Canadian Forces Income Support (VAC PPU 608)

Description: This bank describes information that is used in support of determining eligibility and entitlement for benefits under the Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) program. The personal information may include name; contact information; biographical information; date of birth; date of death; death certificate; educational information collected for dependants over 18 and attending post-secondary education in cases of continuing a claim upon the death of the member/Veteran or in cases of “lifetime claims” – in such cases, family information is only collected in cases when the applicant is the spouse/common law partner or orphans (i.e. where the death of the CAF member or Veteran is related to service); financial information; confirmation of receipt/decision of Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP); employee identification number as referenced on pay stubs/statements of remuneration; language; opinion of, or about, individuals; gender; signature; validation of identity documentation, VAC employee,  Social Insurance Number (SIN); Old Age Security Number (OAS); guardian or power of attorney information; decision and/or entitlement information about individuals may be received from other VAC programs, including the Income Replacement Benefit, Earnings Loss and Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program – to determine eligibility to CFIS and determine employment goals, Earnings Loss Benefit, Disability Pension and Disability Award – to determine eligibility of spouse/common-law partner and dependent children. Client identifier information; dependent children information, including confirmation of whether a child has a physical or mental incapacity; marital status; date of marriage or date cohabitation began with common law; spouse/common law partner information, including date of separation, if applicable and relevant details of living arrangements; job search activities – including employment seeking, education/training and past work experiences, circumstances that may interfere with the ability to accept employment, proof of job search efforts.

Note: Revised in 2019. Information may be stored in VAC's physical and electronic systems including: Client Service Delivery Network (CSDN) and/or GCCase, which may include client initiated actions and responses made through My VAC Account, and/or VAC staff/contracted resource initiated actions and responses made through Benefits and Health Services On-line (BHSOL).

Some documents received in Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) from the Department of National Defence (DND) may reference the Social Insurance Number (SIN) as DND personnel were required to use the SIN as their personal identification number between 1960 and 1990.

Class of Individuals: Former members of the Canadian Armed Forces, eligible survivors and dependent children or orphans and/or their representatives.

Purpose: The personal information is used to administer the CFIS program and determine eligibility, disburse funds and provide services. Personal information is collected pursuant to sections 27-37, 76(1) and 80 of the Veterans Well-being Act and the Regulations. The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is collected pursuant to section 82 of the Veterans Well-being Act and is used for data matching purposes, including income verification. The personal information is also used to make a one-time compensation payment, payable under the Veterans Well-being Act, to eligible Veterans and survivors for disability pension offsetting in accordance with subsection 103(1) under Part 6 of the Economic Action Plan 2014 Act.

Consistent Uses: Information may be used and disclosed for planning, research, development, evaluation and/or reporting of programs, policies and services. The use and disclosure is limited to VAC areas that are involved in the identified program, service and policy and may also be shared with senior management.

Personal information may be shared with other VAC programs, including programs covered by the application waiver provision under sections 80.1 of the Pension Act and/or 78.1 of the Veterans Well-being Act, for the purpose of determining eligibility for additional benefits, assessments, case management, mental health initiatives, and/or commemorative activities, where applicable.

In accordance with an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the SIN and other personal information may be shared with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to facilitate income verification/confirmation (refer to CRA institution-specific personal information bank, Individual Returns and Payment Processing – CRA PPU 005).

By Order in Council 2011-1348, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) may provide services on behalf of VAC. Personal Information may be collected by Service Canada Centres, acting as a receiving agent on behalf of VAC. (Refer to ESDC Personal Information Bank – Veterans Affairs Canada Program Delivery – ESDC PPU 701). Information may include name, contact information, dates of birth and death, identifying numbers, language, signature, service information, health information, financial information, marital status, and family information.

In accordance with an established MOU, the SIN or OAS Account Number and other personal information may be shared with ESDC to facilitate income verification/confirmation. In exchange, ESDC will provide income data for Guaranteed Income Supplement or Allowance (ALW) purposes, OAS and CPP Entitlement information and other personal information to assess CFIS eligibility and provide accurate payments in a timely manner (refer to the ESDC personal information banks Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement Allowance – ESDC PPU 116 and Canada Pension Plan – Retirement, Disability, Survivors and Death Benefits Individual – ESDC PPU 146).

Personal information may be obtained by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) in accordance with an established Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) for the purpose of creating a digital image of the record for use by VAC (refer to PSPC institution-specific personal information bank, PWGSC PCU 709 – Document Imaging Solutions); PSPC will not use the personal information for the purposes of making administrative decisions.

Name, contact information, identifying number, entitlement amounts and direct deposit instructions may be shared with PSPC for the purposes of issuing payments (refer to Receiver General Payments - PWGSC PCU 712).

Personal information such as name, contact information, service information, health and financial information may be shared with an authorized and approved third party, in accordance with an established Service Level Agreement for the purpose of printing and mailing services. The approved third party will not use the personal information for the purposes of making administrative decisions.

VAC has contracted an authorized and approved third party, located in Canada, to provide transportation, storage, maintenance retrieval, delivery and destruction services of VAC records where applicable.

Retention and Disposal Standards: Regardless of the format, as part of the client record, the retention period is 7 years after the date of death of the applicant. If the date is not known, the retention period is 110 years after the date of birth provided there are no known dependents, no outstanding claims against the crown, no actions involving the estate, no indication on file of the legal status of a dependent, and no activity of any kind.