MODERNIZATION of Services & Benefits for CF Veterans & their Families Information Sessions presented at Canadian Forces Bases and Wings 1 Overview of Session Introduction by the Deputy Review of Programs and Eligibility Presentation and discussion on implementation considerations Presentation and discussion of the Statute and the Regulations Presentation and discussion on the consultations in moving forward Presentation by Veteran organization participants on key considerations 2 VAC’s New Programs Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act - Bill C-45 passed on May 13, 2005 The “New Veterans Charter” will: Provide a one-stop, client-centred service with VAC case managers to ensure that the needs of CF Veterans and families are properly identified, addressed, monitored, and followed-up, and to ensure that there is coordination of service providers Focus on rehabilitation & reintegration to civilian life through a suite of new needs-based programs that support “wellness” Rehabilitation Program Economic Loss Program Health Benefits Program Job Placement Program Modernize how CF Veterans are “compensated” for pain and suffering by replacing disability pensions with disability awards Grandfathering provisions will mean that monthly disability pensions already in pay will not be affected, but applications for new conditions will be processed under the new scheme 3 New program access CF Member Release Screening (Transition Interview) CF Veteran Routine Transitional Needs or Non-Service Related Rehabilitation Needs ? Medically Releasing ? yes yes Case Management Services, Counselling (Including cultural transition), Training Referrals, and Job Placement Service related disability? Service Related Rehabilitation Need? yes Case Management Services, Rehabilitation, Loss of Earnings, Income Support, Permanent Impairment Allowance, and Health Benefits yes Disability Award and Related Benefits Rehabilitation Program Purpose To restore to the fullest extent possible the capability and functioning of a CF Veterans and their families; and, to remove barriers to successful re-establishment Content Phases: Medical Rehabilitation – stabilize physical and psychiatric conditions and restore basic function Psycho-social Rehabilitation – restore independence and adapt to disability Vocational Rehabilitation – identify and achieve vocational goals Features: Expanded eligibility and more flexible program access No need to first obtain a VAC disability award Both individual and family counselling provided When Veteran unable to benefit from program, spouse may receive vocational assistance and other rehabilitation services if required Integrated with SISIP program 5 Economic Loss Program Purpose To recognize and compensate for the impacts on “earnings” after release as the result of a service-related or career-ending disability Content Earnings Loss (Taxable) Temporary Earnings Loss - income replacement benefits during rehabilitation, payable up to 75% of salary Extended Earnings Loss - income replacement to age 65 if unable to work after rehabilitation Supplementary Retirement Benefit - payable at age 65, 2% of total Earnings Loss paid Permanent Impairment Allowance – payable for life as a result of severe and permanent service related impairment in recognition of diminished employment potential and lost career advancement opportunities. Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit (Non-Taxable) For CF Veterans after rehabilitation who are not employed or employed in low-paying jobs (eligibility for life based on need) 6 Disability Award Program Purpose Compensation for the personal impact of a service-related disability including, for example, “pain and suffering” Content Tax-free cash payment for service-related conditions Payable in 5% increments, up to a maximum of $250,000 No offset from Economic Loss payments, as is currently the case Conditions that worsen may be reassessed In the case of service related death during service, survivor benefits up to $250,000 maximum VAC will provide reimbursement for clients who wish to access independent financial advice 7 Current CF disability pensioners will be grandfathered Health Benefits Program Purpose To provide health benefits coverage to CF Veterans and their families Content VAC will continue to provide treatment , Veterans Independence Program, and Long Term Care for Service Related conditions Supplementary health benefits coverage from VAC after release for CF Veterans and their families and for families of serving members Supplementary coverage will be similar to Public Service Health Care Plan but tailored to needs of CF First, to those releasing CF members who are medically releasing or have service-related re-establishment needs but are not eligible for the Public Service Health Care Plan Then, to all medically-releasing CF Veterans, and all voluntarily releasing with 20 years service; and to families of serving CF members 8 Job Placement Program Purpose To help CF Veterans enter the civilian workforce Approach Delivered in partnership with DND and others (e.g., Human Resources and Skills Development Canada) Content In cooperation with DND, transition and job search training to include Skills assessment, interest and aptitude Job-search training Return to work plan, to include training offered by HRSDC and the provinces Housing seminars Counselling and coaching through to job placement Active job finding assistance All categories of release, except releases relating to misconduct, entitled to this service 9 Service & Program Modernization Organizational Readiness and National Implementation Approach Presentation to Veterans’ Associations June 29, 2005 10 Organizational Readiness Update Access to