Widows / Benefits for Survivors Help Page

Increase to the survivor’s pension yet to be implemented

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I'm posting this as a reminder of the Liberals promise from the MVA's mandate letter to increase the veteran survivor’s pension amount from 50 percent to 70 percent.

As of today, Sept 08, 2017 no word on this promise.

We'll keep an eye on this one.

The Retirement Income Security Benefit (RISB) is a monthly taxable benefit.

This benefit tops up a Veteran’s total annual income to at least 70% of what he or she received in financial benefits from VAC before age 65.

Survivors may also be eligible for this benefit.

Eligibility details
Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces who:

have reached age 65, and;
are eligible for a disability benefit, and;
were eligible for the Earnings Loss Benefit at the age of 65 as a result of being totally and permanently incapacitated, or;
were eligible for SISIP LTD on or after April 1, 2006.
Survivors:

who are no longer eligible for Earnings Loss; or
of Veterans who were eligible for RISB.

What you need before you start
Veterans Affairs Canada will contact Veterans and survivors who appear to be eligible for this benefit.

If you have not been contacted and feel you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact us.

Apply now

Other ways to apply
By phone:
866-522-2122
In person:
Find an office
By mail:
Veterans Affairs Canada
PO Box 6000
Matane, QC
G4W 0E4

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/financial/retirement-income-security-benefit

The Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) is a tax-free monthly benefit to help low-income CAF Veterans, survivors, and dependent children.

Do I qualify?
Veterans

You may qualify if you have a low household income and:

you no longer qualify for the Earnings Loss Benefit; or
you are under age 65 and searching for suitable gainful employment.
Survivors and dependent children

You may qualify if:

you were in receipt of the Earnings Loss Benefit; or
your spouse/parent was in receipt of CFIS when they passed away.

How do I apply?
Your VAC case manager can assist you with your application.

If you do not have a case manager, the staff at any VAC office or Integrated Personnel Support Centre (IPSC) can assist you.

You can also fill out the application and mail it to us.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/financial/cf-income-support

The Canadian Government has traditionally assumed responsibility for the burial of members of the Canadian Armed Forces who died during battle and, later, those who died as a result of war-related injuries. In the years following the end of the Second World War and the Korean War, benefits were expanded to Veterans who died without the financial means to provide for a dignified funeral and burial.

The Last Post Fund Corporation (LPF) has been mandated to deliver the program on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). The LPF is a non-profit organization which is closely associated with VAC and will provide, insofar as possible, an honourable funeral and burial, including a military style grave marker to eligible ex-service persons. For further information on the LPF please visit the website www.lastpostfund.ca.

Matter-of-Right
When a Veteran’s death is related to military service due to a condition for which Veterans Affairs Canada provided a disability benefit, assistance may be granted as a matter-of-right (no means testing). This must be determined by a medical authority from Veterans Affairs Canada.

Means Tested
Under the program, the LPF may provide funeral and burial assistance to:

a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces or any predecessor naval, army or air forces of Canada or Newfoundland; or
a Canadian Merchant Navy Veteran of the Second World War or the Korean War; or
an Allied Veteran who served with the Allied Forces during the Second World War or the Korean War and has also lived in Canada for at least 10 years, or lived in Canada prior to enlisting and was living in Canada at time of death.
If the estate of the deceased and the financial resources of any surviving spouse are not sufficient to pay the expenses of the funeral and burial (as determined by the means test described below) then assistance may be provided to cover all or part of the cost.

The Means Test
In determining eligibility for means-tested assistance, the following assets in the deceased's estate will not be included in the calculation of financial status:

Assets to a value of $12,015 where the deceased left a surviving spouse
Assets to a value of $700 for each dependent child (as defined under the legislation)
The family home (including normal household furnishings) and the family automobile
Regular income cheques (payments under: Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, War Veterans Allowance, or disability pension payments) issued to the deceased for the month of death.
Where the deceased is not survived by a spouse or dependent children, all estate assets are examined to determine financial need.

