BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES
20. CF personnel are entitled to a variety of benefits that are intended to financially compensate them for service outside Canada. Some benefits are intended to cover the increased costs of Foreign Service, while others are in place to recognize the hardship and violence that CF soldiers may face.
21. In general, all allowances and benefits are subject to change without notice. Allowances and benefits vary depending on deployment status and may vary within the same mission or theatre of operations. Some may change on a yearly basis while others, may change monthly. All soldiers should be cautious and prudent when making financial plans based on any foreign allowances and benefits at any time, because the allowances and benefits can and do change. Prior to making any financial commitments, soldiers should take questions concerning specific entitlements to their unit Orderly Rooms.
22. The benefits and allowances listed below do not constitute an exhaustive list, they are merely the more common and will be highlighted here. Soldiers must ask their unit Orderly Rooms for information about the specific benefits and allowances they are entitled to and the method of calculating the rates for those benefits and allowances.
Health Care
23. Reserve Force soldiers on Class C service are entitled to full medical and dental care provided by CF or CF referred services. Medical and dental issues that arise while on Class C service will be treated at that time. If treatment is required after the date the contract is over, coverage will continue, but only to care for the issue that began while on the Class C contract. That coverage will continue until the issue has been stabilized.
Death and Disability
Death Benefits
24. Supplementary Death Benefits (SDB) is payable to the assigned beneficiary of a Class C Reservist in the event of the soldier’s death. It is equal to the equivalent of two years pay, payable at the soldier’s Class C rate of pay. A link to the Directorate of Pensions and Social Programs is contained in Chapter 3 and provides the full detail about this subject.
Disability Benefits
25. A soldier who is injured while on Class C service and the injury is attributable to that service, is entitled to Class C pay while that soldier remains in the hospital and while the soldier continues to receive treatment. Payments will not continue past the date of release on medical grounds or the date on which treatment was completed enabling the member to resume active Reserve participation or resume/obtain civilian employment. A link to the Directorate of Pensions and Social Programs is contained in Chapter 3 and provides the full detail about this subject.
26. A soldier who is injured while on Class C service and the injury is not attributable to that service, is entitled to Class C pay until the soldier’s period of service finishes or until the date the soldier is returned home, whichever occurs first or after the termination of the period of service if the soldier’s condition does not permit the soldier to be sent home. A link to the Directorate of Pensions and Social Programs is contained in Chapter 3 and provides the full detail about this subject.
Family Care Assistance (FCA)
7. FCA is designed to help offset child and family care costs incurred by the CF soldier(s) in excess of those costs paid during normal working hours. FCA is a non-taxable benefit, which is limited to single soldiers and service couples. This benefit applies to both Regular and Reserve Force (Class C only) soldiers. FCA benefits would apply in instances when service reasons are the sole cause of the absence of 24 hours or more of the single soldier or service couple, simultaneously deployed but not necessarily at the same post. It should be noted that this benefit could be applied for the full duration of the deployment, provided that all eligibility criteria continue to be met. In this regard, the benefit is not “time-expired” to a maximum period (e.g. six months); rather it is intended to assist the soldier (s) for as long as the requirement exists.
Storage of Private Motor Vehicle (PMV)
28. The CF will pay for the commercial or non-commercial storage of a soldier’s PMV if the soldier has no dependants or no dependants who drive. If the soldier and the soldier’s spouse or common law partner own two PMVs, the soldier may store one. A roadworthiness benefit is available when a vehicle is removed from storage.
Operations Foreign Service Premium (Ops FSP).
29. FSP is paid as an incentive to serve outside of Canada and recognizes previous service outside of Canada. FSP is a non-taxable benefit and becomes effective the date of arrival in-theatre and ceases the date of departure from theatre. The rate of FSP is linked to the duration of repeated service on DCDS International operations. FSP continues while the soldier is on Home Leave Travel Assistance (HLTA).
Hardship Allowance (HA)
30. HA is designed to compensate for the level of hardship experienced at the post. Considerations include operational conditions, quarters and off duty conditions, health and deployment stress, climate and environment, health and medical facilities etc. HA is a non-taxable benefit and becomes effective the date of arrival in-theatre and ceases the date of departure from theatre. HA continues while the soldier is on HLTA.
HA Bonus
31. An HA Bonus varies from 20% to 50% of Mission’s applicable HA level and is paid to recognize repeated service on DCDS International operations. The HA Bonus is a percentage of the soldier’s current applicable HA level and is paid after six months of accumulated service at HA Level I or higher posts. HA bonus is a non-taxable benefit and becomes effective the date of arrival in-theatre and ceases the date of departure from theatre. HA Bonus continues while the soldier is on HLTA.
Risk Allowance (RA).
32. RA is paid to recognize the dangers associated with serving in a high-risk environment. Factors include military stress; civil crimes, disobedience or hostility; terrain, weather and environmental/industrial hazards. RA is a non-taxable benefit and becomes effective the date of arrival in-theatre and ceases the date of departure from theatre. RA continues while the soldier is on HLTA.
Separation Expense
33. Soldiers who deploy on overseas operations are not entitled to receive separation expense. Further explanation can be found at:
http://hr3.ottawa-hull.mil.ca/dgcb/cbi/engraph/home_e.asp?sidesection=6&Section=10.2.13&Sidecat=17&Chapter=10#10.2.13
Income Tax Exemption
34. The Federal Govt announced in the Budget 2004 that, retroactive to 01 Jan 2004, that a portion of the employment income that CF personnel earn while deployed on high-risk missions (risk levels 3 and 4) outside Canada would be exempt from income tax. The exemption applies to both Federal and Provincial income taxes. At that time, this included Op ACCIUS, Op ATHENA (Afghanistan only), Op CROCODILE, Op IRIS, Op JADE/OGL only, Op REPTILE, Op SCULPTURE and exchange personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq.
35. This tax exemption has now been expanded to include military personnel employed in current moderate risk missions (risk level 2) including: Op CALUMET, Op DANACA, Op HALO, Op JADE /OGG Damascus, Op BRONZE/BOREAS (all except Zagreb and R and R sites), Op SOLITUDE and exchange personnel in Kuwait and Kosovo.
36. There are some slight nuances to this policy. For example the tax exemption will be applied to CF employment income up to the maximum NCM rate of pay which is currently $6089 per month. Soldiers are encouraged to seek clarification with their unit Orderly Rooms.
Special Leave (Relocation)
37. Reimbursement of transportation costs on Special Leave (Relocation) is dependent upon the soldier being granted embarkation and/or disembarkation leave. The maximum number of days that may be granted is as follows: 5 days on departure (2 days for personal administration and 3 days for embarkation leave) and 7 days on return (2 days for personal administration and 5 days for disembarkation leave).
Home Leave Travel Assistance (HLTA)
38. The primary intent of HLTA is to assist CF soldiers to reunite with their next-of-kin when granted leave out of the post or mission area. HLTA must be taken during the deployment at the discretion of the soldier’s Commanding Officer. It provides an opportunity to travel home, or to the soldier’s former place of duty or to another location. Original receipts for allowable expenses must be submitted in order to claim HLTA. A reverse HLTA may be authorized for CF soldier’s next-of-kin to travel (in lieu of the soldier).
Telephone Calls
39. Soldiers are entitled to one 15-minute phone home every three days as arranged by the TF Comd. However, where communication facilities are not available the soldier may receive a telephone call allowance. It should be noted however that most overseas deployments are well established, to the point where internet access is readily available.
