Minister of National Defence Announces Enhancements to Benefits Offered to our Ill and Injured

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 10, 2012) - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, is proud to announce enhancements to the minimum benefits paid under the Canadian Forces (CF) Long Term Disability (LTD) program to medically released CF personnel. With an investment of nearly $113 million, these enhancements are now in line with the Earning Loss Benefits (ELB) offered by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to disabled veterans.

"Canadians and the Government of Canada have been clear; they want our Veterans and our men and women in uniform to receive the care, the support, and the recognition they earned in the service of their country," said Minister MacKay. "From now on retroactive to October 3rd, 2011our ill and injured veterans will receive a minimum pre-tax income of $40,000 a year while continuing to have access to vocational rehabilitation training. This financial support will help ill and injured CF Veterans focus on what matters most - their wellness," added Minister MacKay.

The CF LTD is a disability group insurance plan administered by Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) Financial Services, which provides CF members with replacement income protection if they are released from the CF for medical reasons or take a voluntary release but are deemed as being totally disabled. The enhancements to the plan will see an increase to the minimum gross monthly benefit climb to 75% of the basic salary rate of a Corporal, which is currently $4,554/month. Previously, the minimum benefit calculation was based on the salary rate of a senior private. In addition, the minimum benefit for the Primary Reserve Force members on short-term class of service who are medically released, or take a voluntary release but qualify as being totally disabled will increase to 75% of the deemed salary of $2700/month from the previously used $2000/month rate.

The changes to the SISIP LTD program announced today will not impact the premiums paid by insured CF members. Retroactive payments will be issued starting immediately.

Notes to editor / news director: For more information on the SISIP LTD program, please visit the SISIP web page at http://www.sisip.ca/en/Insurance_e/ltd_e.asp, and/or please visit the Department of National Defence Backgrounder at: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=4137