New Suite of Programs (diagram) Scope of Implementation Planning National Implementation Approach Governance Structure Roles and Responsibilities Progress to Date Discussion 11 CF Member Release Screening (Transition Interview) CF Veteran Routine Transitional Needs or Non-Service Related Rehabilitation Needs ? Medically Releasing ? yes yes Case Management Services, Counselling (Including cultural transition), Training Referrals, and Job Placement Service related disability? Service Related Rehabilitation Need? yes Case Management Services, Rehabilitation, Loss of Earnings, Income Support, Permanent Impairment Allowance, and Health Benefits yes Disability Award and Related Benefits Scope of Implementation Planning Legislation: Royal Assent May 13, 2005 Consultation with Stakeholders Regulations Policies Business Processes Development & Harmonization Internal IT Systems/Linkages Staff Training Statements of Work and Contracting for Outside Service Providers (Job Placement – Health – Rehab) 13 Scope of Implementation Planning (cont.) HR Planning Outcomes-Based Case Management Financial Framework/RMAF Privacy Impact Assessment Performance Management Transition Measures (advice to clients) Communications DND/HRSD Readiness Workload Back Log Reduction 14 National Implementation Approach What are we going to do? use existing resources and expertise for all implementation-readiness tasks involve all affected stakeholders to obtain expertise and support involve key departments and agencies (DND, HRSDC, PWGSC,PSC) use these resources on an ‘as required’ basis, reducing operational impacts 15 Program-Based Implementation Groups Implementation Groups Disability Award Program Economic Loss Program Rehabilitation Program Client Services Case Management, Service-Related Rehabilitation Need Contracted Programs Job Placement, Health Care Benefits Working Groups Training / Change Management Communications 16 Advantages to this Approach • Allows for an environment in which all necessary implementation readiness tasks are identified by departmental stakeholders in a structured, organized manner • Establishes formal connections between stakeholder groups, at regional and HO levels for cross-divisional work and information sharing, and ensures operational awareness and preparedness Ensures comprehensive, holistic approach to key areas such as communications and training Reporting structure allows for two-way communications on input/consultation Ensures that post-implementation, expert resources will exist within each region/ division involved in the implementation planning 17 Governance Structure Deputy Minister Executive Director SPMTF Assistant Deputy Minister Veterans Services National Implementation Manager VAC/ DND Steering Committee (Ferguson/ Jarvis) Partners (HRSDC, DND) National Implementation Team Working Group Leads Organizational Readiness Steering Committee (Ferguson/ Hillier/ Executive Director SPMTF) Divisional Leads Roles & Responsibilities Task Force (Led by Darragh Mogan) External Consultations Lead Communications Lead Regulations Policy Framework Contracting Strategy and SoW Training Strategy Outcomes-Based Case Management 19 Roles & Responsibilities (cont.) National Implementation Team (Led by Diane Huard) Overall coordination, facilitation, and issue resolution of tasks to be completed Tracking of organizational readiness progress including linkages between Regulations, Policies, SOW, Contracting and Business Process Mapping Functional direction and support to individual program-based implementation teams and regional implementation groups Monitoring expenditures 20 Roles & Responsibilities (cont.) Regional Implementation Teams Develop Regional Implementation Strategy and Plan Participate in Implementation Activities (Testing) Lead Consultations and Communications in their Region Implement CCSA and Outcomes-Based Business Model Manage Change within their Region Reduce Workloads 21 Progress to Date Implementation Leads appointed at national and regional levels Regions and Divisions are engaged in first wave of training DoJ Drafters have started drafting of regulations in collaboration with TF Program Experts & Departmental Legislative Unit Treasury Board Submission approved for operating expenditures for FY 05-06 Discussions with PWGSC underway to obtain their support for the development of Statements of Work and for contractual phase Phase 1 of Consultation with Veterans Associations started today 22 Progress to Date (cont.) DND appointed Chief of Staff to ADM HR-Mil to ORSC and DND Liaison Officer to National Implementation Team Implementation Groups participated in Work Breakdown Structure Session mid-May Work Breakdown Structure submitted for each program area include all tasking, areas/individuals assigned to tasks, anticipated effort/duration of task, interdependencies Project Manager will soon be selected – RFP closed 23 end of June Discussion 24 Bill C-45 Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment/ Compensation Act. 25 Objective To provide an overview of statute authority and supporting regulatory content. 26 Part 1 Job Placement 27 Job Placement Statute authority Provide job placement services Perform needs assessment and develop plan Refuse service if entitled via another organization 28 Job Placement Regulations will define: Eligible groups Program principles Application requirements. 29 Part 2 Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Assistance, and Financial Benefits. 