Thank you, Mr. Chairman and honourable members of Parliament.
Merci beaucoup for inviting us here today to answer any questions pertaining to our mandate to deliver the long-term disability and vocational rehabilitation programs.
This is a Government of Canada employer-sponsored plan for the men and women of the Canadian Forces. Essentially our plan mirrors other Government of Canada disability insurance plans for public servants, including members of Parliament.
Treasury Board of Canada has full governance over the plan. I am the President of SISIP Financial Services and I am responsible to the Chief of the Defence Staff through the Canadian Forces personnel and family support services, to provide the long-term disability, which includes the vocational rehabilitation program.
We are not a contractor, and in fact are part of the Department of National Defence structure.
I would like to mention that when a decision is made to medically release a CF member, SISIP financial services becomes actively involved through the provision of a vocational rehabilitation program, often nine months before the effective date of release, with the financial support starting up to six months before release. After release, the vocational rehabilitation program continues to provide support for another 24 months in conjunction with monthly long-term disability support. At 24 months, clients are assessed on a definition of total disability that considers not only the medical condition, but also education, training, and experience.
If a client does not meet the definition of "total disability", then the client is capable and has the skills to return to the workplace in viable employment.
If the client does meet the contract definition of "totally disabled", support may then continue up to age 65.
Clients supported with Long-Term Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation through SISIP FS may simultaneously be provided with medical and psycho-social support through the New Veterans Charter.
Vocational and earnings loss benefit support from VAC can only start once the SISIP financial services has closed the client's file because the client doesn't meet the contract definition of total disability. In other words, SISIP financial services is always the first payer.
For information purposes, since 2006, SISIP financial services has supported over 3,900 disability claims, of which 124 were from Afghanistan. We've paid out over 1,500 life claims, of which 141 were from Afghanistan, and we've paid out 55 dismemberment claims, of which 39 were from Afghanistan.
Since 2006, the SISIP program has paid out over $300 million in direct support to our CF veterans, and the vocational rehabilitation program has helped over 1,500 veterans return to gainful employment.
Before closing I would like to say that the monthly pension hike benefit continues to be offset against SISIP LTD and all of the public sector plans, including the earnings loss benefit under Veterans Affairs Canada. As this issue is before the courts, I cannot make any comments related specifically to this litigation.
In closing, I would like to introduce Mr. Doug Chislett, National Director of the SISIP Financial Services Vocational Rehabilitation who will join me in answering your questions. Thank you.