Yes. Therefore, we refer them to either the bureau of pensions advocates or the Legion, and they will get the support they need.
We will talk about a scenario. I won't take too much time, but I'll give you an idea of the kinds of clients we see day in, day out, such as Sergeant John, a real case, with nine years of service, which is not enough to get the public service health care plan. He is not a pensioner and has nothing with us. Also, he did not have enough years to have superannuation from DND. He doesn't have a pension plan.
For the salary per month, we show it here on this slide. He released as a sergeant. He released voluntarily due to too many things going on at home and too many stressors. He doesn't want to wait for that 3(b) release. It's long, it's stressful, and he wants out. Again, that's very frequent. He's concerned because the daughter has special needs. He has a service-related injury that occurred, but he never applied, and now, in light of it, he asks, “What am I going to do with my life?” He says the injury stops him. He's trying to apply for jobs, but his knees keep hurting and his back is hurting. This is a very typical scenario for a releasing member.
How relieved was this member when we told him that he was eligible for the rehab program?
There are two gateways for this program. A releasing member who has a 3(b) release is automatically eligible.
A voluntarily releasing member has to answer these three questions. Is there an injury? Is it linked to service? Is it a barrier to your re-establishment into civilian life—as I talked about in the beginning—at home, at work, or in the community? In his case, it was.
He was put on the program. He received the earnings loss: 75% of his pre-releasing salary. The public service health care plan was given to him because the rehab program gives it to our members.
The spouse was able to get support for school, and he also got it later on when things were better. We're hoping that it's going to be a support for him and his family in the next phase of his life.
This doesn't speak much to when I do a SCAN for the executive level. When the crowd of members I present to you are officers and above, they have a 35-year career, and they're at a very high rank, this doesn't have a connotation for them.
At the general SCAN and at a medical SCAN, usually I get questions about this, because I know this hits home. When I talked about planting little seeds at SCAN and when the member tells me afterward that this is their story, I say, “Okay, let's start.”
What can we do for someone who's still serving? It's case management.
We're trying to demystify this. Some members say they have a CF case manager assigned because “I'm posted at your unit” or “I'm medically releasing”. Veterans Affairs can offer case management up to six months before release, and that's where I come in. The case management service before releasing is the single point of contact for VAC for someone in the process who is scared about the future and who just needs to have the message repeated because the memory is no longer there and they can no longer concentrate on an intervention. Sometimes I meet with them five, six, or seven times and repeat what the rehab program is about because the member has a hard time retaining information in light of the injury.
Those three components of the rehab program—the income replacement, the public service health care plan, the disability award and financial advice—are why I'm posted at the IPSC. I have over 180 members who are releasing. It's very busy, but it's an inspiring group. Every story is different. When you're able to provide this to someone and see the sense of release for anyone who's struggling, it's your paycheque at the end of the day.
I talked a bit about our website before, but this slide shows you just an idea of what the browser for encouraging members looks like: click, stay informed, and look at what's out there. We often get calls because they hear what the members of Parliament have said before we hear about it. It's not uncommon for me to get a call first thing in the morning from people who are saying, “Mélanie, what's this about?” or “I heard...”. Our website keeps them informed and our clients are well connected, but it also allows information to be shared with everyone.
I won't spend too much time on MY VAC booklet. It's a way to tailor all of their conditions in one booklet. The members knows that in light of releasing, VAC has their backs, and then VAC will pay for the ramp to go into their houses, the stair glides, the home modifications, and so on and so forth. It's one way for the member who has conditions with us to know what that will translate to when they're released. VAC can pay for oxygen therapy, they can pay for a private room, and so on. My VAC booklet is new, and I get really good feedback about it.
Reiterating the sign up for My VAC account and their responsibility is how I always complete my SCAN seminar: “Set up your time to meet with us. We will not go to you.”
For every member we're releasing, the release section will send us a fax. They will say to call this member. If they are really unwell and their case is managed by DND because they are 3(b) releasing, Montfort will call us, but there are members we try to reach and they are not meeting us halfway. “Have the members make themselves known to us. Raise your hand.” Say, “I need to meet with VAC. I need my transition interview.” That is the exit interview for anyone who has served, and allows us to know what's going on, what has happened, how it is affecting them now, and how it can affect them down the road.
There are the inquiry numbers and so on, and that's where all the questions usually start.
That's a glimpse of what a presentation looks like to 300 releasing members. I'm hoping it gives you a sense of the information that is shared during those meetings.
Thank you.