Earnings Loss Benefits and the Clawback of VAC Disability Pensions

Minister of Veterans Affa1rs

Ministre
des Anciens Combattants

Ottawa. Canada K1A OP4
Mr. Dennis Manuge
792 West Petpeswick Road Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia BOJ 2LO


Dear Mr. Manuge:&'fL-1. \
JUL 2 4 2012
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the recent Federal Court ruling in the case of Manuge
v. Canada.

On May 29, 2012, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister ofNational Defence, and I announced that
our Government will not appeal the Federal Court's decision regarding the offset of disability
benefits under the Pension Act from the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP).


In addition, we announced that our Government is taking immediate action to harmonize benefits at
Veterans Affairs Canada to reflect the planned changes to STSIP. Work has already begun to make
the necessary legislative amendments so that disability pension benefits will not be deducted
from the Earnings Loss Benefit, the Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit and the War Veterans
Allowance. Veterans Affairs Canada is also revising the information on its Web site (wwv
.veterans.gc.ca) to ensure that it reflects this recent announcement.


I believe this is a very positive change for Canadian Forces members and will help ensure that
they receive all the benefits and services to which they are entitled and so richly deserve. Our
Government will continue to stand up for our Veterans in the same way that they have stood up for
our great country.


Sincerely,
:·\
Steven Blaney, P.C.,
Canad

i sure hope sisip ltd doesnt take that long to work out. You guys desearve retro for sure

I got a call today from my area councillor. I was informed that any changes made to VAC's administration of ELB, WVA or CFIS won't take effect until it goes through the motions within parliament. Changes will probably take effect early 2013. No decision has been made about retroactive payments with interest etc. But they are forthcoming.

I have been informed that information on ELB, WVA, CFIS will be released near the end of August. The Minister wants to be prepared for when the House resumes in September to go forward with changes to the above policies.

Hi Rex, I'm hoping that things move along quickly for us as well. I'm of the opinion that any changes made to SISIP and ELB should be concurrent and mirror each other. But, I don't think this will be the case. And I agree with you, if there was a motion needed in the HoC to end the ELB clawback Blaney would have announced this. I think its just a matter of VAC's bureaucracy needs to play catch up.

I've been told that changing the policy being used by VAC has to be voted upon in the HoC, but i personally don't think that is required. If it did require a vote, then Blaneys announcement would have said they would introduce a motion to cease the clawback, not that it would be done, to indicate that it has to go through the political process. The way I'm looking at it, we'll be lucky to see any money before Winter.

I spoke with a person at VAC's call centre yesterday about vets receiving earnings loss benefits and a disability pension payment from VAC. The gentleman had no idea when we would see and end to the clawback. I then spoke to my area councillor about the issue, same thing, they have no idea when the clawback will cease, but it will I was assured soon. And all retroactive monies will be paid.

Does anyone else have any info or anything different to say on the issue?

My heartfelt thanks to Dennis Manuge. I really appreciate everything you have done for veterans.