The Federal Court of Canada has officially approved an $817 million settlement in a long-running class-action lawsuit concerning the underpayment of disability pensions to veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and their survivors This settlement aims to address discrepancies in disability pension calculations, ensuring veterans and their families receive fair compensation for years of miscalculation.
The lawsuit was led by representative plaintiffs such as Dennis Manuge, Raymond Toth, Betty Brousse, Brenton MacDonald, Jean-Francois Pelletier, and David White, who argued that Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) had improperly adjusted pension payments for inflation.
over a two-decade period As a result, many veterans and their families received significantly less in benefits than they were entitled to.
Who is Eligible to Claim the Settlement Amount
The settlement is open to current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), as well as their spouses and dependents.
Eligibility for the settlement requires that individuals have received disability pensions, disability awards, or other benefits from Veterans.
Affairs Canada since January 1, 2003 Additionally, the annual adjustment of the basic pension must have been impacted by these miscalculations during the settlement period, which spans from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2023.
How Many Individuals are Affected
Over 330,000 individuals are included in the settlement, making it one of the largest class-action settlements in Canadian history.
This group comprises CAF and RCMP veterans, along with their spouses and dependents, who have experienced financial losses due to the miscalculation of their disability benefits.
Terms of the Settlement
Under the settlement agreement, affected individuals are entitled to a one-time payment This payment will represent roughly 2% of the total disability benefits.
they received from 2003 to 2023 The total amount to be distributed ranges between $435 million and $817 million, depending on the number of valid claims processed and approved.
Automatic Payments and Claim Requirements
For those currently receiving disability pensions from Veterans Affairs Canada, settlement payments will be made automatically, ensuring these individuals do not need to take further action to receive compensation However.
individuals who are not currently receiving benefits must complete a claim form to become eligible for the settlement.
Claim Submission Deadline and Final Approval Hearing
To ensure all eligible individuals receive their payments, those not currently receiving benefits must submit their claims by March 19, 2025 The final approval hearing, held on December 18, 2023, confirmed the fairness of the settlement and its adequacy for all class members
How to File the VA Disability Pension Claim Submission Form
If you are eligible and need to file a claim, follow these steps.
1 Visit the official Veterans Affairs Canada website to access the claim form 2 Complete the required information, including personal details and supporting documentation such as benefit statements, pension documents, or other relevant papers 3 Carefully read and follow the instructions provided.
on the claim form 4 Attach clear, legible copies of all necessary documents 5 Double-check that your form is complete and accurate before submission 6 After submitting, you will receive confirmation of your claim 7 The claims processing team will review.
your submission and calculate the settlement amount 8 While processing may take some time due to the expected volume of claims, updates will be available on the official settlement website 9 Once your claim is approved, you will receive your payment.
Conclusion
The approval of the $817 million settlement marks a major step forward in providing fair compensation to veterans and their families If you are an eligible class member, it’s important to submit your claim by the deadline to ensure you receive.
the compensation you are owed This settlement serves as a significant resolution to address long-standing issues and bring justice to those who served Canada.
