Support for Veterans during COVID-19
General
- The health, safety and well-being of Veterans and their families, and our employees is the priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It is essential that we are not complacent, but rather do our part to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Veterans Affairs Canada is committed to support Veterans and their families during this very difficult time.
Veterans in long term care facilities
- Veterans Affairs Canada currently supports more than 4,000 veterans in almost 1,200 facilities across the country.
- Veterans Affairs Canada continues to contact Veterans’ families in facilities with positive cases of COVID-19 to share information and address any questions/concerns they may have.
- Veterans Affairs Canada is appreciative of the work long term care facilities are doing to support Canada’s Veterans in their facilities and we are mindful that their operational priorities are to protect their residents during the pandemic.
- We are also proud of our members of the Canadian Armed Forces who, at the request of the provinces, are currently on the ground supporting long term care facilities in Ontario and Quebec.
28 April 2020
Chief Financial Officer Corporate Services and Service Delivery
Background – support for Veterans during COVID-19
- Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) Emergency Operations Centre was activated on March 9, 2020 to respond to COVID-19. The Centre provides an integrated and coordinated systemic approach to ensure, at a minimum, that departmental critical operations continue.
- Since the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer issued guidance on March 15, 2020 for employees to telework due to COVID-19, VAC has equipped and enabled almost all employees to work remotely so that all services continue for Veterans and their families ensuring they are well supported during this difficult time.
- The Department is working with key partners to plan resumption activities for employees to return to the office based on federal and provincial public health guidance based on the principle of health and safety of our employees and efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
- Veterans Affairs Canada currently supports more than 4,000 veterans in almost 1,200 provincially and privately owned and operated facilities across the country.
- While the provision of long term care services fall under provincial jurisdiction, when Veterans Affairs Canada is aware of confirmed cases in long term care facilities, we work closely with Veterans and their families, as well as facility management to ensure Veterans’ needs are being met.
- To the extent possible, Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to contact Veterans’ families or the legal representatives of Veterans in facilities with positive case(s) of COVID-19 to share any information and address any questions/concerns they may have.
Veterans' access to treatment during COVID-19 - 28 April 2020
- We remain committed to ensuring that Veterans and their families have access to the support they need.
- Veterans Affairs Canada has extended coverage to include telehealth/virtual health services in lieu of in-person services when these alternate delivery methods are deemed to be appropriate by both the healthcare provider and their governing body.
- As a result, Veterans to continue to access mental health treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and other treatments while respecting social distancing measures.
- Our Operational Stress Injury Clinics also continue to provide services to Veterans through phone and virtual/telehealth sessions.
- The VAC Assistance Service remains available to provide support for difficulties that affect the well-being of Veterans and their family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no cost.
28 April 2020
Service Delivery
Background – Veterans’ access to treatment benefits and services during the COVID-19 pandemic
Veterans Affairs Canada provides coverage for eligible treatment benefits and services provided by health care professionals within the community.
As VAC’s role is a funder verses a provider of services of treatment benefits and services, VAC has been working closely with provincial health authorities and community providers to ensure that coverage available is as flexible as possible to allow Veteran’s to access available services.
The Department has been reviewing a number of alternate methods of service delivery and has been accepting a number of methods that are supported by the various governing bodies – such as the college of physicians or the college of psychologists.
VAC is also reviewing potential Virtual Assessment options for its Vocational Rehabilitation Assessments.
These options are being reviewed with the intent to ensure access for Veterans, as well as the security of the information.
Veterans should contact their provider, if they have any questions about alternate treatment options available. They should contact the Department if they need assistance in accessing community supports.
What is VAC doing to ensure Veterans get access to treatment benefits?
VAC suggests that Veterans contact their providers, as they generally have plan in place to support them. Alternatively – VAC is working with Veterans to find provider supports who can offer emergency support or who can offer alternative methods of delivery.
VAC has extended coverage to include telehealth/virtual health services in lieu of in person services when these alternate delivery methods are deemed to be appropriate by both the professional opinion of the healthcare provider and their governing body during the COVID-19 pandemic.
VAC has temporarily waived the need for renewal prescriptions required to obtain healthcare services to ensure that access continues even though it may not be feasible to see their health professional in order to obtain such documentation.
Operational Stress Injury Clinics
All Operational Stress Injury Clinics are providing services to their Veteran clients, mostly through phone and virtual/telehealth sessions. A few Clinics offer in-person sessions using appropriate security measures according to provincial authority regulations. Check-ins are done with all OSI Clinic Clients including clients on waitlists. There is a reduced capacity in some Clinics and provincial directives in others to provide only essential services but all referring agencies (Veterans Affairs Canada, Royal Canadian Mountain Police, and Department of National Defense) are notified to make sure no Veteran is left behind without services.
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Assistance Service
The VAC Assistance Service remains available to provide support for difficulties that affect the well-being of Veterans and their family members. The services are available for issues such as: health concerns; work-related issues; family and marital problems; psychological difficulties; bereavement and other problems that may affect their well-being. The psychological support is available 24/7 and is being provided through phone or telehealth at 1-800-268-7708 or TDD 1-800-567-5803.
Mental Health First Aid Training for the Veteran Community
Given that the courses are offered in a group setting, in accordance with the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) COVID-19 Advisory, the Mental Health First Aid courses for the Veteran Community have been postponed in order to ensure the safety of learners and trainers. These courses will be rescheduled post-pandemic.
Impact of COVID-19 on Veterans Affairs Canada financial benefits
- We are committed to ensuring that Veterans receive the respect, care, and financial support they deserve in this difficult time.
- The recent supports announced by this government will have no impact on the benefits Veterans and their families are receiving from Veterans Affairs Canada.
- The emergency benefits related to COVID-19 will not be deducted from any financial benefits Veterans or their families are receiving from Veterans Affairs Canada.
- We are fully committed to well-being of Veterans and their families, and will continue to work hard to ensure their needs are being met as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
28 April 2020
Strategic Policy And Commemoration
Background - Impact of COVID-19 on VAC financial benefits
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government of Canada (GOC) and certain provincial governments have introduced emergency benefit programs. On March 18, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a set of economic measures delivered as part of the GOC’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. These measures are intended to “provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses.”
The Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provides up to 16 weeks of income support payments. A worker may apply for the benefit for any four-week period falling within the period beginning on March 15, 2020 and ending on October 3, 2020. At the Senate Committee of the Whole, the Minister of Finance defined CERB as a “wage subsidy delivered directly to people.” It will be delivered through the “Canada Revenue Agency and the Employment Insurance back-end systems.”
Veterans Affairs Canada provides financial support for Veterans and their families through a variety of programs. The Department sought advice from the Department of Justice to ensure these financial benefits were coordinated correctly with recently announced emergency benefits. It was determined that emergency benefits would not be deducted from Veterans Affairs Canada benefits that Veterans and their families are receiving.