Earning Loss Benefit ( ELB )

[GreenBarret01]

ELB is paid while in rehab or until one is able to work. It terminates at the age of 65.

There are stories that ELB is canceled before one completes rehab since VAC decides that you are good to go.
Its also very rare to go past two years with SISIP.

 

[the 48th regulator]

This is not a forum for Legion hall stories, and Innuendos.

Your "Veiled" Posts trying to agitate the masses are weak.  Start your own forum, or blog to do this.  educate yourself first.

dileas

tess

milnet.ca staff

 

[Michael OLeary]

ELB is paid while in rehab or until one is able to work. It terminates at the age of 65.

There are stories that ELB is canceled before one completes rehab since VAC decides that you are good to go.
Its also very rare to go past two years with SISIP.

Can you provide links to the regulations for these?  What are your current sources for the official documents, so that someone else's starting point, if they are interested, isnt just "a rumour they saw posted on army.ca."

 

[Michael OLeary]

The following details have been provided by the original poster:

"ELB is paid while in rehab or until one is able to work."
"First, by amending regulations, the government will establish a minimum pre-tax income of $40,000 a year for Veterans who can no longer work and for those who are in rehabilitation."
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=department/press/viewrelease&id=1042

"It terminates at the age of 65."
"However, e recently proposed $1,000 catastrophic award, the ELB, CPP disability and the SISIP LTD loss replacement payments all cease at the age of 65."
http://homecomingvets.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/veterans-incensed-at-latest-vac-backtracking-on-public-promises-both-versions-captured-here/

There are stories that ELB is canceled before one completes rehab since VAC decides that you are good to go.

First of all, I mentioned that there are stories and that is why I created a Poll to get to the bottom of it.

"Earnings Loss Benefit (ELB) is a taxable monthly benefit that equals 75% of gross pre-release salary, .... ELB can be provided on a temporary basis during a period of participation in an approved Rehabilitation program, or until age 65, if deemed “Totally and Permanently Incapacitated” for the purpose of suitable and gainful employment, or until the day of the Veteran’s non service related death if Veteran has not reached age 65."

I have heard stories before and I have seen it on here as well that it's not you that decides when you are rehabilitated. I will try to find the link here and send it to you.

Its also very rare to go past two years with SISIP.
Medically released member automatically get 2 years %75 pre-release salary. To go past 2 years one has to be "Totally disabled".
Being an insurance company, its very difficult to prove "total disability" and that is why its rare to go past 2 years with SISIP.
I am pretty sure we would have heard of stories if the Poll lived since I have heard of some.

"How long can I receive LTD benefits for?

If you are medically released, your initial benefits terminate 24 months after your effective date of release. Medical reviews will be conducted at 12 and 18 months to determine your eligibility for continued benefits beyond the initial 24-month period. As long as you qualify as totally disabled, you may be eligible for continued benefits up to your 65th birthday.

If you are released for reasons other than medical and you qualify as totally disabled you can receive benefits. Medical reviews are conducted once per year. You may be eligible for continued benefits up to your 65th birthday, as long as you qualify as totally disabled."
http://www.sisip.ca/en/Insurance_e/ltd_e.asp#2

"Earnings Loss Benefit (ELB) is a taxable monthly benefit that equals 75% of gross pre-release salary, .... ELB can be provided on a temporary basis during a period of participation in an approved Rehabilitation program, or until age 65, if deemed “Totally and Permanently Incapacitated” for the purpose of suitable and gainful employment, or until the day of the Veteran’s non service related death if Veteran has not reached age 65."

http://legion.ca/_PDF/SBureau/PolicyAd_1_e.pdf

 

[Michael OLeary]

The following has been provided by BinRat:

I can tell you he is for the part correct, in that ELB does end if you complete the Rehab program, now are you all out of funds no, cause you can then get
other support called Canadian Forces Income Support, again which is VIA VAC, So to start, again, you can keep this to your self, and or if he replies at least
you'll have some answers....

Now here is a LINK to Parliament where you can read about
ELB which is Chapter 21, Section 18, and I'll just quote the part.. So 18.(3) states

Duration of benefit
(3) Subject to subsection (4) and section 21, the earnings loss benefit is payable to a veteran until the earlier of

(a) the day on which the veteran completes the rehabilitation plan or the vocational assistance plan,
(b) the day on which the rehabilitation plan or the vocational assistance plan is canceled, and
(c) the day on which the veteran attains the age of 65 years.

