MODERNIZATION of Services & Benefits for CF Veterans & their Families

1. MODERNIZATIONof Services & Benefitsfor CF Veterans & their Families Information Sessions presented at Canadian Forces Bases and Wings

2. Overview of Session • Introduction by the Deputy • Review of Programs and Eligibility • Presentation and discussion on implementation considerations • Presentation and discussion of the Statute and the Regulations • Presentation and discussion on the consultations in moving forward • Presentation by Veteran organization participants on key considerations

3. VAC’s New Programs • Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act - Bill C-45 passed on May 13, 2005 • The “New Veterans Charter” will: • Provide a one-stop, client-centred service with VAC case managers to ensure that the needs of CF Veterans and families are properly identified, addressed, monitored, and followed-up, and to ensure that there is coordination of service providers • Focus on rehabilitation & reintegration to civilian life through a suite of new needs-based programs that support “wellness” • Rehabilitation Program • Economic Loss Program • Health Benefits Program • Job Placement Program • Modernize how CF Veterans are “compensated” for pain and suffering by replacing disability pensions with disability awards Grandfathering provisions will mean that monthly disability pensions already in pay will not be affected, but applications for new conditions will be processed under the new scheme

4. New program access CF Member Release Screening (Transition Interview) CF Veteran Routine Transitional Needs or Non-Service Related Rehabilitation Needs ? Medically Releasing ? Service Related Rehabilitation Need? yes yes yes Case Management Services, Counselling (Including cultural transition), Training Referrals, and Job Placement Case Management Services, Rehabilitation, Loss of Earnings, Income Support, Permanent Impairment Allowance, and Health Benefits Service related disability? Disability Award and Related Benefits yes

5. RehabilitationProgram • Purpose • To restore to the fullest extent possible the capability and functioning of a CF Veterans and their families; and, to remove barriers to successful re-establishment • Content • Phases: • Medical Rehabilitation – stabilize physical and psychiatric conditions and restore basic function • Psycho-social Rehabilitation – restore independence and adapt to disability • Vocational Rehabilitation – identify and achieve vocational goals • Features: • Expanded eligibility and more flexible program access • No need to first obtain a VAC disability award • Both individual and family counselling provided • When Veteran unable to benefit from program, spouse may receive vocational assistance and other rehabilitation services if required • Integrated with SISIP program

6. Economic Loss Program • Purpose • To recognize and compensate for the impacts on “earnings” after release as the result of a service-related or career-ending disability • Content • Earnings Loss (Taxable) • Temporary Earnings Loss - income replacement benefits during rehabilitation, payable up to 75% of salary • Extended Earnings Loss - income replacement to age 65 if unable to work after rehabilitation • Supplementary Retirement Benefit - payable at age 65, 2% of total Earnings Loss paid • Permanent Impairment Allowance – payable for life as a result of severe and permanent service related impairment in recognition of diminished employment potential and lost career advancement opportunities. • Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit (Non-Taxable) • For CF Veterans after rehabilitation who are not employed or employed in low-paying jobs (eligibility for life based on need)

7. Disability Award Program • Purpose • Compensation for the personal impact of a service-related disability including, for example, “pain and suffering” • Content • Tax-free cash payment for service-related conditions • Payable in 5% increments, up to a maximum of $250,000 • No offset from Economic Loss payments, as is currently the case • Conditions that worsen may be reassessed • In the case of service related death during service, survivor benefits up to $250,000 maximum • VAC will provide reimbursement for clients who wish to access independent financial advice • Current CF disability pensioners will be grandfathered

8. Health Benefits Program • Purpose • To provide healthbenefits coverage to CF Veterans and their families • Content • VAC will continue to provide treatment , Veterans Independence Program, and Long Term Care for Service Related conditions • Supplementary healthbenefits coverage from VAC after release for CF Veterans and their families and for families of serving members • Supplementary coverage willbe similar to Public Service Health Care Plan but tailored to needs of CF • First, to those releasing CF members who are medically releasing or have service-related re-establishment needs but are not eligible for the Public Service Health Care Plan • Then, to all medically-releasing CF Veterans, and all voluntarily releasing with 20 years service; and to families of serving CF members