Funeral and burial expenses of the deceased, as well as other debts, are considered when determining the value of the estate. If it is determined that the estate and, if applicable, the financial resources of any surviving spouse are sufficient to provide for the funeral and burial, assistance will not be approved. If there are sufficient assets to cover a portion of the expenses, a grant in the amount of the difference, up to the maximum amounts stipulated by legislation, may be approved.

Benefits
Financial assistance is payable for the following costs:

any medical costs of the deceased person's last sickness that were not otherwise paid by the Minister and that are not insured under a private or provincial health care plan;
the costs of the following funeral services:
preparation of the remains,
provision of a casket that meets the standards specified by the Minister or provision of an urn,
provision of ceremonial services,
provision of death notices,
transportation of the remains from the place where the death occurred to a funeral home and to a place of burial or cremation, and
transportation of the remains that requires the services of two funeral homes because the funeral home or place of burial or cremation are not in the same locality as the place where the death occurred;
if necessary, the cost of any special preparation of the remains for viewing;
if required, the cost of providing a single grave and reasonable costs of opening and closing the grave and its perpetual care;
if a grave liner is required by the authorities of the cemetery, municipality or province, the cost of a decomposable or non-decomposable grave liner;
the cost of cremating the remains; and
a military style grave marker (upright or flat granite, or in certain cases, flat bronze) conforming to the standards of Veterans Affairs Canada.

Application for Assistance
An application for funeral and burial assistance can be made by calling the Last Post Fund toll-free at 1-800-465-7113 within one year following the death of the Veteran. Applications that are received after the one-year time limit will not be considered.

For more detailed information about the regulations, please visit the web site Veterans Burial Regulations, 2005.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/financial/funeral-burial

Notice of intent to amend the Veterans Burial Regulations, 2005
Notice is hereby given that Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) intends to recommend to the Governor in Council that amendments be made to the Veterans Burial Regulations, 2005, pursuant to section 5 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Act.


http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2016/2016-03-26/html/notice-avis-eng.php#nb6

The trouble is, I do not believe VAC has linked suicide among veterans as consequential to having PTSD, or other OSI's. So therefor no death benefits will be paid after a suicide.

Rags the 30 day clause was always in place. It's not new. If member dies of pensioned injury/illness then spouse gets the balance of the full lump sum payment.

I see they have added the 30 day clause if dies of injury. It used to read nothing so if you died in service spouse got 250K if you died of injuries you got the ? mark. Now it appears to be up to 30 days. If over 30 then it "May be paid" interesting. Id suggest that if as has happened a soldier is badly injured and survives only to die 2 to 3 years later due to that original injury then payout should occur. Interesting debacle for years from now. For example PTSD and a soldiers takes his life due to that 10 years later.....does spouse qualify for the 250K

Rags

Survivor Benefits

Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA)

Pension Services is responsible for determining the type of benefits payable under the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA), to entitled survivors of deceased serving and retired members of the Regular and Reserve Force. The survivors are informed of their entitlements under the plan, and they are also given some additional information concerning medical and dental plan coverage, direct deposit banking arrangements, Personal Tax Credits Return (TD1's)

What to do when a Survivor Dies
A survivor is the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased Canadian Forces pensioner who is in receipt of a monthly pension cheque.

In all cases, when the survivor of a Canadian Forces pensioner dies, written notification, including:

the full name of the survivor,
Social Insurance or Service Number,
Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA) pension number (if known)
and a copy of the Death Certificate or the Funeral Director’s Statement of Death of the survivor should be provided to DCFPS.
Also required is the name and address of the Administrator of the Estate or immediate family member(s). You may contact us by phone, email, or regular mail:

Contact:

Call toll-free: 1-800-267-0325

Fax: 1-866-719-4043

Email: pensions@forces.gc.ca

Mail:
Department National Defence
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa ON
K1A 0K2

ATTN: DCFPS 5

In the Event of an Overpayment:

As the benefit entitlement ceases at the end of the month of death, any cheques received or deposited into a bank account after that time should be returned to Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to prevent an overpayment.

