270,000 veterans owed $165 million for disability pension 'error'
OTTAWA -- The federal government has confirmed that upwards of 270,000 veterans, RCMP officers, and their surviving family members are owed a total of $165 million as the result of what Veterans Affairs is calling a years-long calculation "error."
In a statement, Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan admitted that, between 2003 and 2010, an error had occurred when calculating disability pension adjustment rates. The adjustment calculations "didn't accurately reflect a change to personal tax exemptions," and now some individuals are owed thousands.
The Veterans Ombudsman's office brought the discrepancy to the attention of the minister. Ombudsman Guy Parent found that during those years, more than 270,000 veterans were given lower monthly payments than they were entitled to.
OTTAWA -- The federal government has confirmed that upwards of 270,000 veterans, RCMP officers, and their surviving family members are owed a total of $165 million as the result of what Veterans Affairs is calling a years-long calculation "error."
In a statement, Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan admitted that, between 2003 and 2010, an error had occurred when calculating disability pension adjustment rates. The adjustment calculations "didn't accurately reflect a change to personal tax exemptions," and now some individuals are owed thousands.
The Veterans Ombudsman's office brought the discrepancy to the attention of the minister. Ombudsman Guy Parent found that during those years, more than 270,000 veterans were given lower monthly payments than they were entitled to.