Subjects: CHI, ECO, POL, CFG, MAT
Launching the new Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime
Improved support for parents of young victims of crime coming
OTTAWA, May 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The death or disappearance of a child is devastating and can leave parents unable to work. To ensure victims' families continue to get the help they need, the Government of Canada is replacing the Parents of Murdered or Missing Children grant with the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime.
The new benefit provides income support to eligible applicants who have suffered a loss of income because they took time away from work to cope with the death or disappearance of a child or children, as a result of a probable Criminal Code offence.
This fall, important changes will be implemented to make the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime more inclusive and flexible. This will allow even more parents to take time off work to cope with the death or disappearance of their children. These changes include:
- increasing the weekly benefit payment by $100, to $450;
- changing the age limit of the young victim from under 18 to under 25;
- doubling the period in which recipients can receive the benefit to 104 weeks;
- allowing benefit recipients to work up to 50 percent of their regular work week (up to 20 hours/week); and
- eliminating the requirement that parents with children under the age of 14 attest that their child was not a willing party to the crime.
These improvements are in addition to the ongoing improvements to service delivery and outreach efforts to increase awareness of the benefit among families who are affected by such tragic circumstances. The Government intends to amend the Canada Labour Code to ensure that employees in the federally regulated private sector can benefit from the improved benefit without any fear of losing their job.
Quotes
"Losing a child is one of the worst things a parent can experience, which is why this benefit is so important. These improvements will mean that more parents can get the support they need while they take time away from work to focus on their family."
?The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
"As a former Chief of Police for the Toronto Police Force, I have seen the devastation and the pain of parents of young victims of crime. With the new Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime, our government wants to better support Canadian families in these tragic circumstances."
?Bill Blair, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest
Associated Links
Federal Income Support for Parents of Murdered or Missing Children grant
Federal Income Support for Parents of Murdered or Missing Children grant - eBrochure
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
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