Introduction
The SISIP Long Term Disability (LTD) is a group insurance plan for Canadian Forces (CF) personnel sponsored by the Treasury Board of Canada. The Chief of the Defence Staff is the policyowner and Manulife Financial is the Insurer. The Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VRP) is a component of the LTD benefits. Although the VRP is administered and managed by Manulife Financial in Halifax, the President SISIP Financial Services (SISIP FS) is responsible and accountable to the policyowner for the delivery of the program to eligible CF personnel. As a result, the President SISIP FS is responsible to provide Manulife Financial with the objective and the procedures to administer and manage the VRP. Accordingly, this document outlines the mission, the objective and the procedures to guide the management and the delivery of the VRP.
General
Once former CF members are approved in the program, the VRP will facilitate their return to gainful civilian employment through the enhancement of the former members' existing education, skills, training and experience. Since 1 Dec 99, eligible personnel who are released from the CF for medical reasons are offered an initial period of a maximum of 30 months VRP; up to 6 consecutive months before their effective date of release and 24 consecutive months post-release. The effective date of release is the last day of paid service in the CF and occurs after the completion of all retirement leave. The 30-month VRP period can be extended if the former member qualifies as totally disabled at the end of the post release 24-month period.
If the release is for other than medical reasons, and the former CF member is totally disabled in accordance with the definition in the policy, then the member may qualify for VRP support. The terms "totally disabled" and "total disability" means that the member has been released from the CF and that there is a clear and objective medical evidence, satisfactory to the Insurer, which confirms that the individual is incapacitated by an active, medically determinable physical or mental impairment which prevents the member from performing any and every duty of any substantially gainful occupation or employment for which the member is reasonably qualified by education, training or experience.
Mission of the VRP
The mission of the VRP is to prepare former CF personnel who qualify for the LTD benefits to obtain gainful employment in the civilian workforce.
Objective
The objective of the VRP is to provide training and education with the object of enhancing the former member's existing education, skills, training and experience to obtain gainful employment in the civilian workforce. The objective of the VRP is not to provide training or education in a new career field, if, at the time of release, a former member already has transferable skills to the civilian workforce while in keeping with the former member's medical limitations. Any training provided will focus on the acquisition of a licence, certification or diploma from a recognized educational institution.
Administration
Once a member is eligible for LTD benefits, a VRP introduction
package will be forwarded to the member. The package will:
- Introduce the assigned VRP counsellor;
- Describe the support available; and
- Provide the information to facilitate an initial contact
with the counsellor.
To provide the best possible support in close proximity, in a
timely and safe atmosphere, meetings will be conducted in public
places where private discussions can be conducted (e.g. restaurants
or parks). Nevertheless, claimants have the option to request
alternative arrangements for a meeting location and will be informed
of that option in the introduction package as well as by the counsellor
during the initial contact. As soon as possible after the initial
contact, the counsellor will meet with the claimant to evaluate
the claimant's education, skills, training and experience to establish
the feasibility of a VRP, as well as to inform the claimant of
the support available.
The VRP counsellors will:
- Determine the claimant's existing transferable
skills;
- Assist the claimant in determining a suitable vocational
plan;
- Define training gaps and establish a mutually agreed plan;
and
- Assist the member with an education plan.
The vocational plan must meet the following criteria:
- Must be realistic in execution and
needs, and within the cost limit;
- Must build on existing skills;
- Must be attainable within the time limits previously defined
in this document;
- Must have employment opportunities; and
- Must be approved by the VRP counsellor.
The VRP services will provide:
- Personal counselling;
- Coordination of medical support;
- Vocational counselling and vocational rehabilitation financial
support;
- Career counselling; and
- Employment search assistance.
Procedures
Initial Contact
- Within five business days of receiving a referral from the
Manulife Financial claims section, an introduction package will be mailed
to the claimant regarding the VRP support, identifying the assigned
counsellor, and asking the claimant to contact the counsellor;
- If no response is obtained within 10 business days, then
a follow up letter will be sent and attempts will be made to
contact the claimant directly;
- If no contact is made within 30 calendar days of the first
letter, then a second registered follow up letter will be sent;
- If no contact is obtained after an additional 30 calendar
days, then a final registered letter will be sent informing
that the claimant's file will be returned to claims for ongoing
administration; and
- Once the claimant has contacted the assigned counsellor,
a productive working relationship will be developed, and the
unique circumstances of the claimant will be explored with the
goal of developing a viable VRP.
Meeting the Claimant
The counsellor will meet with the claimant as soon as practical
after the initial contact to:
- establish trust and a good working
relationship;
- discuss the objective of the VRP;
- assess the unique circumstances of the claimant to develop
a viable VRP;
- confirm the VRP in writing; and
- determine if any other circumstances may prevent the timely
completion of the VRP.
Former CF members who will be medically incapable of ever returning
to employment on a full time basis will be provided with the appropriate
support according to their unique needs. All LTD claimants
will be provided assistance to facilitate the transition from
military to civilian life.