So, yes if you complete the rehab program and are able to work you can loose ELB, but as I said there is other Support which is this Canadian Forces Income Support which you can find right Here and it states the following

You may qualify for Canadian Forces Income Support if you:

    * are a CF Veteran who no longer qualifies for Earnings Loss Benefits and you:
          o successfully completed the Rehab Program;
          o need financial help because your household income is not enough to meet your basic needs;
          o are looking for a suitable job but have not been able to find one; and
          o live in Canada
    * no longer qualify for Earnings Loss Benefits, because you:
          o have reached the age of 65; or
          o are able to return to work.

As for stories about VAC canceling before one completes rehab, well only if you don't do what they want, as in Don't go to Appointments, and or fail to do something they as you to do in response to what you should be doing, or lack of, then VAC does have the power to cancel cause your NOT following the program, Have I heard of any, No

Have I heard of someone personally canceling rehab, Ahh ya, I told them to shove the rehab up the , cause I was so sick and tired of every appointment filling out this form or that form, and or doing this questionnaire, it was endless, and of course they said, well you'll loose ELB I said fine, but I'll keep my sanity, cause everyone kept asking the same question and it's like I've answered this 10 times already, Like don't you get info from VAC, So ya i lost it one day, and said enough was enough, and this was 2 year's into it.

And for the 2nd part, SISIP, it was, back before the NVC that SISIP was for 2 year's, at 75% of your pay, and that if after your 2 year's, if you were determined to be permanent disability, and or actually totally disabled I think the wording was, then yes you can get SISIP for life or was it 65, but again in 93 when I was released heck Under the terminology of totally incapacitated  not to many people actually got on SISIP because you didn't qualify under there definition, as it is today, I can't answer that as to if people are getting it permanently SISIP that is.

Anyhow how that might help, or be of some information and see if the person greenBarret01 replies to your closing of that post. 

 

[Michael OLeary]

I will reopen this thread for continued discussion of and posting of FACTS and SOURCES.  Opinions, innuendo and empty posts will be removed by staff.  The subject of veterans' benefits is confusing enough without people getting misled by half-remembered or outdated details, or emotional responses.  Keep in mind, IT DOES NOT MATTER if you like or dislike any of these benefits or how they are presented - what you FEEL about the situation does not help someone else understand it, or help guide them to get a benefit they deserve, or to work at getting benefits changed.  Find somewhere else to post your OPINIONS of the Government, officials, VAC or the benefits themselves.  Discuss facts here, and back them up with sources others can use as proper references.

Thank you.

Milnet.ca Staff

 

[25hz]

I did a forum search for any info on this, and found nothing, so I'm posting this

Through VA, vets can access this Earnings Loss Benefit program.  It's to help the vets find work if they can no longer get employment in their currently trained field due to medical issues related to military service.

VA pays up to 75% of your monthly salary and it is indexed to today's rate while you get your ducks in a row to get a new career started.  VA takes the 75% figure, subtracts the amount of your military pension per month, and then tops up the rest.

This program also includes retraining if necessary and it depends on a number of factors, specific to each individual, on how much VA will pay for retraining, and how long the vet stays on the program.  They can/will also pay for any equipment needed for the retraining, like hard hats, coveralls, work boots, books, etc.

The important thing to note, that VA doesn't seem to be interested in telling the vets, is that the target goal is a MINIMUM yearly income of $40,000 (roughly $20/hr or about $2000 net/month).  This might not seem like a lot, but in this labour market, it's pretty good, especially if you are also getting a military pension and an older style VA monthly pension.  So, for any that are in the program, or join it, if they try to shove you out the program's door with anything less than that figure, mention the $40,000 mandated figure

Just a FYI for anyone that didn't know the program existed, because after 13 years of dealing with VA - I just found out about it. 

 

[pinger206]

25Hz...

    Thanks for the info, I could not find many experiences of others. I am in the midst of ELB which just started for me. I feel I am fortunate, but it really peeves me off that there are benefits available, but being aware of them, or applying for them is such a tricky pickle. In hindsight, I think a demandingly , pro-active approach is good to have. I could have been approved for ELB a long time ago but was not aware Just like PSHCP, the health care plan. I didn't serve for 10, but I'm approved as it is an option under voc. rehab. But what a can of worms trying to get knowledgeable about that.
    Worst of all, others who need these benefits, are applicable for them, but suffer by not being aware of them.
Knowledge is power but the VAC can be a litttle shy on informing us or being forthcoming inspite of what is/was available on their site.

