Improvements needed in compensation for veterans, says Ombudsman

I wouldn't say it's a lifelong pension solution.

What the OVO is recommending and saying basically is that those on the NVC need to be compensated for non-economic effects of impairment or injury.

What he recommends is three improvements;

1. Introduce an exceptional incapacity allowance in the NVC.

2. That the criteria to qualify for compensation for exceptional incapacity should not be based on a specific minimum disability percentage.

3. That single disable Veterans be able to have their parents and siblings who might be their next of kin, be entitled to the same compensation under the disability award, then the Veterans spouses have today.

Is this the new 'pension for life' solution?

Veterans ombudsman releases report calling for improvements.

October 03, 2016

Guy Parent calls for more money in his report “Fair Compensation to Veterans and their Survivors for Pain and Suffering”

Veterans and their survivors who fall under the New Veterans Charter for pain and suffering need more money, Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent said recently.

He released a report, “Fair Compensation to Veterans and their Survivors for Pain and Suffering” while calling for improvements to be made.

“While no amount of money can provide full restitution, veterans who have suffered from an illness or injury due to their service need to be fairly compensated for the impact their disability has on their lives and on the lives of their families,” Parent said. “In addition, changes need to be made to the New Veterans Charter so that single Canadian Armed Forces members without dependents can designate a family member to apply for and receive the death benefit.”

The report compares what veterans and their survivors receive to compensate for non-economic loss with what other Canadians may receive under other federal, provincial and/or territorial programs and the courts. It also looks at what veterans in other countries may receive.

The report finds the $360,000 disability award is fair compared to how other Canadians are compensated for the non-economic effects of impairment or injury.

However, the ombudsman is calling for compensation to recognize the non-economic effects of exceptional incapacity.

“I sincerely hope that the three recommendations in this report will lead to fair recognition of the sacrifices made by Veterans. Our veterans and their families deserve no less,” Mr. Parent concluded

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2016-10-03/article-4654965/Veterans-ombudsman-releases-report-calling-for-improvements/1

Veterans’ Ombudsman recommends improved veterans’ compensation.

Sep 30, 2016

MANITOULIN ISLAND—The president of the War Pensioners of Canada (WPC) said proposed recommendations made by the Veterans’ Ombudsman for improved compensation for veterans and their survivors should be good news, however, so far action on issues like this have not taken place.

“Most of these issues have been on the books for awhile and groups like ours (WPC) have been fighting for them and improvements for a long time,” said Colin Pick. “If the recommendations were put in place it would be good news.”

Mr. Pick was referring to a report released from Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent last week entitled, ‘Fair Compensation to Veterans and their Survivors for Pain and Suffering,’ in which he calls for improvements to the compensation provided to veterans and their survivors who fall under the New Veterans Charter.

“While no amount of money can provide full restitution, veterans who have suffered from an illness or injury due to their service need to be fairly compensated for the impact their disability has on their lives and the lives of their families,” said Mr. Parent. “In addition, changes need to be made to the New Veterans Charter so that single Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members without dependants can designate a family member to apply for and receive the death benefit.”

The report analyzes the New Veterans Charter as it applies to compensation for non-economic loss provided by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to disabled CAF members and veterans and their survivors. The report compares what veterans and their survivors receive to compensate for non-economic loss with what other Canadians may receive under other federal, provincial and/or territorial programs and the courts, and it also looks at what veterans in other countries may receive. The findings in the report indicate that the $360,000 Disability Award is fair compared to how other Canadians are compensated for the non-economic effects of impairment or injury. However, the Ombudsman is calling for compensation for Veterans and their survivors under the New Veterans Charter to recognize the non-economic effects of exceptional incapacity.

“I sincerely hope that the three recommendations in this report will lead to fair recognition of the sacrifices made by veterans. Our veterans and their families deserve no less,” said Mr. Parent. “This report builds upon a previous commitment made by the Veterans Ombudsman to improve compensation for non-economic loss to veterans who need it.”

