OTTAWA, May 31, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, spoke with Veterans and community leaders recently in Regina and Calgary reiterating the government's commitment to Veterans and how Budget 2016 will enhance that support.
The Legion recognizes and has publicly stated our support with the progress being offered to Veterans in this budget. Budget 2016 is a step in the right direction towards the lifetime financial security for our ill and injured Veterans.
VAC has advised that the increase to Earning Loss Benefits for Veterans (ELB) will come into effect on 1 October 2016 and the Disability Award Increase for Veterans will be implemented on 1 April 2017, at the same time the proposed expansion to the Permanent Impairment Allowance will come into effect, along with a program name change to "Career Impact Allowance (CIA)". The Legion would like to see additional information communicated to our Veterans on these new enhancements.
We have been informed of the proposed commitments, and the intended implementation dates, but we do not know of the effects of the ELB increase on those Veterans receiving SISIP LTD. We are concerned that no information on the name changes to Career Impact Allowance or Diminished Earning Capacity and how or if the defining criteria for these benefits will be changed and communicated.
"We need to go beyond stating what the government intends to do and get on with the implementation of its promises," says The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion President, Tom Eagles. "We are asking the Minister and his department to better communicate their action plan so that our Veterans can better manage their expectations and daily lives," states Eagles.
Our Veterans should not and, in many cases, cannot wait any longer," adds Eagles.
SOURCE The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command
please contact Bruce Poulin at Dominion Command, at (613) 591-3335 ext. 241 or by cell at (613) 292-8760 or [email protected].
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