Question Period Note: CAREGIVER RECOGNITION BENEFIT

• We know that families and caregivers are the backbone of the support Veterans need during their service, their transition to post-military life and afterward.

• The Caregiver Recognition Benefit recognizes the contribution of informal caregivers to the well-being of Veterans.

• Caregivers of Veterans with physical and mental health conditions are eligible for the benefit.

• The Caregiver Recognition Benefit is a tax-free benefit of $1043.46(2020 rate) a month that is paid directly to the caregiver designated by the Veteran.

• This benefit puts over $12,521 (2020 rate) tax-free per year directly into the hands of caregivers.

• The Caregiver Recognition Benefit represents a commitment of $187.3 million over six years to Veterans and their caregivers.

BACKGROUND – CAREGIVER RECOGNITION BENEFIT

The Government of Canada fulfilled its commitment to enhance and simplify supports to Veterans’ families by replacing the Family Caregiver Relief Benefit with a monthly, tax-free benefit paid directly to a Veteran’s caregiver. This change came into effect on April 1, 2018.

The implementation of the Caregiver Recognition Benefit delivered on the mandate commitments of the former Minister of Veterans Affairs Seamus O’Regan as well as addressed specific requests from the Veteran stakeholders community.

Veterans must apply for the Caregiver Recognition Benefit; however, the benefit is paid directly to the caregiver in recognition of the integral role of the caregiver in the Veteran’s well-being. The definition of a Caregiver is a person designated by a Veteran who is 18 years of age or older who plays an essential role in the provision or coordination of ongoing care to that Veteran in the Veteran’s home, for which that person receives no remuneration.

A Veteran is eligible for the Caregiver Recognition Benefit if:
• the Veteran has had an application for a Disability Award or Pain and Suffering Compensation approved:
• the Veteran requires ongoing care as a result of the health condition(s) for which the Disability Award or Pain and Suffering Compensation application was approved and has not been awarded a pension or compensation under the Pension Act;
• the Veteran requires at least one of the following:
o a level of care and supervision consistent with admission to an institution such as a long term care facility;
o daily physical assistance of another person for most activities of daily living;
o ongoing direction and supervision during the performance of most activities of daily living; or
o daily supervision and is not considered to be safe when left alone (i.e. Veteran poses a risk to him/herself or others if not supervised on a daily basis).
 

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