Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Kneeshaw

APPLICATION BACKLOG

“Veterans aren’t really getting the service they deserve”: MP Caputo concerned about ongoing Veterans Affairs claims backlog

Feb 24, 2022 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — The MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo says the Liberal government has waited until the last minute to address a backlog of Veterans Affairs disability applications.

Yesterday (Feb. 23), the federal government announced $139.6 million in funding over two years to extend temporary positions mean to reduce processing times for disability benefit applications at Veterans Affairs Canada.

However, MP Frank Caputo, who also serves as the shadow minister for Veterans Affairs and associate minister for National Defence, says waiting until the 11th hour has created unnecessary uncertainty.

Caputo notes that temporary staff were set to have their contracts expire next week.

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“When temporary staff were hired to manage the backlog, it was the intention of the government to reduce the backlog to 5,000 by 2022. Instead, the backlog currently sits at 34,000.”

Caputo is hopeful the extension will make a difference in the wait times, but also wants the government to address the high caseloads and working conditions for case manager at Veterans Affairs.

“There’s still a tremendous amount of strain on the system when it comes to caseworkers. Veterans Affairs caseworkers are largely overworked. Their caseload should be at about 25 or 30, some of them are at about 50,” he says, “So veterans aren’t really getting the service they deserve.”