Modernizing the Family Care Assistance Policy

Topic

Modernizing the Family Care Assistance Policy

Case Number

• 2021-156 (F&R date: 2021-12-14)

Issue

Modernizing the Family Care Assistance Policy

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has acknowledged the financial challenges faced by its members by providing the Family Care Assistance (FCA) benefit, under Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) 209.335, to help defray the costs of childcare for single parents and service couples when they are removed, for service reasons, from their place of duty or their family home for a period of 24 hours or more.

However, as evidenced by the numerous FCA-related grievances received at the Committee to date, the FCA policy is failing to adequately support these CAF members. Notably, the $75 commercial care maximum daily rate is simply not enough to help subsidize the high cost of 24/7 dependant care services and the $35 rate for non-commercial care is also insufficient to fairly compensate the more suitable and realistic dependant care options available to most CAF members. Furthermore, the policy does not provide the CAF with enough flexibility to consider special family circumstances.

Recommendation

Accordingly, the Committee recommends that the Final Authority engages with the Treasury Board to promptly request a review of CBI 209.335, with a view of improving and modernizing the financial support offered to single parent CAF members and service couples, who require the use of dependant care services for service reasons. In advocating for these changes, the Committee recommends that the CAF emphasize that special consideration should be given to the unique needs of military service, the realities of today's childcare options and the rising cost of living.

Final Authority Decision

While the FA has found that the grievor was treated in accordance with the applicable provision, he agreed with the Committee's systemic recommendation that the FCA be reviewed and discussed with TB as it does no longer reflect the rising costs of care for dependants.