The address for overpayment cheques is:

Canadian Forces Specialized Services
Public Works and Government Services Canada
1451 Coldrey Ave
Ottawa ON K1A 0S5

As many survivors receive money from several pension plans at once, you are also advised to contact any other pension plan directly from which the survivor was receiving a benefit.

http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/caf-community-pension/survivor-benefits.page

Disability Benefits in Respect of Death for Survivors and Dependent Children

Purpose
To provide direction respecting entitlement of survivors and dependent children to a death and/or disability benefit following the death of a member or Veteran from a service related injury or disease.

Policy
General

If the member or Veteran died prior to the implementation of the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act (CFMVRCA) (April 1, 2006), any claims related to the member’s or Veteran’s disability or death must be pursued under the Pension Act.
Only a survivor and/or dependent child may apply for a death or disability benefit in respect of a member’s or Veteran’s death.

A survivor and/or dependent child may receive a survivor pension under the Pension Act and/or a disability award(s) under the CFMVRCA up to a maximum percentage of 100%.
The maximum percentage of disability benefit payable to a survivor and/or dependent child is 100% less any disability pension and/or disability award previously paid to the member or Veteran.
In cases where a disability benefit is not provided in respect of the death of the member or Veteran, a survivor and/or dependent child may apply for;
a disability benefit with respect to a new condition for which the member or Veteran did not apply prior to his/her death; and/or
an additional/increased disability benefit in respect of an entitled condition if they have evidence that the member’s or Veteran’s condition deteriorated between the last time he/she was assessed and the time of death.
In cases where the survivor or dependent child is also a member or Veteran, the survivor/dependent child may receive:
a disability pension and/or a disability award with respect to his/her own disability (up to a total maximum percentage of 100%);
a pension and/or a disability award with respect to the death or disability of the deceased member or Veteran (up to a total maximum percentage of 100%); and/or
a death benefit with respect to the death of the deceased member.
Estates are not eligible to apply for a death or disability benefit.
Disability Pension

A disability pension for death is payable when a member or Veteran dies as a result of a service-related injury or disease, or a non-service related injury or disease which was aggravated by service.
When a member or Veteran dies as a result of an injury or disease for which a disability pension under the Pension Act is being paid, the member or Veteran is deemed to have been assessed at 100% for that disability.
Full entitlement is granted for death related to a partially entitled condition.
Disability Award

A disability award is payable when a member or Veteran dies as a result of a service-related injury or disease, and the death occurs more than 30 days after the day on which the injury occurred, the disease was contracted, or the injury or disease was aggravated by service.
When a member or Veteran dies as a result of an injury or disease for which a disability award has been paid, in whole or in part under the CFMVRCA, the member or Veteran is deemed to have been assessed at 100% for that disability.
If a member or Veteran dies of a condition for which fractional (i.e., one-fifth to four-fifths) entitlement was awarded, the resulting increase in disability award (to 100%) would be paid to the survivor and/or dependent children on a fractional basis as well.
A survivor and/or dependent child of two or more members/Veterans may receive a disability award up to a total maximum percentage of 100% in respect of each member/Veteran.
Death Benefit

Under the CFMVRCA, a death benefit is payable when a member dies as a result of a service-related injury or disease, or a non-service related injury or disease aggravated by service, and the death occurs within 30 days of the injury occurring or the disease being contracted, or the injury or disease being aggravated by service.
A death benefit is paid over and above any disability benefits paid or payable under the Pension Act and/or CFMVRCA.
If a death benefit is paid in respect of a member’s death, a disability award will not be paid for the same condition for which a death benefit has been paid.
A death benefit is not payable in cases where a member has died prior to April 1, 2006, or dies of a condition for which a disability pension was paid or is payable under the Pension Act.
A survivor and/or dependent child may receive a death benefit in respect of the death of more than one member.
Division of Disability Award/Death Benefit Amongst Beneficiaries

