With regard to housekeeping and grounds maintenance benefits available under the veterans independence program, VIP, to surviving spouses: ( a ) what is the total number of surviving spouses who could potentially benefit from extending eligibility for these benefits to all veterans spouses; ( b ) based on the current participation rate, what is the estimated number of spouses likely to participate in the program as a result of removing the September 1, 1990 cut-off restriction; and ( c ) what is the estimated cost of delivering these services to the total number of spouses in ( a ) and ( b )?
In the House of Commons on April 21st, 2004. See this statement in context.