“My work to ensure that veterans and their families receive the services and benefits that they are entitled to continues,” said Mr. Parent. “This report highlights what needs to be done to compensate veterans and their survivors for the pain and suffering they experience as a result of their service to our country, but there is still more to do to ensure that our veterans are adequately supported economically and I intend to pursue these priorities in the months and years to come.”

http://www.manitoulin.ca/2016/09/30/veterans-ombudsman-recommends-improved-veterans-compensation/

Veterans Ombudsman recommends improved compensation for pain and suffering.

Tuesday 20 September, 2016

The federal government needs to come up with a better way for compensating injured Canadian veterans for their pain and suffering on top of the compensation they already receive for their disability, says a new report by the Veterans Ombudsman released today.

The report entitled “Fair Compensation to Veterans and their Survivors for Pain and Suffering” calls for improvements to the compensation provided to over 50,000 veterans and their survivors who fall under the New Veterans Charter (NVC).

The report focused on non-economic benefits provided by Veterans Affairs Canada to disabled Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and veterans and their survivors to compensate them for the non-monetary impacts of illness, injury or death, such as loss of or diminished body function, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and impact on quality of life, said Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent.

“While no amount of money can provide full restitution, veterans who have suffered from an illness or injury due to their service need to be fairly compensated for the impact their disability has on their lives and on the lives of their families,” said Parent in a prepared statement.

(click to listen to the full interview with Guy Parent) http://www.rcinet.ca/console.php?id=7597792&image=http://img.src.ca/2016/09/20/635x357/PC_160920_yf1gu_rci-veterans-ombudsman_sn635.jpg&locale=en&appCode=medianet

The purpose of the report was to assess the fairness of compensation provided under the NVC for non-economic loss and to compare this to what other Canadians can receive for similar loss suffered in workplace under other federal, provincial and/or territorial worker compensation programs and the courts, Parent said.

The report also looks at what veterans in other countries may receive, he said.

The findings in the report indicate that the $360,000 Disability Award is fair compared to how other Canadians are compensated for the non-economic effects of impairment or injury.

What’s missing in the new system is a payment for exceptional incapacity of an individual, to compensate the loss of quality of life due to the injury, Parent said.

“Even though people are able to generate income, there is sometime a very significant impact on their life,” he said.

Veterans who are covered by the old Pension Act, before the New Veterans Charter came into effect, received an allowance called an Exceptional Incapacity Allowance throughout their lifetime, Parent said.

And the first of the three recommendations of the report deals with introducing an exceptional incapacity allowance in the NVC, Parent said.

The second recommendation argues that the criteria to qualify for compensation for exceptional incapacity should not be based on a specific minimum disability percentage, he said.

The third recommendation has to do with the fact that especially after the war in Afghanistan there are a lot young soldiers that don’t have spouses, but their parents and siblings who look after them or depend on their support are not considered “next of kin” under the law and to do not receive any of the compensation the family of a married soldier would receive under the Disability Award, Parent said.

“That $360,000 dollars is not paid to anybody, because they have no next of kin as such,” Parent said. “What we’re saying is that even a single member of the Canadian Forces who dies as the result of the injuries to due to his service, there should be a payment made to the estate.”

In an emailed statement Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr said he valued the feedback from the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman and thanked the Ombudsman and his staff.

“I am pleased that several recommendations made in the report Fair Compensation to Canada’s Veterans For Pain have already been addressed by the historic changes we delivered in Budget 2016,” Hehr said in the statement. “Improvements to the Disability Award and increased access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance are just some of the benefits that we improved that are aligned with the Ombudsman’s recommendations. Other recommendations may take more time, consultation with stakeholders and coordination with departments across government to address.”

http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2016/09/20/veterans-ombudsman-recommends-improved-compensation-for-pain-and-suffering/

Improvements needed in compensation for veterans, says Ombudsman.

September 20, 2016

Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent is calling for improvements to the compensation provided to Veterans and their survivors who fall under the New Veterans Charter.

He released on Tuesday a report entitled: “Fair Compensation to Veterans and their Survivors for Pain and Suffering.”

“While no amount of money can provide full restitution, veterans who have suffered from an illness or injury due to their service need to be fairly compensated for the impact their disability has on their lives and on the lives of their families,” Parent said in a statement. “In addition, changes need to be made to the New Veterans Charter so that single Canadian Armed Forces members without dependents can designate a family member to apply for and receive the Death Benefit.”

