Compensation options for ill and injured Reservists

If you are a Reservist who has suffered an injury or illness due to military service, you may be eligible for compensation by way of one of the following benefit programs:

  1. Extension of Class C Service for personnel whose injury or illness was sustained on Special Duty Service;
  2. Reserve Force – Compensation During a Period of Injury, Disease or Illness (Reserve Force Compensation); or
  3. Compensation pursuant to the Government Employees Compensation Act.

Reporting

If you suffer a work-related injury or illness, it must be reported to the Director Casualty Support Management using form CF 98 - Report of Injuries, Disease or Illness.

In the case of a hazardous incident, it must be reported to the Director General Safety using form DND 663 - Hazardous Occurrence Report.

For Reserve Force personnel applying for compensation under the Government Employees Compensation Act, Commanding Officers must report any injury requiring medical attention or resulting in lost time to Employment and Social Development Canada within three days.

  • 1. Extension of Class C Reserve service for personnel whose injury or illness was sustained on Special Duty Service — Definition, Benefits and Eligibility

    Definition

    You are considered on Class C on Special Duty Service when you are serving, training, or traveling in a Special Duty Area or as part of a Special Duty Operation. The Minister of National Defence may designate such areas or operations where members are, or may be, exposed to conditions of elevated risk.Footnote 1

    Benefits

    If you are on Class C on Special Duty ServiceFootnote 2  that has not yet expired, an extension of Class C service may be authorized. It is your employing unit Commanding Officer’s responsibility to advise Director Causality Support Management about the extension requirement and the required extension duration. Under this extension, you are entitled to pay and continued medical care provided by the Canadian Armed Forces according to the Spectrum of Care.  For more information on medical care entitlements for Class C Reservists, read Health Care for Reservists

    Eligibility

    To be eligible, your service-related injury or illness must have occurred while on Class C on Special Duty Service. The required documents must be completed and submitted before the end of your Class C on Special Duty Service.

    For details on eligibility, consult the following sites:

    If you were injured or became ill while on Class C on Special Duty Service, but the injury or illness was not diagnosed before the termination of the Class C period of service, you may be eligible for Reserve Force Compensation or benefits under the Government Employees Compensation Act. You remain eligible for Canadian Armed Forces care only for your service-related injury.

  • How to apply

    How to apply

    To apply for a Class C extension, follow these steps:

    • Report the service-related injury or illness sustained while on Class C on Special Duty Service to your employing chain of command;
    • Your commanding officer and you will complete form CF 98;
    • Then your commanding officer will forward the completed form to the Director Casualty Support Management within 14 days. The form can be submitted with electronic signatures;
    • Your chain of command will also complete form DND 663 to report a hazardous occurrence to the Director General Safety, if applicable;
    • Your employing unit must also notify the commanding officer of your home unit of the injury or illness;
    • Working with your employing chain of command and a medical doctor, you must complete form DND 2346 – Application for extension of Class C Reserve Service for personnel whose injury or illness was sustained on Special Duty Service;
    • Your employing unit must submit a cover letter and recommendation, as well as form DND 2346, to the Director Casualty Support Management.
    • The Director Casualty Support Management reviews and renders a decision on your request for an extension of Class C Special Duty Service. The decision is then sent to your employing unit

    To learn more about the application process, read Annex C of our investigative report entitled A Systemic Review of Compensation Options for Ill and Injured Reservists.

    Keep in mind that if you were injured during a period of Class C service that is not considered Special Duty Service, you may be eligible for benefits through Reserve Force Compensation or the Government Employees Compensation Act.

  • 2. Reserve Force Compensation — Definition, Benefits and Eligibility

    If most of your income comes from working for the Canadian Armed Forces, you should consider applying for Reserve Force Compensation. 

    Definition

    If you are a Reservist on Class “A”, “B” or “C” Reserve Service and suffer an illness, disease, or injury attributable to your reserve service that continues beyond the period of service during which it occurred, you may be eligible for Reserve Force Compensation

    Benefits

    The Reserve Force Compensation benefit equals the pay rate for your rank and Reserve Service Class at the time of your injury or illness.

    The Canadian Armed Forces also provides healthcare to Reservists who suffer from a service-related illness or injury. This healthcare is not part of Reserve Force Compensation. 

