Benefit change gave wounded vets raises of $1.39 to thousands a month

Anyone else have a take on A or B client and if one is approved for VIP they automatically become B clients? If so a link to the policy etc. would be great to have.

[quote="atarijedi"]

nemo wrote:As far as I know....if you are in Group A....you ONLY get dental if dental is part of your condition being covered by VAC. I was group A for years and had no dental. However, I did pay into the federal dental plan for coverage. Now I have been switched to group B and get dental coverage.

You can find more details here of how much they will cover.

http://www.oralhealthroundtable.ca/veterans-affairs-canada-dental-services/

How did you get switched to group B, if you don't mind me asking

++++ I just saw this. About 2 years ago, I got a phone call from VAC. Asked how I was doing. They determined by our conversation that I qualified for some VIP services. And with the eligibility for VIP services, that changed me from an A to a B.

ScottyG wrote:Nemo

 I fully believe that coming this fall the promise of the return of lifetime incomes for the seriously ill will happen. Nevertheless  So far those veterans with disability awards are  entitled to apply and receive;
1.caregive allowance,
2.VIP benefits
,3.travel expenses for med care,
4.reb hab education (books, tuition and college costs)
5.medication,
6.dental care
7.drugs
8.etc etc

most are for life and are 100% not taxable.

CIA,CIAs is taxable but it is for life.

We will likely not see the return of lifetime tax free pensions!( most agree this isnt happening)

What we MAY see is ELB  will continue for life.

If you have DTC which is over 9000 dollars per year as an additional tax deduction.

I truly believe that the seriously injuried veterans will have enough that financial security will be ensured.....

The issue is, those getting the Pension Act pension are also entitled to everything you listed, and more. So there is still a disparity between the financial supports offered between the two classes of veterans. The only difference betwween the two is PA veterans can not get the FCRB ( $7,427.41/ Yr). But they are entitled to the Attendance Allowance, which provides 5 different levels, of which only the minimum level is less than the FRCB ($3468, $8676, $13020, $19524 and $19524)

atarijedi wrote:

ScottyG wrote:Nemo

 I fully believe that coming this fall the promise of the return of lifetime incomes for the seriously ill will happen. Nevertheless  So far those veterans with disability awards are  entitled to apply and receive;
1.caregive allowance,
2.VIP benefits
,3.travel expenses for med care,
4.reb hab education (books, tuition and college costs)
5.medication,
6.dental care
7.drugs
8.etc etc

most are for life and are 100% not taxable.

CIA,CIAs is taxable but it is for life.

We will likely not see the return of lifetime tax free pensions!( most agree this isnt happening)

What we MAY see is ELB  will continue for life.

If you have DTC which is over 9000 dollars per year as an additional tax deduction.

I truly believe that the seriously injuried veterans will have enough that financial security will be ensured.....

Whats this about dental care? I'm in Group A, I've been slowly saving over like, 2 years, to be able to afford to get a crown. I didn't even know dental coverage was a thing. You wouldn't happen to know if crowns are covered, where I can go to find out?

Dental Services (POC 4)

Purpose

This policy provides direction on the provision of dental services for eligible individuals. Coverage of dental services is determined on an individual basis taking into consideration criteria such as the individual's oral health needs.

Policy

Dental services provide coverage for basic dental care and some pre-authorized non-basic and major dental services subject to the specifications outlined in this policy and the Benefit Grids and in the fee schedule for the associated provincial / territorial Dental Association.    Benefit Grids:  http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/health/treatment-benefits/poc/poc_search

Basic dental services are common or accepted forms of treatment such as dental cleaning, exams, fillings, simple extractions, and standard dentures


Non-basic services include treatment such as crownwork or bridgework, and require pre-authorization by Veterans Affairs Canada.
Individual dental providers must provide treatment plans to Veterans Affairs Canada for approval of non-basic dental services.
The provision of non-basic dental services must meet the following criteria:
the treatment is required in order to address health needs; and
oral or general health would be placed at risk in the absence of these treatments.

Major dental services include treatment such as implant treatment and equilibrated dentures. Dental services that are considered to be major dental services (also referred to as excluded procedures) require pre-authorization by Veterans Affairs Canada.
Individual dental providers must provide treatment plans to Veterans Affairs Canada for approval of major dental services.
The provision of major dental services is only approved when there is no other clinically acceptable treatment available, and one of the following criteria apply:
the procedures or services are clinically necessary to maintain oral health; or
the individual’s oral and/or general health would be negatively affected in the absence of this particular treatment; or
the oral health is such that the individual is a good candidate for the procedure  being proposed and the individual’s health will not be negatively impacted by what is being proposed; or
other significant factors exist (where the treatment is required in order to maintain overall health and nutrition).

