Annex B: CRB Eligibility Requirements

Annex B: CRB Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility
  1. A Veteran is eligible for the Caregiver Recognition Benefit under section 65.1 of the Veterans Well-being Act
    1. the Veteran has had an application for a disability award or pain and suffering compensation approved under section 45 of the Veterans Well-being Act:
    2. the Veteran requires ongoing care as a result of the health condition(s) for which the disability award application was approved;
    3. the Veteran has not been awarded a pension or compensation under the Pension Act;
    4. an informal caregiver who is 18 years of age or older plays an essential role in the provision or coordination of the ongoing care to the Veteran in the Veteran’s home for which the informal caregiver receives no remuneration (see paragraph 4); and
    5. the Veteran requires at least one of the following:
      1. a level of care and supervision consistent with admission to an institution such as a long term care facility;
      2. daily physical assistance of another person for most activities of daily living;
      3. ongoing direction and supervision during the performance of most activities of daily living; or
      4. 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).
  2. A Veteran is considered to need ongoing care, if his/her health condition(s):
    1. are continuous, and unlikely to substantially improve; or
    2. the duration cannot be determined, but are not expected to substantially improve for at least 12 months.
  3. An informal caregiver plays an essential role in the provision or coordination of the ongoing care to a Veteran in the Veteran’s home if there is evidence that:
    1. the Veteran relies on the informal caregiver to provide or coordinate:
      1. daily supervision;
      2. direction and/or physical assistance with most activities of daily living; or
      3. assistance with completion of instrumental activities of daily living; and
    2. the Veteran’s health and well-being would be placed at risk and the provision or coordination of the Veteran’s ongoing care would be compromised without the informal caregiver.
  4. The phrase “most activities of daily living” is interpreted to mean a minimum of four (4) activities out of seven (7). Mobility is considered to be one activity of daily living.
  5. In some situations, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to separate the impact of a health condition for which a disability award or pain and suffering compensation has been granted from other non-entitled health conditions. In circumstances where there is a reasonable doubt or uncertainty as to whether the need for ongoing care is a result of the condition(s) for which the disability award or pain and suffering compensation is approved, then the reasonable doubt or uncertainty should be resolved in the Veteran’s favour.
Ongoing Eligibility
  1. A Caregiver Recognition Benefit is paid on an ongoing basis to a Veteran’s designated informal caregiver provided the Veteran continues to meet the eligibility requirements.
  2. VAC may require:
    1. a Veteran and the Veteran’s designated informal caregiver to provide information or documentation, and
    2. a Veteran to undergo an assessment to allow VAC to assess the Veteran’s continued eligibility for the Caregiver Recognition Benefit.
 
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