Veterans' Benefits

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

I received the following email yesterday, and I admit I don't have the answers. Are any of you sufficiently up on the law to respond to this, either in Canada or the US?

My father, Lloyd Ernst Helin, served in the Canadian First Division during WWII. After the war, he has lived in the United States and has been receiving benefits through the VA, but recently the VA has begun scrutinizing his benefits to the point of telling him that he really doesn't qualify as a veteran.

My question is, "What is the name of the Act that was passed by the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the US at the end of WWII that allowed servicemen from either country to collect full VA benefits from the other?"

Also, how can I obtain a copy of that Act/Law?

[Bill Murray]

Geoff:
I spent about 10 minutes Googling your subject and came up with gobbldy gook. Obviously using the wrong search terms.

May I ask, though, are we talking about Pension benefits or medical benefits here? I would assume the person involved would be paid his Canadian Pension by the Canadian Government.

I know that not a few retired American servicement and women have relocated to Victoria B.C. amongst other Canadian locations and would be wanting to avail themselves of Canadian medical services even while retaining US citizenship. Your national medical system is vastly different from ours and I believe anyone resident in Canada regardless of citizenship can avail themselves of your system. That may be why the need to have a separate Act agreed upon between the two countries regarding veterans so that Canadians down here had the same rights to VA supplied medical care.

Just a thought and I bet it will take a phone call or email or two to dig up this Act.
Cheers
Bill

[Garry Shipton (RIP)]

GWB,I have(had) two uncles,both WW2 Cdn army vets living in San Diego.Both received their Cdn pensions from Canada.However,one of them,a vet from the Three Rivers tank regiment had an operation which cost him US $ 22,000.He was not covered by our Medicaal Insurance.Hope this helps.

Garry

[Jon Skagfeld]

Aren't all of the above queries just what our elected MPs should be researching on one's behalf?

They have the hot-lines and staff to ask the proper questions and, hopefully, get the proper answers.

We elect these people to serve us...let's get them damn well serving us!

After all, we do pay their salaries, expenses, constituency office staff...get them to work!

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Jon Skagfeld
Aren't all of the above queries just what our elected MPs should be researching on one's behalf?

They have the hot-lines and staff to ask the proper questions and, hopefully, get the proper answers.

We elect these people to serve us...let's get them damn well serving us!

After all, we do pay their salaries, expenses, constituency office staff...get them to work!

...they are still on holiday..... : ....... at our expense.......

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Jon Skagfeld
Aren't all of the above queries just what our elected MPs should be researching on one's behalf?

They have the hot-lines and staff to ask the proper questions and, hopefully, get the proper answers.

We elect these people to serve us...let's get them damn well serving us!

After all, we do pay their salaries, expenses, constituency office staff...get them to work!

Since when did those conditions ever make them do their jobs?

[Jon Skagfeld]

Snarky, snide comments from the India c/s and from Sunray aside...

Dammit, I can feel and appreciate the frustration with these sleazy bastards, but, I say again, they're paid by us, therefore demand that they do work for us.

VAC (DVA) only covers pensionable disability benefits for Canadian Veterans living in the USA. In my case I was contacted by DVA and told to report to the nearest VA facility (Bay Pines) where a file was created and I was given a pseudo Social Security number. I was called in for a complete physical exam and have not had any problems getting treatment for my pensional disabilities. Some times I have had to go to a civie doctor for a prescription as the VA pharmacy did not carry the drug I required. No problem I just sent the doctor's bill along with the receipt for the prescription and a letter of explanation to the Foreign Service office of DVA and received a cheque for the total amount.

THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT ONLY PENSIONABLE BENEFITS ARE COVERED.

The VAC website below may provide some help.

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub...release&id=213

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Thanks, Art. I've forwarded this on and will report back of what they find from their side of the border as well.

[Ponysoldier]

Hello I just caught this thread,Ill look in the national
archives for the treaty. It is the same one that you guys
can be given Social security if you are here in the states
The VA is reviewing some 70,000 records this might be the
reason behind this...
Patrick

[Gunner]

Geoff:

Try also Dominion Command here in Ottawa. There are several Legion branches in the staes and there must be some expertise in cross border care of vets.

Cheers! Mike