    Eligibility

    Compensation can continue at the discretion of the Minister, but cannot extend beyond:

    The date of release, or

    The date on which treatment for the injury, disease, or illness is completed. Treatment is considered completed when the competent medical authority determines that the member is able to resume active participation in the Reserve Force, resume full-time post-secondary studies, resume the occupation held at the time of injury, illness or disease, or to seek civilian employment, whichever occurs first.

    Consult Compensation and Benefits Instruction Chapter 210.72 – “Reserve Force – Compensation During a Period of Injury, Disease or Illness” for more information.

  • How to apply
  • 3. The Government Employees Compensation Act — Definition and Benefits

    If most of your income comes from civilian employment, you should consider making a compensation claim through the Government Employees Compensation Act.  

    Important: For Reserve Force personnel applying for compensation under the Government Employees Compensation Act, Commanding Officers must report any injury requiring medical attention or resulting in lost time to Employment and Social Development Canada within three days.[1]

    Definition

    The Government Employees Compensation Act provides compensation to federal government employees, including Reservists[2], who have suffered a work-related injury or illness. This Act delegates authority to each provincial/territorial workers’ compensation board to decide on compensation on behalf of the federal government.

    Benefits

    Benefits available under the Government Employees Compensation Act may cover: 

    • lost wages for a federal government employee (civilian and military), up to a maximum amount set by each province and territory, and
    • medical expenses for the work-related injury or illness. 

     Lost Wage Compensation Information (2019)

    Provinces and Territories

    Maximum Compensation Earnings

    Percentage of earnings benefits are based on

    Alberta $98,700 90%
    British Columbia $84,800 90%
    Manitoba $127,000 90%
    New Brunswick $64,800 85%
    Newfoundland and Labrador $65,600 85%
    Northwest Territories and Nunavut $92,400 90%
    Nova Scotia $60,900 75% (85% after 26 weeks)
    Ontario $92,600 85%
    Prince Edward Island $55,000 85%
    Quebec $76,500 90%
    Saskatchewan $88,314 90%
    Yukon $89,145 75%

     

  • How to apply

    Note: If you are injured outside of the province or territory where your home unit is located, your employing unit must use the provincial forms of your home unit province or territory.

    To apply for compensation under the Government Employees Compensation Act, follow these steps:

    • Report the work-related injury or illness to your chain of command;
    • Your employing unit commanding officer and you will complete form CF 98 to report the injury or illness;
    • Your commanding officer will send the completed form to the Director Casualty Support Management within 14 days. The form can be submitted with electronic signatures;
    • Your chain of command will also complete form DND 663 to report a hazardous occurrence to the Director General Safety, if applicable;
    • Determine if your claim will be more advantageous for you if you make it under the Government Employees Compensation Act rather than under Reserve Force Compensation;
    • Your unit completes the appropriate Employer's Report of Injury or Disease form that corresponds to the province or territory in which you normally work (your home unit) and submits it to Employment and Social Development Canada. Commanding Officers shall report to Employment and Social Development Canada within three days of the service related-injury requiring medical attention or resulting in lost time;
    • At the same time, a relevant medical professional completes the provincial or territorial medical form, and then sends it to the appropriate provincial or territorial Workers’ Compensation Board;
    • Employment and Social Development Canada confirms your eligibility and, if eligible, sends the claim to the appropriate provincial or territorial Workers’ Compensation Board;
    • Then the Workers’ Compensation Board decides on your claim and manages it according to its provincial or territorial legislation. 

    To learn more about the application process, read Annex G of our investigative report entitled A Systemic Review of Compensation Options for Ill and Injured Reservists.

Research Your Options

The option that is right for you doesn’t depend on your rank or your salary. Your decision will be based on your specific employment situation.   

Remember, these are just guidelines. If you’re having trouble deciding, contact your chain of command, your Canadian Armed Forces Transition Centre, or your provincial/territorial workers’ compensation board for help.

Other Benefits

Additional information on benefits is available in the Military Benefits Browser.

You may also contact Veterans Affairs Canada for more information on other possible compensation and benefits.


Disclaimer:

You can only receive compensation through one program at a time. As a result, you should consider which option is best for you, depending on your situation.

*Some directives cited in this document are available only on the Defence Information Network. If you do not have access to the internal network, contact our Office by phone at 1-888-828-3626 to obtain the required information.

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