FUNERAL SERVICES - Improvements to the Funeral & Burial Program The Last Post Fund welcomes the Government of Canada’s latest decision to enhance the Funeral and Burial Program for Veterans in need. The new budget will allocate $65 million over two years to increase the current funeral services reimbursement rate from $3,600 to $7,376. For more than a decade, we have been advocating changes to this program so that Canadian Veterans may receive the funeral services they deserve. Although we are grateful for this course of action, there are two pending issues which still need to be addressed. The first refers to the estate exemption for a Veteran’s estate which was cut in half in 1995, down from $24,030 to $12,015. We will continue to ask that the estate exemption be restored to its former level. We also advocate changes to the Program’s eligibility requirements. Funeral and burial benefits at present are not available to Veterans who served after the Korean War, unless they receive disability compensation from Veterans Affairs. In 2012, we had to use our very limited and fast disappearing donation funds to provide a dignified funeral and burial for 12 financially challenged modern-day Veterans. We will continue to request that eligibility requirements be extended to include all Canadian Forces Veterans who are in financial need at time of death.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:50:02 +0000
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