9. Job Placement Program • Purpose • To help CF Veterans enter the civilian workforce • Approach • Delivered in partnership with DND and others (e.g., Human Resources and Skills Development Canada) • Content In cooperation with DND, transition and job search training to include • Skills assessment, interest and aptitude • Job-search training • Return to work plan, to include training offered by HRSDC and the provinces • Housing seminars • Counselling and coaching through to job placement • Active job finding assistance • All categories of release, except releases relating to misconduct, entitled to this service

10. Service & Program ModernizationOrganizational Readiness andNational Implementation Approach Presentation to Veterans’ Associations June 29, 2005

11. Organizational ReadinessUpdate • Access to New Suite of Programs (diagram) • Scope of Implementation Planning • National Implementation Approach • Governance Structure • Roles and Responsibilities • Progress to Date • Discussion

12. CF Member Release Screening (Transition Interview) CF Veteran Routine Transitional Needs or Non-Service Related Rehabilitation Needs ? Medically Releasing ? Service Related Rehabilitation Need? yes yes yes Case Management Services, Counselling (Including cultural transition), Training Referrals, and Job Placement Case Management Services, Rehabilitation, Loss of Earnings, Income Support, Permanent Impairment Allowance, and Health Benefits Service related disability? Disability Award and Related Benefits yes

13. Scope of Implementation Planning Legislation: Royal Assent May 13, 2005 • Consultation with Stakeholders • Regulations • Policies • Business Processes Development & Harmonization • Internal IT Systems/Linkages • Staff Training • Statements of Work and Contracting for Outside Service Providers (Job Placement – Health – Rehab)

14. Scope of Implementation Planning (cont.) • HR Planning • Outcomes-Based Case Management • Financial Framework/RMAF • Privacy Impact Assessment • Performance Management • Transition Measures (advice to clients) • Communications • DND/HRSD Readiness • Workload Back Log Reduction

15. National Implementation Approach What are we going to do? • use existing resources and expertise for all implementation-readiness tasks • involve all affected stakeholders to obtain expertise and support • involve key departments and agencies (DND, HRSDC, PWGSC,PSC) • use these resources on an ‘as required’ basis, reducing operational impacts

16. Program-Based Implementation Groups Implementation Groups • Disability Award Program • Economic Loss Program • Rehabilitation Program • Client Services • Case Management, Service-Related Rehabilitation Need • Contracted Programs • Job Placement, Health Care Benefits Working Groups • Training / Change Management • Communications

17. Advantages to this Approach • Allows for an environment in which all necessary implementation readiness tasks are identified by departmental stakeholders in a structured, organized manner • Establishes formal connections between stakeholder groups, at regional and HO levels for cross-divisional work and information sharing, and ensures operational awareness and preparedness • Ensures comprehensive, holistic approach to key areas such as communications and training • Reporting structure allows for two-way communications on input/consultation • Ensures that post-implementation, expert resources will exist within each region/ division involved in the implementation planning

18. Governance Structure

19. Roles & Responsibilities • Task Force (Led by Darragh Mogan) • External Consultations Lead • Communications Lead • Regulations • Policy Framework • Contracting Strategy and SoW • Training Strategy • Outcomes-Based Case Management

20. Roles & Responsibilities (cont.) • National Implementation Team (Led by Diane Huard) • Overall coordination, facilitation, and issue resolution of tasks to be completed • Tracking of organizational readiness progress including linkages between Regulations, Policies, SOW, Contracting and Business Process Mapping • Functional direction and support to individual program-based implementation teams and regional implementation groups • Monitoring expenditures

21. Roles & Responsibilities (cont.) • Regional Implementation Teams • Develop Regional Implementation Strategy and Plan • Participate in Implementation Activities (Testing) • Lead Consultations and Communications in their Region • Implement CCSA and Outcomes-Based Business Model • Manage Change within their Region • Reduce Workloads

