Need some direction...

bigrex wrote:Lawnboy, he will not be able to apply for SISIP. Unlike ELB, SISIP will not accept applications from anyone who missed the initial 90 day time limit. And for those who were getting SISIP, but it ceased after the 24 months, there is no avenue for getting reinstated at a later date, if your health deteriorates. The Veterans who were reinstated because of the SISIP Lawsuit do not count either, because the courts stated that if it wasn't for the PA clawback, that they would have likely applied for and received continuing benefits.

That's false. One can still apply after the 90 days with valid reasoning as to why they did not. Maybe you know someone who didn't get it but many have with valid reasons why it was not applied for. More so ptsd veterans.

Some good advise here Howie all round. propat mentioned "you may want to get reassessments done on your condition/condition and have them finalized prior to a CPPD application . My emphasis on that word but that's the smart methodical approach to the madness.

Anyway, pace your approach to VaC very smartly Howie... take the time. And don't you EVER feel intimidated or shy about approaching VaC.

THEY SERVE US !

Lawnboy, he will not be able to apply for SISIP. Unlike ELB, SISIP will not accept applications from anyone who missed the initial 90 day time limit. And for those who were getting SISIP, but it ceased after the 24 months, there is no avenue for getting reinstated at a later date, if your health deteriorates. The Veterans who were reinstated because of the SISIP Lawsuit do not count either, because the courts stated that if it wasn't for the PA clawback, that they would have likely applied for and received continuing benefits.

Yes, and I would get the ball rolling ASAP, because at least we know what someone can expect under the existing benefits structure. But once the Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA) is changed to Career Impact Allowance (CIA), and Totally and Permanently Impaired (TPI) is changed to Diminished Earnings Capacity (DEC), nobody knows how easy, or hard, it will be to be approved.

Social media is the game changer as we will win our plight.

We deserve nothing but the best Canada can offer, you did and would of put your ass on the line.
Asking, demanding, negotiating, advocating, protesting, WOW!  

guess we ride it out...............

So back in the day when I believed in the powers of the upper echelons I posted this on his Hon. site.

Dan commented on Kent Hehr's post.
.
Dear Honorable Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada Kent Hehr,
I do not represent any veterans group or organization, I represent myself a veteran, plain and simple. I voted for the Liberal Party of Canada last election because the Liberal party had the strongest platform for veterans.
Is it too much to ask of the Honorable Minister of Veterans Affairs of Canada, to at least give us (me) a veteran some sort of indication of what is in the works that will help Veterans and their Families, or are you still sworn into secrecy and are not allowed to speak on the matter?
Thanks,
Trying to ease my mind

I received a response back (from Vincent a Staffer, anyone know him?), with the official Coat of Arms via Facebook (Yes! pretty strange use of our official Coat of Arms)

To which I responded directly with this:
Dear Vincent,
Thank you for responding to my post on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Veterans of Affairs Kent Hehr. Knowing that something is in the works is reassuring
1. Work with the Minister of National Defence to reduce complexity, overhaul service delivery, and strengthen partnerships between Veterans Affairs and National Defence.
2. Re-establish lifelong pensions as an option for our injured veterans, and increase the value of the disability award, while ensuring that every injured veteran has access to financial advice and support so that they can determine the form of compensation that works best for them and their families.
3 .Expand access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance to better support veterans who have had their career options limited by a service-related illness or injury.
4. Provide injured veterans with *90 percent of their pre-release salary*, and index this benefit so that it keeps pace with inflation.
5. Create a new Veterans Education Benefit that will provide full support for the costs of up to four years of college, university, or technical education for Canadian Forces veterans after completion of service. Improve career and vocational assistance for veterans through ensuring that job opportunities for returning veterans are included in Community Benefits Agreements for new federally-funded infrastructure projects.
6. Deliver a higher standard of service and care, and ensure that a “one veteran, one standard” approach is upheld. Re-open the nine Veterans Affairs service offices recently closed, hire more service delivery staff, and fully implement all of the Auditor General’s recommendations on enhancing mental health service delivery to veterans. Create two new centres of excellence in veterans’ care, including one with a specialization in mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder and related issues for both veterans and first responders.
7. Provide greater education, counselling, and training for families who are providing care and support to veterans living with physical and/or mental health issues as a result of their service. End the time limit for surviving spouses to apply for vocational rehabilitation and assistance services. Increase the veteran survivor’s pension amount from 50 percent to 70 percent. Eliminate the “marriage after 60” clawback clause, so that surviving spouses of veterans receive appropriate pension and health benefits.
8. Double funding to the Last Post Fund to ensure that all veterans receive a dignified burial. Work with the Minister of National Defence to develop a suicide prevention strategy for Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
If you break it down, it only comes down to eight changes. These are real life altering changes that can be extremely beneficial for the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Veterans. Veterans deserve the best, not just “do more”? A Canadian Armed soldier if ordered to would risk life or limb for their country. Why give veterans any less?

And never heard back since....crazy eh!