30 Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Statute authority Provision of rehabilitation services/vocational assistance to medical releases, Veterans with service related rehabilitation needs, spouses, and survivors Assessment of needs Development/implementation of rehabilitation/ vocational assistance plans Evaluation and modification of plans Refusal/cancellation of services 31 Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Regulations will define: Exceptions to medical release eligibility Application requirements Barrier to re-establishment Total and permanent incapacity Program principles and factors Authority for payments of expenses Circumstances for suspension or cancellation Redress Circumstances where duplication will be avoided 32 Financial Benefits Earnings Loss Supplementary Retirement Benefit Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit Permanent Impairment Allowance 33 Earnings Loss Statute authority: Eligibility Basic formula Division of payment for survivor and orphans Cancellation provision 34 Earnings Loss Regulations will define: Application requirements Time and manner of payment Formula details Suitable gainful employment Circumstances for cancellation Redress 35 Supplementary Retirement Benefit Statute authority: Eligibility Regulations will define: Application requirements Time, manner, and amount of payment Redress 36 Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit Statute authority: Eligibility Commencement and duration of benefit Formula for determining the amount payable Provisions for suspension or cancellation Residency requirement Requirement to participate in job placement Rates 37 Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit Regulations will define: Application requirements Time and manner of payment Employment related criteria Circumstances for suspension or cancellation Formula definitions Residency parameters Redress 38 Permanent Impairment Allowance Statute authority: Eligibility Rates Authority to exam/assess Cancellation provision 39 Permanent Impairment Allowance Regulations will define: Permanent and severe impairment Application requirements Time and manner of payment Circumstances for cancellation Redress 40 Part 3 Disability, Death and Detention: Disability Award Death Benefit Clothing Allowance Detention Benefit 41 Disability Award Statute authority Eligibility Assessment of disability Maximum disability assessment Division of payment for survivors Redress Rates 42 Disability Award Regulations will define: Application requirements Rules of evidence; evidentiary presumptions Circumstances for reduction of award 43 Death Benefit Statute authority Eligibility Amount of benefit Redress 44 Death Benefit Regulations will define: Application requirements Rules of evidence/ evidentiary presumptions Circumstances for reduction of benefit 45 Clothing Allowance Statute authority Eligibility Amount and timing of benefit Redress 46 Clothing Allowance Regulations will define: Application requirements Time, manner, and amount of payment 47 Detention Benefit Statute authority Eligibility Redress 48 Detention Benefit Regulations will define: Application requirements Time, manner, and amount of payment 49 Part 4 Health Benefits 50 Health Benefits Statute authority Authorization to enter into a contract and set terms and conditions for a group insurance program 51 Health Benefits Regulations will define: Eligibility 52 Other Regulatory Context Indexing Payment or re-imbursement of fees for financial advice Processes and procedures to be followed by the Minister in making decisions under this Act. 53 Regulations The “Consultation” road ahead 54 Consultation Plan with Veterans Organizations 4 phases (beginning and ending with multilaterals; bilaterals in between) Time frames Target to conclude by mid to late September 1st bilateral likely mid-July; 2nd likely mid to late August Final session with Minister late September Schedule of topics included in plan 55 Key Considerations Flexibility in both timing and subject of discussion during each phase. Consultations by topic as soon as material is ready for preliminary discussion Constantly close the loop on all suggestions or concerns Demonstrate that action has been taken; or if not possible, why not Keeping focussed on topic and level Keeping eye on the ball – the “ball” is “implementation” as soon as 1 April 2006 56 The “Process” Series of bilaterals, with multilaterals to start and finish (DM starts; Minister concludes) First multilateral to set the process in motion and lay out the task at hand Stage setting exercise Review of statute Overview of regulations Discussion of process Vets orgs outline any key considerations in moving forward 57 The “Process”, continued First bilateral consultations Briefing on status and proposed direction Initial feedback from Vets orgs Followed by internal consultation and study within each organization Detailed feedback from Vets orgs in advance of next bilateral session All input shared with Design Team for consideration, analysis, etc Follow-up discussion by phone or in writing as necessary between sessions Material prepared to present back to Vets orgs 58 The “Process”, continued Second bilateral consultations Presentation and discussion as follow-up from first session Briefing on status and proposed direction for additional topics (not yet addressed) Initial feedback from Vets orgs, followed by other steps as in first round of bilaterals A subsequent, or third bilateral may be required Finalization of input and proposed response 59 The “Process”, continued Final multilateral consultation All Veterans organizations with the Minister Will occur at point when draft regulations are “near” final form Content will be shared in advance The goal will be to ensure that collectively the Vets orgs are supportive of the proposed regulations Session will, however, represent final opportunity for change before regulations are submitted for approval 60