Eligibility

The following individuals may be eligible for dental services:

Individuals who either hold entitlement to a pension or who have received a
disability award for a health condition requiring dental services,  for example: individuals deemed eligible for A-line coverage;

Individuals who have eligibility other than for a pensioned condition or disability
award and require dental services, for example: individuals deemed eligible for B-line coverage. These individuals must first access provincial / territorial programs or private plans for provision of dental services. Veterans Affairs Canada will provide coverage for dental services neither available to them as residents of that jurisdiction nor recoverable from a third party.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/1925

Basically if your not already covered for dental, you need to contact VAC and ask them for an application to apply for dental coverage. You need to show that your dental condition or conditions is related to your pension condition.

Regarding coverage for Crowns, if covered for dental you will need pre-authorization from VAC:

Examples of dental services that require pre-authorization from VAC: (Before any treatment is received a dental treatment plan is to be submitted to VAC for preauthorization.)

Basic treatment exceeding $1500 annually

Crowns

Bridgework (x-rays required)

Specialist treatment (referral required)

Early replacement of dentures as determined by your dentist or denturist

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/health/treatment-benefits/poc#poc4

nemo wrote:As far as I know....if you are in Group A....you ONLY get dental if dental is part of your condition being covered by VAC. I was group A for years and had no dental. However, I did pay into the federal dental plan for coverage. Now I have been switched to group B and get dental coverage.

You can find more details here of how much they will cover.

http://www.oralhealthroundtable.ca/veterans-affairs-canada-dental-services/

How did you get switched to group B, if you don't mind me asking?

As far as I know....if you are in Group A....you ONLY get dental if dental is part of your condition being covered by VAC. I was group A for years and had no dental. However, I did pay into the federal dental plan for coverage. Now I have been switched to group B and get dental coverage.

You can find more details here of how much they will cover.

http://www.oralhealthroundtable.ca/veterans-affairs-canada-dental-services/

ScottyG wrote:Nemo

 I fully believe that coming this fall the promise of the return of lifetime incomes for the seriously ill will happen. Nevertheless  So far those veterans with disability awards are  entitled to apply and receive;
1.caregive allowance,
2.VIP benefits
,3.travel expenses for med care,
4.reb hab education (books, tuition and college costs)
5.medication,
6.dental care
7.drugs
8.etc etc

most are for life and are 100% not taxable.

CIA,CIAs is taxable but it is for life.

We will likely not see the return of lifetime tax free pensions!( most agree this isnt happening)

What we MAY see is ELB  will continue for life.

If you have DTC which is over 9000 dollars per year as an additional tax deduction.

I truly believe that the seriously injuried veterans will have enough that financial security will be ensured.....

Whats this about dental care? I'm in Group A, I've been slowly saving over like, 2 years, to be able to afford to get a crown. I didn't even know dental coverage was a thing. You wouldn't happen to know if crowns are covered, where I can go to find out?

nemo wrote:The whole system is fracked anyways.  There should be one program for all.

Why are individuals treated so differently.  There should be a basic income for life for all those that can't work. That aspect should not differentiate between those that have limbs or those that don't. You can either work or you can't.

Then they have this stupid rehab thing and I don't even remotely qualify for that but if you don't have that then you don't get income for life. SISIP cuts off for many now at age 65.  And unless they actually get a VAC pension, they will be screwed at 65 with 70% of an already low income. For those of us that got out in 96, wages were a lot lower and the annual inflation rates that the governments give are totally inadequate. For instance, in 96 a Mcpl made about $36,000 per year. Now they make about 60K. But the annual stats canada inflation rate that they use for raising pensions and other benfits would run about 45% over the last 20 years. So that 36K would be 52K so still 8K less than someone in would be getting.

ANd currently I think around 44K is the amount the use for those of us out in the 90's for a minimum income.  So 70% of that will only be 31,000. And that takes into consideration what you get from CFSA, CPP and OAS.  So unless you have another non taxable benefit, you will just exist at age 65.

Even those that get 90% of their salary....if they got out 20 years ago, it still would not be much. A Cpl would get just 32,000.

