Are you a Veteran?

Special Notice: All War Veterans

The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) offers a special program called Veterans Independence Program (VIP), whereby Canadian Veterans are eligible to receive government subsidies for some of the health care services they require.

Retire-At-Home is a Registered Care Provider for this program and if you are a Veteran, we can help you apply for these special subsidies!

What is the Veterans Independence Program (VIP)

The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) is a national home care program provided by Veterans Affairs Canada. The program was established in 1981 to help clients remain healthy and independent in their own homes or communities.

VIP does not replace other federal, provincial or municipal programs. Instead it complements these programs when necessary, to best meet the needs of our clients.

VIP is only available in Canada. It cannot be offered to clients who live outside of Canada.

What Does VIP Cover?

If you are a Veteran and qualify for VIP, the services you receive will depend on your circumstances and health needs. These services may include:

• housekeeping, including help with routine tasks such as doing the laundry, cleaning your home, or preparing meals;
• personal care services to assist you with personal needs, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding;
• property maintenance, including grass cutting and snow removal; and
• access to nutrition services, like Meals-on-Wheels.

Other services that may be available to Veterans under VIP include:

• ambulatory (out-patient) health care for certain health and social services provided outside the home, such as adult day care, and travel costs to get to these services;
• transportation costs to foster independence, for activities such as shopping, banking, and visiting friends when transportation is not otherwise available;
• home adaptations to modify things like bathrooms, kitchens and doorways so that it is easier for you to do basic everyday activities such as prepare a meal, maintain personal hygiene, and sleep. Home adaptations do not include general renovations or repairs; and
• nursing home care when living at home is no longer practical.

Who is Eligible for VIP?

a) Veterans

• Most clients who receive VIP are Veterans. You may qualify for VIP if you have a health-related need for the services, and are:
• a disability client who needs VIP as a result of your disability entitlement;
• a wartime (First World War, Second World War and Korean War) pensioner with a disability that is pensioned at 48 percent or higher;
• a disability client with a number of health conditions that, together with your disability entitlement, places you at risk due to frailty;
• a wartime Veteran or overseas civilian who qualifies because of low income.
• totally disabled former prisoner of war; or
• an overseas service Veteran who is at home on a wait-list for a Priority Access Bed.

b) Primary Caregivers

You may qualify for VIP housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services if you were the primary caregiver of a Veteran who:

• qualified for these VIP services anytime after the program began in April 1981; and
• was receiving these services at the time he/she passed away or was admitted to a long-term care facility.

Most primary caregivers are spouses or common-law partners, but adult children or other individuals may also qualify.

To qualify for VIP as a Primary Caregiver:

• you must need the services to remain independent in your home but your health prevents you from doing these tasks; and
• at the time a Veteran passed away or was admitted to a long-term care facility:
  • you were primarily responsible for making sure that care was provided to the Veteran;
  • you did not receive a wage to provide this care;
  • you lived in the principal residence of the Veteran and maintained the Veteran, or was maintained by the Veteran, for a continuous period of at least one year;
  • the VIP services were necessary for health reasons and would assist the primary caregiver to remain self-sufficient in their home;
  • you were a resident of Canada;
  • the services were not already available to the primary caregiver as an insured service under a provincial health care system or a private insurance policy; and
  • there were no other persons living with the primary caregiver capable of providing the services.

If the Veteran you cared for received both housekeeping and grounds maintenance services, then you will qualify for both. However, if the Veteran only received one of these services (such as grounds maintenance services), then this is the only service that will be available to you.

Once you qualify for VIP, you will receive the services for as long as you need them. Payments are not retroactive.

Who is a “Survivor”?

“Survivor” means the adult individual who:

• was primarily responsible for ensuring care was provided to the Veteran immediately before the Veteran died or was admitted to a health care facility; and
• was not paid or compensated for providing that care; and
• lived in the principal residence of the Veteran for a continuous period of at least one year immediately prior to the Veteran’s death or admission to a health care facility; and
• maintained the Veteran or was being maintained by the Veteran.

In most cases, survivors are spouses or common-law partners.

Can the Survivor of a Veteran apply for VIP?

Yes!

There is a VIP expansion program for low-income or disabled survivors of Veterans and civilians who served during the First World War, Second World War or the Korean War and met the following criteria:

• were entitled to a disability pension under the Pension Act or the Civilian War-related Benefits Act; or
• received an allowance under the War Veterans Allowance Act or the Civilian War-related Benefits Act; or
• would have received an allowance if they had not been receiving benefits under the Old Age Security Act;

and

• were not receiving VIP housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance benefits when they died or were admitted to a health care facility.

To qualify for VIP, you must:

• receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement under the Old Age Security Act; or
• be approved for the Disability Tax Credit; and
• have a health need and require VIP housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services to remain independent in their home; and
• not have access to the services under a provincial health care system or a private insurance policy; and
• be a resident of Canada.

Please note that eligible Survivors may receive housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance benefits up to a maximum of $2,400 per year.

Who do I Contact to apply for the VIP?

You can call Retire-At-Home!

To obtain a Veterans Affairs Canada benefit or service, call the Client Enquiry Line at Retire-At-Home – we are here to help you.  We will confirm your eligibility, obtain a pre-authorization and supply the service to you!

If you are an eligible Veteran, you need never be out of pocket for the approved benefit or service!

Client Enquiry Line: 1-877-444-9949.
Email yourchoice@retireathome.com
 

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