SISIP LTD Class Action

Manuge v. Her Majesty the Queen

Federal Court of Canada Number T-463-07

The Class Action:

The Class Action was initiated in March of 2007 on behalf of Dennis Manuge and all other disabled veterans whose SISIP Long Term Disability Benefits are reduced by the amount of the monthly VAC Disability Pension they receive under the Pension Act.   On May 20, 2008, the Federal Court of Canada certified the claim as a Class Action and defined the Class as follows:

All former members of the Canadian Forces whose long-term disability benefits under the SISIP policy number 901102 were reduced by the amount of their VAC disability benefits received pursuant to the Pension Act from April 17, 1985, to date.

What Is The Action About:

Under the terms of the SISIP Long Term Disability Plan (“SISIP LTD”), the amount of VAC Disability Pension payable to a disabled veteran is deducted from the amount of SISIP LTD otherwise payable to the veteran representing 75% pre-release salary.

On May 1, 2012, the Federal Court ruled in the Class favour and ruled that the Government of Canada did not have the legal authority to deduct the VAC Disability Pension from the SISIP LTD benefits otherwise payable. Manuge v. Canada – 2012 Decision

As a result of this decision, the offset was permanently ceased and all amounts that were previously offset were paid to the Class Member with interest. The Court decision and order is available here: Manuge v. Canada – 2013 Decision

If you think that you may be a Class Member, but you have not received a retroactive payment, please contact [email protected].

Veterans Bursary Program – Updated February 2022

As part of the settlement of this class action, a $10 million Veterans Bursary Program was established for Class Members and their family members.

In February 2022, the following enhancements were made to the Veterans Bursary Program:

• The value of the Bursary has increased from $1,300 to $2,500.
• All institutions on the The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials are now eligible (visit CICIC.ca for a full list). In the past, only recognized and authorized institutions were eligible.
• Sons-in-law and daughters-in-law are now eligible to apply for the bursary.
• Pre-University CEGEP programs are now eligible.
• Class Members or their designate can now apply for studies dating back five (5) years, that is as far back as the 2017-2018 academic year.
• Previous awardees are eligible for the difference of the previous and new award value. A separate communication has been sent to these awardees.

The updated Veterans Bursary Program Guidelines are available here: https://portal.scholarshippartners.ca/files/559908/f117889/2021_Veterans_Bursary_Guidelines.pdf

For more information, please see the Veterans Bursary Program website as administered by Universities Canada: https://www.univcan.ca/programs-and-scholarships/vet-bursary-program/ or email [email protected].

Contact Information:  

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or 902.444.8417 should you have any questions.