Public Service Income Benefit for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty Remission Order: SI/2023-6
Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 157, Number 7
Registration
SI/2023-6 March 29, 2023
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION ACT
P.C. 2023-216 March 10, 2023
Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, considering that the collection of certain overpayments is unreasonable and unjust, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board, makes the annexed Public Service Income Benefit for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty Remission Order under subsection 23(2.1)footnote a of the Financial Administration Act footnote b.
Public Service Income Benefit for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty Remission Order
Remission
1 Remission of overpayments that were paid under the Public Service Income Benefit Plan for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty is granted to any beneficiaries who received those overpayments before May 31, 2023 as a result of administrative errors.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order.)
Proposal
Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, considering that the collection of certain overpayments is unreasonable and unjust, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board, makes the Public Service Income Benefit for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty Remission Order under subsection 23(2.1) of the Financial Administration Act.
Objective
Through the remission of benefits paid in excess, the survivors would not have to unexpectedly repay to the Crown the costs of past benefits received while continuing to receive adjusted benefits.
Background
The Public Service Income Benefit Plan for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty provides an income guarantee to the spouse and children of federal employees who were slain on duty. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) is the plan sponsor and benefits are funded by Treasury Board Secretariat Vote 20 — Public Service Insurance. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is the plan administrator and, as such, is responsible for processing and adjudicating claims under the Public Service Income Benefit Plan for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty, calculating and making monthly benefit payments to survivors, and communicating with survivors.
In August 2020, ESDC informed TBS that due to tax and salary miscalculations, seven benefit recipients have been receiving higher payments than their entitlement as early as 2004. This has resulted in a total overpayment of approximately $350,000.
Implications
Under the circumstances, not requiring the survivors to repay the past benefit overpayments would be an outcome considered reasonable and just.
Consultation
This submission is led out of the TBS, in close consultation with and input from ESDC as the plan administrator. ESDC will inform the seven benefit recipients as per the published Order.
Contact
Ashique Biswas
Treasury Board Secretariat
Telephone: 613‑907‑5214
Email: Ashique.Biswas@tbs-sct.gc.ca