So the whole system sucks.

nemo,

I agree the system is screwed or complex, but this in my opinion is purposely made to accommodate those writing up the benefits. Just take a look around and you will see almost daily news clips that questions those very benefits brought forward by the bureaucrats. This whole revamp of our benefits is put together to produce long term employment for those bureaucrats who are working for themselves. What you wrote above makes perfect sense, but I believe we are not going to change much, if anything. I say this because the tactics used by the government since the inception of the NVC has worked well for them, regardless of what has been brought forward by the media in terms of questioning the governments motives and or implementations. In my opinion they have succeeded in controlling fully what has happened in the past, and continues to happen in the future regarding the merits of all benefits past, and future. It would be a mistake in my opinion for anyone to state that the NVC offers more security than the PA. However, that is the governments goal, to make believe that the NVC is better, or more secured than the PA, it is working for them, and as time passes, it becomes more evident that they are succeeding in that particular goal. The CPI is a joke, they rate that each year way below what the reality is, again it is those on disability pensions who pay more to survive, and get less for CPI.

One thing I will say, it is true the Liberals are window dressing and poking at bandage fixes, but in my opinion, the Liberals did more for Veterans in two years then the Conservatives did in ten. That is my opinion.

So a dollar more in the pockets of Veterans, or a increase in mental or physical support has to always be welcomed, but we should never be fooled into thinking that what has been brought forward thus far is anything better, or on the same level of the PA.

JMO

This reminds of the old British Class system. If you were an officer, it was because you came from a wealthy family, and your life was worth more than hundreds of enlisted men. Now they are saying that an officer who is totally disabled, can be worth thousands more per month, than some poor kid who becomes totally disabled in their 20's. At least with the PA, it didn't matter if you were a no hook Private, or a top General. You made the exact same benefits, depending on the level of disability. And the private will never reach that level of support, no matter how many years he lives.

Nemo

 I fully believe that coming this fall the promise of the return of lifetime incomes for the seriously ill will happen. Nevertheless  So far those veterans with disability awards are  entitled to apply and receive;
1.caregive allowance,
2.VIP benefits
,3.travel expenses for med care,
4.reb hab education (books, tuition and college costs)
5.medication,
6.dental care
7.drugs
8.etc etc

most are for life and are 100% not taxable.

CIA,CIAs is taxable but it is for life.

We will likely not see the return of lifetime tax free pensions!( most agree this isnt happening)

What we MAY see is ELB will continue for life.

If you have DTC which is over 9000 dollars per year as an additional tax deduction.

I truly believe that the seriously injuried veterans will have enough that financial security will be ensured.....

And that's why a lot of people get ZIP is because their incomes on release were much smaller than they are today and that is not taken into consideration in their calculations.

The whole system is fracked anyways.  There should be one program for all.

Why are individuals treated so differently.  There should be a basic income for life for all those that can't work. That aspect should not differentiate between those that have limbs or those that don't. You can either work or you can't.

Then they have this stupid rehab thing and I don't even remotely qualify for that but if you don't have that then you don't get income for life. SISIP cuts off for many now at age 65.  And unless they actually get a VAC pension, they will be screwed at 65 with 70% of an already low income. For those of us that got out in 96, wages were a lot lower and the annual inflation rates that the governments give are totally inadequate. For instance, in 96 a Mcpl made about $36,000 per year. Now they make about 60K. But the annual stats canada inflation rate that they use for raising pensions and other benfits would run about 45% over the last 20 years. So that 36K would be 52K so still 8K less than someone in would be getting.

ANd currently I think around 44K is the amount the use for those of us out in the 90's for a minimum income.  So 70% of that will only be 31,000. And that takes into consideration what you get from CFSA, CPP and OAS.  So unless you have another non taxable benefit, you will just exist at age 65.

Even those that get 90% of their salary....if they got out 20 years ago, it still would not be much. A Cpl would get just 32,000.

So the whole system sucks.

Nobody seems to care that one got over $5000.00 and some got $1.39 and some got none.

What seems to matter is there was an increase to 90% to the ELB, the promise was kept leaving another piece of ammo the Liberals can use to support what they have done to improve the lives of Canadian Veterans and their Families.

Well played Kent!

You can't even buy a bullet to kill yourself with $1.39

I figured it out! The soldier that got $5536 increase he or she would have to be a Major General or Lt General!

Major-General  $17808 a month---- $213000 a year            
Lieutenant-General $21067 a month---- $252800 a year

Plus  all Perks and there is lots
Plus clothing upkeep allowance!

I should have remustered to General !

I wonder what rank got a 1.39 increase per month!