You mentioned chronic pain, do you see a pain specialist? If not get a referral from your family doctor. A specialist backing you up can go a long way with VAC.

it is going to be a slow process, so buckle in and start your applications.

I do not have anything currently as far as benefits go. I called Vet affairs only a month ago or so since it was getting too painful to do anything and could only work a couple of hours a day and its only getting worse. I guess my biggest concern is they will just throw me into a retraining program to go back to work when I don't think I would be capable of anything meaningful in terms of employment.

First off Howie do you have the PIA? You can only get the PIAS if you have the PIA.

As for TPI it would help your case if you had PIA since it would mean that VAC already considers you to have a permanent and severe disability.

You can put in an application for PIA and the PIAS at the same time but the PIAS will be denied if you were not considered TPI.

For TPI you will need to request an assessment be done. Unfortunately it is up to your case manager to make the decision. This decision is done at a conference meeting with several doctors and a few registered nurses to discuss your situation. They will more than likely request information from a few specialists. Generally doctors you are already seeing. For an up to date picture. Jump the gun and get your doctors already declaring you unable to work and that it is a poor prognosis. Send copies of these to VAC with your TPI request just to make sure they have it. As for TPI almost all veterans who have PIA have PIAS as well which means they are TPI.

I was thinking of requesting another assessment for my TPI on Tuesday. They wanted me to visit my psychiatrist on the thirteenth before they would make a decision but I believe it's bull to delay me. When all the doctors I have seen have declared me TPI with a poor prognosis.

Thank you for the responses. This is the information i needed and really didnt want to ask the CM as they may not always point me in the right direction. When I released, my CM got me on sisip which was a complete waste of time. They approved a 3 year program and of course never told me they would only cover 2 years. Needless to say i said screw it and went to work for a friend in my limited capacity.

So i did some research on TPI if that would be my next logical step. Is it hard to get approved for TPI and what is the burden of proof needed? I need to see a doc soon anyways for my DTC renewal so is there things i should be asking him to note?

I hate to ask so many questions but I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with what I should be looking at or looking for.

Might apply for SISIP;

CPPD might not be option as it has tough definition of disabled + ELB/SISIP/CF pension claws it back;

TPI is important, means Rehab not required & ELB to 65 + PIA/PIAS for life

Did u claim SISIP premiums (if you got SISIP LTD) on taxes? ITA s. 6(1)(f)(v) is reference; if not, claim. CRA lets u go back 10 years;

Claim 100% of Medical Expenses under METC (ITA s. 118.2(3)(a) ref)

CPPD requires 4/6 years contributions so you might want to apply despite the 35% success rate

TPI designation is very important unless you do plan on schooling for a position that would not aggravate your condition(s).

If not, I suggest doing the myvac "What can I apply for?" Quiz on the myvac account. It is a good place to start anyway.

Howie
VAC will try to get you to go back to school and re-train with Vocational Rehab. For me, they made it seem like I couldn't get ELB without a Vocational Rehab program. Not the case. I dragged myself through a year of school and it hurt not helped me. If your conditions are "permanent" and severe, getting reports from your doctors that clearly state that are important. If the wording on the reports gives VAC any idea that you may improve or your condition hasn't stabilized, they will deny your app for PIA, your CM won't deem you TPI and you'll be on ELB and pressured to retrain. As for PIA, you need to have a rehab plan approved and current medical evaluations. If you have chronic pain and are covered by VAC with Medivae/BlueCross, I suggest you check out the Medical Marijuana/Cannabis thread. Good luck!
Ohh and ask ask ask.
The vets here are amazing and VAC is very hit or miss when it comes to help

ya Howie that's good stuff from trooper there . apply , apply , apply not much I can add without more specifics save this ;

since as trooper pointed out it seems your condition may have worsened you may want to get reassessments done on your condition/condition and have them finalized prior to a CPPD application . the newer medical reports may just help you with your CPPD application possibly avoiding some needless appeals .

propat

Howie, the best advice I could give you is to apply for every benefit that is available. The worst they can do is deny you, if denied you can appeal. You have already received the DTC and regarding benefits that you are approved for by VAC, there's consequential applications to those benefits your receiving which is one aspect, there's also worsening of your condition OR conditions that also can be another factor in your application. Once your approved for the ELB, fill out an application for TPI, again, if denied, appeal. The thing you must be prepared for is rejection of your application, this is sometimes the case as you can read several topics here on CSAT where some have been successful the first time around, where as some had to appeal. The timeline for a decision on your application also varies from one to the next. The main thing is to not get discouraged when things take time and you don't get approved the first time, if indeed that turns out to be the case. Don't allow your CM to discourage you from applying for any benefit, the benefits are there for you to apply for and your within your rights to do just that. You should also look into CPPD if you have not done so yet. Others here may have additional advice to give you, CSAT will help you in any way we can with respect to how to apply, what to apply for and any other info we can provide.

Here's something else to consider;

Permanent Impairment Allowance: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/transition/rehabilitation/permanent-impairment-allowance