Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for the invitation to be with you today.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that the land I am speaking with you from is the traditional and unceded territory of the Abegweit Mi'kmaq first nation.
I welcome this opportunity to speak with you about the concerns of both veterans who marry after the age of 60 and their spouses and survivors. We are happy to engage in this very important discussion.
I would like to begin by outlining the services and benefits currently offered by Veterans Affairs Canada to support survivors under two pieces of legislation, the Pension Act and the Veterans Well-being Act.
Survivors may be eligible for income support as a result of the veteran's disability pension, namely through a disability benefit survivor's pension. This is entirely unrelated to superannuation. Payments may also be made through the income replacement benefit. Additional compensation may be paid if the veteran's passing was service-related.
Some low-income survivors may also be eligible for financial support through the war veterans allowance or the Canadian Forces income support program. In addition, survivors are eligible for the veterans emergency fund, which provides financial assistance in the event of urgent and unexpected situations.
Finally, surviving primary caregivers of veterans may be eligible to receive veterans independence program housekeeping and grounds maintenance, provided that the veteran was in receipt of the service at the time of their passing.
As part of Budget 2019, the Government of Canada committed $150 million over five years to establish a survivor fund that would aim to better support veterans who married over the age of 60, as well as their spouses, and ensure that survivors have the financial support they need.
It is important to note that this fund does not change the marriage after 60 clause in the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act. This act is under the responsibility of the Department of National Defence.
After the veterans survivors fund was announced, we recognized that we needed information about these survivors' needs and the magnitude of the issue. This is because the only administrative data we knew with absolute certainty was the number of veterans who select the optional survivor benefit.
To this end, we collaborated with Statistics Canada and the Canadian Military and Veterans Health Research Institute to determine the size and characteristics of the survivor population.
This work was delayed by the pandemic. However, we have since received the results of this research and learned the following about living survivors.
An estimated 4,500 people entered into a marriage or common-law relationship with a veteran after the veteran's 60th birthday. In each of these cases, the veteran was a Canadian Armed Forces superannuate. Virtually all were female, and 90% were age 70 or older. Most had higher incomes compared with other Canadian females in the same age group. Their median income was $34,900 versus $25,600.
Finally, over 1,200 survivors, or 27%, were in receipt of the guaranteed income supplement. Approximately 850 of the 4,500 living survivors, or 19%, had incomes below the low-income measure, which was $24,890 before tax.
On this last point, we should consider the budget 2021 commitment to implement a 10% increase to the old age security program for those 75 years and older. This increase starts in July 2022. With this enhancement, it is anticipated that about 250 of the estimated 4,500 living survivors will have incomes below the low-income measure.
Now, let me be clear. We do not see this as an insignificant number, and we realize that it's not just about money. It is also about recognition.
We care about the needs of survivors, which is why we offer a number of benefits and supports in the package of programs I have just outlined.
We are using the results of this to best inform how to move forward with the veterans survivors fund.
Let me conclude by saying that Veterans Affairs Canada recognizes that the wives and common-law partners of veterans play a crucial role in the care of our veterans.
We are committed to ensuring that those who served and their survivors have the support they need.
Thank you.