Retirement Income Security Benefit (VAC PPU 701)

Description: This bank describes information that is used in support of determining eligibility and entitlement for the Retirement Income Security Benefit (RISB) under the Financial Benefit program activity. Personal information may include name; contact information; biographical information; date of birth; date of death; employee identification number; employee personnel information; financial information; other identification number; signature; Social Insurance Number (SIN); language; marital status; living status; military service information including service number and rank; financial details regarding income sources including pension, superannuation, compensations, disability insurance, old age security, employment earnings and/or other income and other benefits entitlements; decision and/or other Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) benefit entitlement information about some individuals may be received from other VAC benefits, including the Earnings Loss Benefit, Disability Benefits, the Career Impact Allowance and Supplement and/or decisions on Total and Permanent Incapacity; opinion of, or about, individuals; spouse/common law partner information.

Note: Information may be stored in VAC's physical and electronic systems including: Client Service Delivery Network (CSDN), which may include client initiated actions and responses made through My VAC Account. Some documents received in VAC from the Department of National Defence (DND) may reference the SIN as DND personnel were required to use the SIN as their personal identification number between 1960-1990.

Class of Individuals: Individuals who have applied for and/or received the RISB may include, but is not limited to: Veterans who have attained the age of 65 years or older who have been declared to be totally and permanently incapacitated prior to the age of 65, and who are in receipt of an Earnings Loss benefit or were determined totally disabled with the Service Income Security Insurance Plan, and who are eligible for a disability award or a disability pension; and survivors of deceased Veterans who were eligible, or would have been eligible, for an RISB at the time of their death, or survivors who are no longer eligible to receive an Earnings Loss benefit.

Purpose: The personal information is used to administer the RISB and determine eligibility, calculate entitlement amount and disburse funds. Personal information is collected under the authority of sections 40.1 to 40.5, and 80 of the Veterans Well-being Act. Personal information is disclosed under the authority of section 81 of the Veterans Well-being Act. The SIN is collected pursuant to section 82 of the Veterans Well-being Act and the Income Tax Act and is used for data matching purposes, including income verification and to issue income reporting slips, where applicable, to individuals.

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. Such information 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 section 78.1 of the Veterans Well-being Act, for the purpose of determining eligibility. Information may also be shared to support the provision of case management services to the client, if applicable. In accordance with an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for income verification between Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and VAC, the SIN, name, and date of birth of the Veteran and/or survivor might be shared with CRA to facilitate income verification for the purpose of calculating the RISB entitlement amount. In exchange, CRA will provide personal identification information including the SIN, name, date of birth and taxpayer income: refer to CRA personal information bank Individual Returns and Payment Processing (CRA PPU 005). Name, contact information, client identifier, entitlement amounts and direct deposit instructions may be shared with Public Services and Procurement  Canada (PSPC) for the purposes of issuing payments: refer to PSPC personal information bank Receiver General Payments (PWGSC PCU 712). Personal information may also be shared with PSPC, in accordance with an established Memorandum of Agreement, for the purpose of creating a digital image of the record for use by VAC: refer to PSPC personal information bank Digital Imaging Solutions (PWGSC PCU 709). In accordance with an established MOU for the Exchange of Information Collected Under the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Act in Support of Programs Administered by Veterans Affairs Canada between VAC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the SIN and other personal information may be shared with ESDC to facilitate income verification. In exchange, ESDC will provide confirmation of the Canada Pension Plan gross payment amount to ensure RISB benefit payments are accurate and are provided 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). By Order in Council 2011-1348, ESDC may also provide services on behalf of VAC. In accordance with an established Program Arrangement between VAC and the Department of National Defence (DND) Concerning the Disclosure of Personal Information, name, service information and other personal information may be shared with DND to provide service information in support of the RISB and to verify Canadian Forces Superannuation income. The SIN and other identifying information will be shared with PSPC for superannuation income verification once that MOU has been created and put in place. Personal information received by the RISB may be shared with other VAC programs for case management or for commemorative activities, where applicable. 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. Personal information such as name, contact information, service information, health and financial information obtained by VAC may be shared with a contracted third party for the purpose of printing and mailing services.

Retention and Disposal Standards: Original documents received and scanned by the Document Imaging Solutions Centre in Matane are stored onsite in Matane in accordance with the established agreement with PSPC until such time as authorization for disposal is provided by VAC. 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.