OTTAWA — Member of Parliament Cheryl Gallant, on behalf of the Government of Canada, recently highlighted increased financial support proposed for individuals taking care of family members facing a significant risk of death.
“The changes we are making through Economic Action Plan 2015 will ensure families are able to care for their loved ones,” said the MP from Renfrew-Nipissign-Pembroke “I am pleased that families in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke will be able to access enhanced benefits when needed.”
Compassionate care benefits, which are provided through the Employment Insurance (EI) program, are available to individuals temporarily away from work to care for a sick family member with a significant risk of death. Effective January 3, 2016, the proposed enhanced benefit will allow claimants to collect up to 26 weeks of benefits, up from the current 6 weeks. The benefits can also be taken within an expanded period of 52 weeks (up from 26 weeks) and can be shared between family members.
“The enhancements being made to compassionate care benefits through Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2015 reaffirm the Government’s commitment to helping families receive the support they need as they care for loved ones with critical health issues,” stated MP Gallant.
Since March 24, 2013, the Helping Families in Need Act has allowed parents to suspend the payment of their EI parental benefits if they become ill or are injured, and collect EI sickness benefits. They may resume collecting the balance of their parental benefits thereafter, if needed.
Under Economic Action Plan 2014, the Federal Government provided additional flexibility to claimants in receipt of Employment Insurance compassionate care benefits or Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for parents of critically ill children (PCIC) to convert to EI sickness benefits if they become ill or are injured, and to resume collecting the balance of their parental benefits thereafter, if needed.
“This announcement is one example of what the Federal Government is doing to help Canadians,” said MP Gallant. “To help hard-working families, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. The Universal Child Care Benefit would increase from $100 to $160 per month (totalling up to $1,920 per year) for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a new benefit of $60 per month (up to $720 per year) for each child aged 6 through 17. I encourage constituents to contact my office for further details of any Federal Government programs.”