22. Progress to Date • Implementation Leads appointed at national and regional levels • Regions and Divisions are engaged in first wave of training • DoJ Drafters have started drafting of regulations in collaboration with TF Program Experts & Departmental Legislative Unit • Treasury Board Submission approved for operating expenditures for FY 05-06 • Discussions with PWGSC underway to obtain their support for the development of Statements of Work and for contractual phase • Phase 1 of Consultation with Veterans Associations started today

23. Progress to Date (cont.) • DND appointed Chief of Staff to ADM HR-Mil to ORSC and DND Liaison Officer to National Implementation Team • Implementation Groups participated in Work Breakdown Structure Session mid-May • Work Breakdown Structure submitted for each program area • include all tasking, areas/individuals assigned to tasks, anticipated effort/duration of task, interdependencies • Project Manager will soon be selected – RFP closed end of June

24. Discussion

25. Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment/ Compensation Act. Bill C-45

26. Objective To provide an overview of statute authority and supporting regulatory content.

27. Part 1 Job Placement

28. Provide job placement services Perform needs assessment and develop plan Refuse service if entitled via another organization Job Placement Statute authority

29. Job Placement • Eligible groups • Program principles • Application requirements. Regulations will define:

30. Part 2 Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Assistance, and Financial Benefits.

31. Provision of rehabilitation services/vocational assistance to medical releases, Veterans with service related rehabilitation needs, spouses, and survivors Assessment of needs Development/implementation of rehabilitation/ vocational assistance plans Evaluation and modification of plans Refusal/cancellation of services Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Statute authority

32. Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Exceptions to medical release eligibility Application requirements Barrier to re-establishment Total and permanent incapacity Program principles and factors Authority for payments of expenses Circumstances for suspension or cancellation Redress Circumstances where duplication will be avoided Regulations will define:

33. Financial Benefits • Earnings Loss • Supplementary Retirement Benefit • Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit • Permanent Impairment Allowance

34. Eligibility Basic formula Division of payment for survivor and orphans Cancellation provision Statute authority: Earnings Loss

35. Earnings Loss Regulations will define: • Application requirements • Time and manner of payment • Formula details • Suitable gainful employment • Circumstances for cancellation • Redress

36. Eligibility Supplementary Retirement Benefit Statute authority: Regulations will define: • Application requirements • Time, manner, and amount of payment • Redress

37. Eligibility Commencement and duration of benefit Formula for determining the amount payable Provisions for suspension or cancellation Residency requirement Requirement to participate in job placement Rates Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit Statute authority:

38. Application requirements Time and manner of payment Employment related criteria Circumstances for suspension or cancellation Formula definitions Residency parameters Redress Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit Regulations will define:

39. Eligibility Rates Authority to exam/assess Cancellation provision Statute authority: Permanent Impairment Allowance

40. Permanent Impairment Allowance • Permanent and severe impairment • Application requirements • Time and manner of payment • Circumstances for cancellation • Redress Regulations will define:

41. Part 3 Disability, Death and Detention: Disability Award Death Benefit Clothing Allowance Detention Benefit

42. Eligibility Assessment of disability Maximum disability assessment Division of payment for survivors Redress Rates Statute authority Disability Award

43. Disability Award • Application requirements • Rules of evidence; evidentiary presumptions • Circumstances for reduction of award Regulations will define:

44. Eligibility Amount of benefit Redress Statute authority Death Benefit

45. Death Benefit • Application requirements • Rules of evidence/ evidentiary presumptions • Circumstances for reduction of benefit Regulations will define:

46. Eligibility Amount and timing of benefit Redress Statute authority Clothing Allowance

47. Clothing Allowance • Application requirements • Time, manner, and amount of payment Regulations will define:

48. Eligibility Redress Statute authority Detention Benefit

49. Detention Benefit • Application requirements • Time, manner, and amount of payment Regulations will define:

50. Part 4 Health Benefits