VIP program extended for war widows

Betty Vezina will now get the money she needs to help her live independently.

Vezina, of North Bay, was cut off two years ago from the Veterans Independence Program benefits her husband Rene had been receiving prior to his death Jan. 27, 2001.

She lost the $240 per month stipend because at the time the program only allowed widows to collect VIP benefits for one year after their husband’s death.

The federal government amended the VIP in June to extend the benefits for life, but only to those widows whose husbands had died within a year of the amendment, leaving Vezina out in the cold again.

Wonderful news
But Thursday federal Veterans Affairs Minister Rey Pagtakhan announced VIP benefits would be extended to eligible survivors and other primary care-givers of a veteran who died after September 1, 1990.

Pagtakhan’s announcement comes on the heels of a successful motion last month by Nipissing MP Bob Wood to extend VIP benefits farther back.

“This is wonderful news and I’m really thrilled,” Vezina told baytoday.ca.

“There are a lot of widows like me, some in their 80s and 90s, who have lost that money and now they’ll be able to collect it again.”

Payments not retroactive
To qualify, survivors and other primary care-givers must show they need the housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services due to health needs and to remain independent at home, a news release from Veterans Affairs Canada stated.

“The veteran must have been provided with these services any time after September 1st, 1990 and have been receiving them at the time of death. Primary care-givers must also demonstrate that, at the time of the veteran's death, they maintained or were maintained by the veteran, they were residing with the veteran, and they were the adult primary care-giver of the veteran and were not receiving wages for providing that care. Payments will not be retroactive,” the news release states.

Vezina said she has a small civil service pension plus Old Age and CPP, “but it pays me just enough so I can buy my groceries and pay my rent.”

Although $240 per month may not seem like much, it makes a difference to Vezina, 76, allowing her to hire a person to clean her apartment.

“I have very bad arthritis and I find it very difficult to clean the apartment,” Vezina said, “so the VIP really was helpful that way because I could pay for someone to help me out.”

Pay for help
Wood said a lot of veterans’ wives are “in dire need” of assistance to stay in their homes.

“With this program extend it’s less likely they’ll have to sell their homes or move into a nursing home because they’ll be able to pay for the help they need,” Wood said.

VAC is planning an information campaign and will start contacting by mail “those survivors who formerly received these services to determine if they qualify,” said Nadine Lunt, spokeswoman for Pagtakhan.

“Survivors who think they may be eligible and other primary care-givers who may qualify are asked to call 1-800-443-0382 toll-free for information on how to apply for housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services,” Lunt said.