Some Veterans and their families are falling through an
eligibility gap for home care supports
OTTAWA,
ON, May 8, 2024 /CNW/ - Colonel (Ret'd)
Nishika Jardine, Veterans Ombud,
today released her letter to the Minister of Veterans Affairs on
the fairness gap that may be affecting some Veterans and their
relatives. According to the Ombud, Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC)
Veterans Independence Program policy may exclude access to
care-at-home supports when Veterans' family members live with
them. "The fairness gap," notes the Ombud, "is the result of
Veterans falling between two programs."
"When a Veteran's service-related care
needs falls unfairly on family members, the policies and programs
must change.."
After receiving complaints and stakeholder concerns about
eligibility issues with VAC's Caregiver Recognition Benefit (CRB),
the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) launched a two-part systemic
review. Part one, a Care At Home Resource Guide, provides
information to Veterans and their families about VAC programs and
benefits that support independent living at home. Part two looked
for policy gaps between the CRB and the Veterans Independence
Program (VIP) and found an unfairness that may affect family
members who live with and care for Veterans. Results of the review,
which include a recommendation to resolve the fairness gap, are
included in the letter to the Minister.
A monthly tax-free benefit, the CRB is granted only to
caregivers of the most seriously ill and injured Veterans.
According to Veterans Affairs Canada, only 35% of CRB applications
were approved in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Funding for personal
care, housekeeping, grounds maintenance and more is available
through the Veterans Independence Program (VIP), but may be limited
or denied through the "Relatives" section of the program's policy,
which requires decision-makers to consider what care can instead be
provided by a live-in family member.
The Veterans Ombud is recommending that VAC review and revise
existing policy and regulatory frameworks to eliminate gaps that
create additional burdens for live-in relatives who are meeting the
service-related care-at-home needs of Veterans.
"When the burden of a Veteran's service-related care needs falls
unfairly on family members, the policies and programs must
change" -Colonel (Ret'd) Nishika
Jardine, Veterans Ombud.
The Office of the Veterans Ombud reviews complaints, and
challenges the policies and decisions of Veterans Affairs Canada
where we find individual or systemic unfairness. We strive to be an
independent and respected voice for fairness and a champion for the
well-being of Veterans and their families.
SOURCE Veterans Ombudsman