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Eligibility for Health Care Programs - Survivors

Issuing Authority
Director General, Policy
Effective Date
Document ID
1043

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Care has been taken to ensure these policies accurately reflect the acts and regulations. Should any inconsistencies be found, the acts and regulations will prevail.

This policy replaces the following VPPM 2 policy: 1. xxi Survivors.

Table of Contents

PurposePolicyGeneralVeterans Independence ProgramReferences

Purpose

This policy provides direction on Veterans Independence Program (VIP) eligibility for those individuals who are recognized as "Survivors" under the Veterans Health Care Regulations (VHCR).

Policy

General

  1. Effective February 26, 2008, the VHCR were amended to provide housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services to the survivor of an income-qualified civilian, an income-qualified Veteran, a Veteran pensioner, or a civilian pensioner of WWI, WWII, or the Korean War who, at the time of their death, was not in receipt of housekeeping or grounds maintenance services.
  2. Under the VHCR, the "Survivor" means, in relation to the person, the adult individual (18 years or older) who, immediately before the person died or, if the person died in a health care facility, immediately before the person was admitted into the health care facility:
    1. was primarily responsible, without receiving a wage, for ensuring that care was provided to the person; and
    2. for a continuous period of at least one year, resided in the principal residence of the person and maintained the person or was maintained by the person.

Veterans Independence Program

  1. The survivor is eligible to receive housekeeping services and grounds maintenance, if:
    1. an assessment and all subsequent assessments indicate that the provision of the services is necessary for reasons related to the health of the survivor and to assist the survivor to remain self-sufficient at their principal residence;
    2. the survivor is in receipt of the guaranteed income supplement under the Old Age Security Act or is approved for the Disability Tax Credit under section 118.3 of the Income Tax Act;
    3. the services are not available to them as insured services under a provincial health care system or a private insurance policy;
    4. the survivor is not eligible to receive any services as a primary caregiver under Section 16 of the VHCR; and
    5. the survivor is a resident of Canada.

References

Old Age Security Act

Income Tax Act

Veterans Health Care Regulations

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