.
Full ( maximum ) pension requires 35 years of pensionable service.
http://pensionetavantages-pensionandbenefits.gc.ca/act/evnvie-lfevnt/nvempfp-newps-eng.html#a6
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Just heard this new's through the Canadian Veteran's Avocacy. Bout Bluidy time.
Look's like I have a pile of money coming back... Woo Hoo. Sorta. I'll believe it
when I see the cheque. The deduction was B/S. And we proved it through the
Supreme Court. So as far as I'm concerned Federal Gov,,SCR@@ Y@@.
Just my rant. Cheer's all,, Best Regard's. Scoty B
Look's like I have a pile of money coming back... Woo Hoo. Sorta. I'll believe it
when I see the cheque. The deduction was B/S. And we proved it through the
Supreme Court. So as far as I'm concerned Federal Gov,,SCR@@ Y@@.
Just my rant. Cheer's all,, Best Regard's. Scoty B
They corrected a wrong and when that is done, they should be commended.
Just one vet to another!
FYI - disability income aside. when you stop paying taxes on legit income including CFSA pensions is when you stop becoming a citizen. Is every pensioner suppose to enjoy your utopia or just us vets? REALLY, Try and push that through the government!
Just one vet to another!
FYI - disability income aside. when you stop paying taxes on legit income including CFSA pensions is when you stop becoming a citizen. Is every pensioner suppose to enjoy your utopia or just us vets? REALLY, Try and push that through the government!
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Towards_the_gap
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Brihard said:
^^^^GOOD POST ^^^^^^Highlighted bit very true.
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