The report analyzes the New Veterans Charter as it applies to compensation for non-economic loss provided by Veterans Affairs Canada to disabled Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans and their survivors, Parent’s office noted.

More details from the Veterans Ombudsman’s news release:

It compares what veterans and their survivors receive to compensate for non-economic loss with what other Canadians may receive under other federal, provincial and/or territorial programs and the courts, and it also looks at what veterans in other countries may receive.   The findings in the report indicate that the $360,000 Disability Award is fair compared to how other Canadians are compensated for the non-economic effects of impairment or injury. However, the Ombudsman is calling for compensation for Veterans and their survivors under the New Veterans Charter to recognize the non-economic effects of exceptional incapacity.

“I sincerely hope that the three recommendations in this report will lead to fair recognition of the sacrifices made by Veterans. Our Veterans and their families deserve no less,” Mr. Parent concluded.

This report builds upon a previous commitment made by the Veterans Ombudsman to improve compensation for non-economic loss to Veterans who need it.

“My work to ensure that Veterans and their families receive the services and benefits that they are entitled to continues. This report highlights what needs to be done to compensate Veterans and their survivors for the pain and suffering they experience as a result of their service to our country” said Mr. Parent, “but there is still more to do to ensure that our Veterans are adequately supported economically, and I intend to pursue these priorities in the months and years to come.”

Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr has released this statement in response to the Ombudsman’s report:

“Our government values feedback from the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman and I would like to thank the Ombudsman and his staff for their dedicated service and work.

I am pleased that several recommendations made in the report Fair Compensation to Canada’s Veterans For Pain have already been addressed by the historic changes we delivered in Budget 2016. Improvements to the Disability Award and increased access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance are just some of the benefits that we improved that are aligned with the Ombudsman’s recommendations. Other recommendations may take more time, consultation with stakeholders, and coordination with departments across government to address.

I am committed to working collaboratively with the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman as we move forward to implement our mandate commitments and deliver good public policy that will improve the lives of Canada’s Veterans.”

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/improvements-needed-in-compensation-for-veterans-says-ombudsman

Veterans Ombudsman Recommends Improved Compensation for Veterans and their Survivors under the New Veterans Charter for Pain and Suffering
Ottawa, ON - September 20, 2016

Ottawa, Ontario – Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent today released a report entitled: Fair Compensation to Veterans and their Survivors for Pain and Suffering, in which he calls for improvements to the compensation provided to Veterans and their survivors who fall under the New Veterans Charter.

“While no amount of money can provide full restitution, Veterans who have suffered from an illness or injury due to their service need to be fairly compensated for the impact their disability has on their lives and on the lives of their families,” said Mr. Parent. “In addition, changes need to be made to the New Veterans Charter so that single Canadian Armed Forces members without dependents can designate a family member to apply for and receive the Death Benefit.”

The report analyzes the New Veterans Charter as it applies to compensation for non-economic loss provided by Veterans Affairs Canada to disabled Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans, and their survivors. The report compares what Veterans and their survivors receive to compensate for non-economic loss with what other Canadians may receive under other federal, provincial and/or territorial programs and the courts, and it also looks at what Veterans in other countries may receive. The findings in the report indicate that the $360,000 Disability Award is fair compared to how other Canadians are compensated for the non-economic effects of impairment or injury. However, the Ombudsman is calling for compensation for Veterans and their survivors under the New Veterans Charter to recognize the non-economic effects of exceptional incapacity.

“I sincerely hope that the three recommendations in this report will lead to fair recognition of the sacrifices made by Veterans. Our Veterans and their families deserve no less,” Mr. Parent concluded.

This report builds upon a previous commitment made by the Veterans Ombudsman to improve compensation for non-economic loss to Veterans who need it.

“My work to ensure that Veterans and their families receive the services and benefits that they are entitled to continues. This report highlights what needs to be done to compensate Veterans and their survivors for the pain and suffering they experience as a result of their service to our country” said Mr. Parent, “but there is still more to do to ensure that our Veterans are adequately supported economically, and I intend to pursue these priorities in the months and years to come.”

http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/eng/media/news-releases/post/37