    Pinger206   

 

[Fishbone Jones]

How do they calculate the Earnings Loss Benefit. Say, a Reservist Cpl, after returning from deployment stays with his unit for five years, on Cl A. On release, it's determined they have severe PTSD, as a result of their service. This has affected their civilian employment to the point they can no longer work, in any capacity. What does VAC base the Earning Loss Benefit on, if at all? Is it his civie employment rate or the military full time (Class C) rate at time of release?

 

[Teager]

RG I know that with the changes that were last made with your example even a CL A Cpl will make the minimum of $42K a year. This will come to $3029 a month after taxes. I don't believe they take your civi employment and what you made into consideration. I believe it's strictly based off your rank and your Class and then 75% of that but it can't go below the pay of a basic Cpl.

I think Blackberet will be able to provide a better answer tho as I"m not 100%

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Cheers

 

[RobA]

Just as an aside, Trudeau campaigned on pretty specific policies for veterans. One of them is raising the  Earnings Loss benefit from 70% to 90%.

 

[PuckChaser]

And we'll see if he does it, I won't hold my breath.

 

[RobA]

For sure. They are politicians after all. I'm optimistic though.

Its not like they made vague promises, they made very specific policy goals. Not to mention Trudeau was elected on a "change" platform, I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt .

Here's an excerpt from a G & M article today:

"The Liberals also promised to invest an additional $100-million a year to expand support for families who are caring for veterans with physical or mental-health issues. And they pledged to expand access to the permanent impairment allowance for veterans with career-ending injuries and to increase the earnings-loss benefit to 90 per cent of a veteran’s prerelease salary.

Asked if this means a bigger overall budget for Veterans Affairs, rather than just reallocating funds within the department’s envelope, Mr. Hehr said only that the Liberals will “do what’s necessary to fill our promises” and he would ensure the money that’s necessary is there for former soldiers."

 

[Wookilar]

So, if the ELB is raised to 90%, what about SISIP? Can you "opt-out" of SISIP and proceed directly to VAC?

 

[Teager]

So, if the ELB is raised to 90%, what about SISIP? Can you "opt-out" of SISIP and proceed directly to VAC?

I have a feeling the government would push to have SISIP match the 90% I could be wrong tho.

 

[flashman]

How do they calculate the Earnings Loss Benefit. Say, a Reservist Cpl, after returning from deployment stays with his unit for five years, on Cl A. On release, it's determined they have severe PTSD, as a result of their service. This has affected their civilian employment to the point they can no longer work, in any capacity. What does VAC base the Earning Loss Benefit on, if at all? Is it his civie employment rate or the military full time (Class C) rate at time of release?

For a PRes injured on Cl C service, it's 75% of their monthly salary at the end of the contract on which they were injured. No less than $42,426 as mentioned.

Since there's no CPP or other deductions, 75% of gross is pretty much what they would have been paid monthly at the time.

 

[blackberet17]

Sorry guys, been super busy of late.

Monthly Imputed Income - Reserve Force Veterans
For the purposes of subsections 8(1), 9(1) and section 19 of the Act, the MII of a Veteran released from the Reserve Force is dependent on the class of service at the time of the injury or disease which lead to the Veteran’s release, or the event that lead to the health problem creating a barrier to re-establishment was incurred, contracted or aggravated.

The MII will be the greater of:

• the Veteran’s MMS (edit: Monthly Military Salary) at the time of release from the service in which the Veteran’s the injury or disease which lead to the Veteran’s release, or the event that lead to the health problem creating a barrier to re-establishment occurred, adjusted until the benefit is payable; and
  
• the MMS for a basic corporal in the standard pay group at the time the benefit is payable.

and

In the case of Regular Force Veterans, Class “C”, Class “B” and Class A Reserve Force Veterans, the MMS used to determine the MII is generally the monthly military salary at the time of release, or at the time of completion of the period of service during which the injury or illness occurred.

Hope that's of some help. It's not my area of expertise, so I'm quoting current (to 01 Apr 15) policy docs.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Sorry guys, been super busy of late.

and

Hope that's of some help. It's not my area of expertise, so I'm quoting current (to 01 Apr 15) policy docs.

Cheers 

 

[3VPspecialty]

With the proposed increase from 75% to 90% how does that affect those already on the program?
When / If the increase in pay is approved does it include everyone? So if I'm already at 75% do I automatically get increased? Or do you have to be assessed and approved for the higher percentage??

Thanks!