My Brother-in-law, Bruce Henwood, has contacted me regarding US Military benefits. I was in the USMC, but that was 12 years ago and I'm sure things have changed. He is challenging the Government of Canada on disability benefits and is needing the following:
1) what the US Military provides for its injured soldiers (example: what sort of compensation is paid for loss of
limb or sight).
2) In addition, is this insurance that the soldier pays for? Or are the costs split between DOD and the member? Or are the costs to provide such insurance or compensation completely covered by the military?
3) Needs photocopies of whatever dismemberment insurance paperwork/policy that the soldier has regarding this.
4) Any other applicable paperwork and/or contacts that you may have available.
Please contact me directly if you can help.
The newspaper article below is long, but gives some background info.
thanks,
Dan
[email protected]July 28, 2002
Holes in military insurance must be plugged
By PETER WORTHINGTON -- Toronto Sun
The most damning indictment of our government's handling of the military is not equipment and weaponry that's older than most soldiers, but the treatment of those critically injured in the service of their country.
When Maj. Bruce Henwood lost both legs to an anti-tank mine while peacekeeping in Croatia in 1995 with the Lord Strathconas, he was shocked to learn the insurance plan he and all members of the Armed Forces must pay into, is not insurance against injury, but a guaranteed income plan.
Unlike the British military's insurance plan, Canada's mandatory, low-cost Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) awards no compensation for critical injuries, but guarantees a wounded soldier 75% of his pay - providing pension and medical disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs don't add up to that percentage.
In Henwood's case, 23 years in the army meant a pension equalling 46% of his pay. When medical disability payments were added, the total was more than 75%, so his SISIP "insurance" meant nothing for his career ending, life-altering injury.
Sgt. Lorne Ford of the Princess Pats, who lost an eye when an American bomb was accidentally dropped on his regiment in Afghanistan, is waiting to see if the shattered nerves in his foot reconnect, or if it will have to be amputated. He doesn't know what SISIP will do for him. "I want to talk to them about my options, but so far I've heard nothing," he said by phone from Edmonton. With 13 years service, he'd like to stay in the army - "infantry if possible, but I'll see what happens." Sgt. Ford should know within a month whether his foot can be saved, but it's safe to say the Armed Forces likely won't want him now that he's lost an eye - and certainly won't if he loses his foot. His 13 years of service will result in 26% pension, plus whatever medical disability he can wrangle from DVA, which traditionally offers the minimum to injured soldiers, and gives increases only if the soldier appeals.
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