Injured veterans having to wait longer for service, internal documents show

The Canadian Press
Published Monday, November 6, 2017 12:10PM EST

OTTAWA - While Canadians gear up for Remembrance Day, new documents show injured veterans are being forced to wait longer than in years past to find out whether they qualify for financial aid.

The revelation, contained in internal Veterans Affairs Canada reports, comes amid growing frustration from many injured ex-soldiers at the midway point of the Trudeau government's mandate.

The reports, obtained by The Canadian Press, show that the government has made progress in hiring more case workers for injured veterans, as was promised during the last election.

But the time it takes to process applications for disability benefits and other financial aid has shot up under the Liberals, leaving many veterans in limbo as they wait to find out whether they qualify.

The problem is being blamed on an influx of requests and a shortage of resources, which officials say they are working to address by hiring more staff and streamlining the adjudication process.

But the revelation is likely to stir discontent in the veteran community, which is already upset about the Liberals' failure so far to reinstate lifelong disability pensions for injured ex-soldiers, as promised.

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