Some veterans still see payments clawed back

HALIFAX — Some of Canada’s most severely injured veterans say they are still seeing their military pensions clawed back despite a court ruling that found the practice illegal and a decision by Ottawa not to appeal the ruling.

Veterans with debilitating injuries said they thought their payments would increase when the federal government announced in May that it wouldn’t challenge the Federal Court decision on the so-called clawbacks.

The court found the government was acting illegally by reducing veterans’ long-term disability benefits because they were receiving pain and suffering pay- ments and other awards.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the clawbacks would end July 1.

But many vets are still having thousands of dollars withheld, reducing their disability payments to nothing.

Ron Cundell, who receives a Canada Pension Plan disability benefit, a military pension and a pain and suffering award from Veterans Affairs, said his long-term disability payment has not been reinstated.

“The most severely injured — we’re getting squat,” he said from his home in Angus, Ont.

“It’s being used as a negotiation piece between the law firm and the Department of Justice. The most severely injured Canadian soldier is a pawn.”

Cundell, 50, said he would likely receive an additional $1,400 a month in long-term disability from the military’s insurance program, the Service Income Security Insurance Plan.

But like many other veterans, his other payments exceeded the limit of 75 per cent of his military salary, so he received nothing in long-term disability through the income security plan.

Other veterans whose benefits haven’t exceeded the 75 per cent cap have seen their payments reinstated, as MacKay said they would.

But veterans’ advocates argue those with most grievous injuries should see an immediate reinstatement of the benefits, particularly since many can’t work and rely solely on pain and suffering awards.