Senator calls for fairness for spouses in veterans program
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Island Senator Catherine Callbeck is again looking for answers from Veterans Affairs on the way it treats some widows and widowers differently than others.
Veterans’ surviving spouses may be eligible to receive assistance for housekeeping and/or grounds keeping expenses under the Veterans Independence Program. But not all surviving spouses are treated in the same manner, depending on what the veteran was receiving at the time of death.
“I have been asked by a number of widows about this issue,” said Callbeck. “They know the woman down the road is getting assistance for housekeeping and grounds keeping at the same time, but they themselves have been told they are not eligible for both, even if they are low-income.”
For example, if a veteran and his wife received both housekeeping and grounds keeping services, his widow can continue to have both. If a veteran and his wife did not receive either benefit, a low-income widow can apply later and receive both. But if a veteran and his wife received only one of these services, his widow can never apply for the second, even if she is low-income and regardless of health status.
Even the veterans ombudsman has pointed out the problem of this policy, says Callbeck.
“It is absolutely unfair that one widow is limited in benefits, regardless of need, while another is eligible to receive much more,” said Callbeck. “These women and men stood by our veterans during times of war and later cared for them through disability and failing health. We should need no reminder of our responsibility for their well-being.”
In response to Callbeck’s criticism, Blaney’s office issued the following statement: “Since 2008, our Conservative government has opened the Veterans Independence Program to Canadian Veterans’ widows and survivors.
“Since then over 38,000 widows and survivors have taken advantage of this remarkable program, which clears driveways in the winter and cuts lawns in the summer, among other services. We are proud of this remarkable program and we continue to look for ways to better service Canada’s Veterans.”
Callbeck has written a letter to the Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney urging him to correct this inequity.
In response to Callbeck’s criticism, Blaney’s office issued the following statement:
“Since 2008, our Conservative government has opened the Veterans Independence Program to Canadian Veterans’ widows and survivors. Since then over 38,000 widows and survivors have taken advantage of this remarkable program, which clears driveways in the winter and cuts lawns in the summer, among other services. We are proud of this remarkable program and we continue to look for ways to better service Canada’s Veterans.”