Veterans Affairs committee  It depends. They get paid 75% of their wages. For a sergeant, a captain or a major it can amount to $5,000 or $6,000 a month. It's based on 75% of the wages the person was earning at the time of their release.

Veterans Affairs committee  You raised several points. First, it was the disability award, which is a lump sum payment. These people will come to see us when they are released from the Canadian Forces. Anyone who has not been released from the Canadian Forces cannot receive benefits. For a person who has b

Veterans Affairs committee  No. As far as we are concerned, it is strictly 75% indexed to the cost of living. Someone who has remained in the Canadian Forces can be released upon retirement with the rank of master warrant officer or chief warrant officer. Naturally, we do not consider how the person's rank

Veterans Affairs committee  We don't.

Veterans Affairs committee  The earnings loss benefit is with respect to VAC. It is a taxable benefit.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's my understanding.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would like to add something. I think that this question was asked earlier. Once a diagnosis of PTSD has been made and it is clear that it is the right diagnosis, it is very often the case that no questions are ever raised. Only when it is not quite clear that we are dealing wit

Veterans Affairs committee  We will not ask the same questions. Once we receive the medical evidence and it is clear that the person is suffering from PTSD, we will never challenge the diagnosis.

Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely not, if the diagnosis is supported by the written medical evidence. The doctor's report is read but it is not challenged. If we need additional justification, we will ask the client to go back to see his doctor for the missing information. As a general rule, a medical

Veterans Affairs committee  The death benefit you are mentioning is through Veterans Affairs Canada. At SISIP we also have life insurance and we don't have this provision. So once death occurs a claim will be paid, because a member can voluntarily take out life insurance up to $400,000 on their own. So even

Veterans Affairs committee  Currently there is nothing in the works to change the policy to remove the reductions.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct.

Veterans Affairs committee  This is a Veterans Affairs Canada issue that I cannot answer. I don't know if my colleague is aware of any changes coming to the charter on this one.

Veterans Affairs committee  I may add that to mitigate someone receiving a lump sum amount and spending this amount, VAC offers $500 for counselling. This is something that members should be taking advantage of. I'm not sure that most members receiving this award will take the $500 and seek financial counse

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, an appeal is possible. If the documentation submitted by the doctor is not deemed to support a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress syndrome, we will need to obtain further information. So it is quite possible that a claim would be rejected on the basis of insufficient medical