On first meeting, the rehabilitation counsellor will explain:
- VRP financial support;
- Employment preparation;
- Search assistance;
- 24-month post release support;
- Tax issues;
- Ongoing communication requirement between the two parties;
- Expectations;
- Medical reassessment after 12 and 20 months;
- Interest-free loan support if required; and
- Benefit offsets (Veterans Affairs Canada, Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan and Canadian Forces Superannuation Act).
Financial Support
The VRP Manager is responsible for the management of the financial
elements for the VRP. This financial support will only be available
while a claimant is participating actively in an approved VRP,
and will not be payable to claimants who withdraw from the program
for other than medical reasons.
Financial Support Methods
Tuition and Book Fees
- Supported by receipts, 100% of the tuition and book
fees required for an approved vocational program will be covered
by the VRP. Payments will be made through the use of a sponsorship
letter to the vocational institution.
- Where alternative funding is available for tuition and
books, the VRP will top up the difference to ensure the claimant
incurs no expense.
- The total VRP maximum support for tuition costs is set
at 60% of projected first year earnings, up to a maximum of
$20,000 for the full VRP. Projected first year earnings of the
new occupation will be determined by the SISIP VRP Manager based
on estimations provided by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
or another professional assessing organization.
Supply Allowance
Monthly Supply Allowance (SA) in the amount of $40.00 will be provided
to a claimant who is attending vocational training.
- The SA may be paid in advance of a
semester to facilitate the purchase of necessary education supplies;
and
- No receipts will be required for the SA and its use will
cover such supplies as printer cartridges, pens, paper, and binders.
Childcare
Childcare costs while in training will be reimbursed at a rate
of 50% of submitted childcare receipts with a monthly maximum
of $250 per family. Reimbursement for childcare provided by family
members living in the same household as the children will not
be supported.
Internet Allowance
Internet fees will be covered to a maximum of $25 per month.
- Initial installation and maintenance
fees will not be covered.
Travel Assistance
Travel Assistance (TA) for private motor vehicles will be
reimbursed at 15 cents per kilometre.
- The distance used is to be the shortest
route from the claimants' residence to the appropriate campus;
- TA will not exceed $500 per month. Any changes
will be approved by the assigned VRP counsellor; and
- The allowance will be paid at the end of each month.
Dual Residency
Dual Residency cases can be examined for financial assistance
on a case-by-case basis.
- Dual residency will only be exercised in cases where
a client with dependents is forced to pay for lodgings in a
different location for retraining purposes;
- The long distance institution must also be the only choice
available to obtain the approved training;
- Support will be equivalent to the cost of residency at
the institution and should not exceed the TA
maximum of $500.00 per month; and
- If dual residency is approved then TA
to return home on weekends will not be supported.
Foreign Training
Foreign training refers to any training conducted in a country
other than Canada.
- Where the approved VRP requires training
in a foreign country then funding will be set at a rate equivalent
to similar training costs in Canada.
- All reimbursements for expenses or
allowances incurred in a foreign country will be in Canadian funds
and allowances will be based on Canadian rates.
Early Vocational Rehabilitation Interventions
(6 months prior to release)
Early Interventions will be provided under the following circumstances:
- Advice on the development of a vocational plan may be
provided in advance of the effective date of release;
- The claim status must be either pending or approved
before any funds may be committed to the vocational support;
and
- Once a vocational plan has been approved, the claimant
will be provided with a letter of support. The claimant will
then submit the letter, through the chain of command, to the
Commanding Officer requesting approval to implement an early
VRP.
Definition - VRP Income Offset Formula
for Employment Earnings
- If a claimant earns income while participating in a VRP approved
by the Insurer, the claimant's LTD benefit will be reduced by
50% of the gross employment income, or 50 cents for each dollar
earned, until the member's total income from all sources reaches
100% of his monthly salary at release. In the case of a claimant
who was on Class C service, the monthly pay in effect
when the injury was incurred or the illness was contracted,
adjusted to the present value by application of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
for each year benefits are payable. Thereafter, the claimant's
benefit will be reduced by one dollar for each dollar earned.
Offsets for Employment Income
- All sources of employment income earned while
participating in the VRP will offset the LTD benefit based on the VRP Income Offset Formula for Employment
Earnings.
Offsets for Income from Entrepreneurial
Ventures (Home Based Businesses and Claimant Owned or Operated Businesses)
- Any business owned or operated by a claimant
will be considered a source of income and will be subject to offset
the LTD benefits and the income amount will be based on
minimum wage applicable in the relevant Province. This income
will be processed through the VRP Income Offset Formula for Employment Earnings.
On the recommendation of the VRP Manager, the SISIP FS Vice-President Insurance Services
will consider exceptional circumstances, which are beyond the
guidelines presented in this document.
First Level
Any appeal regarding the denial of a training program or the
administration of the VRP under this Objective and Procedures
document must be submitted in writing to the (VRP) Manager, at 614 - 10216 124 Street,
Edmonton, AB, T5N 4A3. The appeal must include supporting information
from the claimant.
Second and Final Level of Appeal
In the event that the first level of appeal did not produce a
result satisfactory to the claimant then, within one year after
the date of receipt of the decision of the VRP Manager, the claimant
may submit a second and final appeal to the President of SISIP
FS.