Cases where a survivor or dependent child come forward after the payment of a disability award or death benefit has been disbursed will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The issue of liability would be dependent on the facts of each case and the reason the beneficiary was missed.
In relation to an unborn child of a deceased member or Veteran a disability award or death benefit may be paid to such a child who is subsequently born alive. An unborn child who is subsequently born alive is deemed to have been a dependent child at the time of the member’s or Veteran’s death.
The disability award or death benefit payable will be divided taking into consideration the unborn child. If the child is not subsequently born alive, the child’s share will be divided amongst the other beneficiaries, as per section 55 and 59 of the CFMVRCA.
Critical Injury Benefit

Survivors and surviving dependent children are not eligible to apply for and/or be paid the Critical Injury benefit of behalf of a deceased member or Veteran.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/1486

Veterans Independence Program Benefits for Survivors

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/forms/document/338

Benefits for Survivors (of Disability Award recipients)

Death Benefit / Disability Award
If a Canadian Armed Forces member dies as a result of a service-related injury or disease a financial benefit is paid to a spouse or common-law partner and/or dependent children. If the death occurs within 30 days of the injury, a death benefit is awarded. If the death occurs more than 30 days after the injury or disease, a Disability Award may be paid.

Education Assistance Program
Educational Assistance provides monthly financial support to the student plus assistance with related expenses (e.g., tuition) for up to four years or 36 academic months, whichever is less.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/after-injury/disability-benefits/disability-award/survivor-benefits

Benefits for Survivors (of Disability Pension Recipients)

Continuation of Disability Pension
When a disability pensioner dies, if he or she was pensioned at 5% or greater, the survivor will continue to receive (for a period of one year) the same Disability Pension or Prisoner of War compensation that was being paid to the pensioner. This includes any Attendance Allowance and/or Exceptional Incapacity Allowance the pensioner was receiving at the time of death. After this one year period, a survivor's pension will be automatically paid.

Survivor's Pension
A survivor's pension will be paid to the survivor of a disability pensioner commencing one year from the time of death. The pensioner's benefits continue in full for the first year.

If the pensioner was receiving a pension of 48% or greater, the survivor is entitled to a full survivor's pension. If the pensioner was receiving a pension between the 5% and 47% rate, the survivor will receive one-half of the Disability Pension that was paid to the pensioner.

Surviving spouses/surviving common-law partners who remarry will continue to receive the survivor's pension. Children and other qualified dependents may also qualify for benefits following a pensioner's death. Please contact us for more information.

Education Assistance Program
If you are a child of a deceased Veteran or Canadian Armed Forces member or Veteran, you may receive financial assistance for post-secondary education if your parent:

died as a result of military service;
or
had received a disability benefit of 48% or greater at the time of death.
To qualify, you must enter the program before you turn 25 years of age. This assistance cannot be extended beyond the year in which you turn 30. This support may be provided for four years or 36 academic months, whichever is less.

For more information on any of the above programs or to apply please contact us.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/after-injury/disability-benefits/disability-pension/survivor-benefits

Contact list Directory

Veterans Affairs Canada 1-866-522-2122

Canadian Forces pensions 1-800-267-0350

Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) 1-800-267-6542

SUNLIFE - 1-888-757-7427

SISIP SERVICES - MANULIFE - 1-800-565-0701

CPPD - CANADA PENSION PLAN DISABILITY - 1-800-277-9914

BLUE CROSS - Benefits and Services  1-866-522-2122

It is based on what you are rated at. which is 40%, not the level of disability according to their tables. At one point, I had two pensioned, on at 15% (5/5) and one at 32% (4/5), So I was right at the the borderline of this rule, being rated at 47% overall. I've since been increased, but otherwise my wife's survivor benefits would have been 1/2 of my portion of the pension. You can request a re-assessment, but unless your condition has worsened drastically, you may not get the level required. but since there can be no further pensions under the pension Act, reassessment is your only for sure chance of reaching that 48% mark, that I know of. Unfortunately for many, I don't know if they have determined if veterans who are over the 48% threshold because they have combined assessments under the Pension Act and the NVC can receive the maximum survivor benefits, since the NVC has no survivor benefits contained within the act. This is just one of the many gaps in coverage between the two acts.

Good luck