Vulnerable seniors deprived of benefits, according to a federal union

Seniors have been deprived of old age security services since the entry into force of the new Cúram software in mid-March, according to the Civil Service Alliance of Canada (AFPC). Meanwhile,

A report by the Canada Employment. In addition, Immigration Syndicate, affiliated withAFPCof which Radio-Canada has obtained a copy, details many problems generated by the software. In addition,

Seniors appear in the Canada service offices After receiving contradictory letters. Nevertheless, or without having received their payment from the guaranteed income supplementrelate service agents to citizens.

We also read that Some discover that they are in a situation of overpayers.

An official who works in a disadvantaged district of Quebec stresses that his vulnerable seniors deprived benefits, according clientele is made up of elderly people in precarious situations. Furthermore, people living with mental health, homelessness or dependence. However, These elders often have neither the means nor the resources to understand or correct their situationhe said.

These situations generate significant stress among beneficiaries who sometimes find themselves in. For example, great emotional distress.

The software sometimes generates anticipated overpayments over several years (until 2035) vulnerable seniors deprived benefits, according without taking into account the future client eligibilitywhich raises concerns about the logic of the systemaccording to the union report.

Civil servants must make a large number of manual payments, especially for suspended accounts. Furthermore, It continues due to failures in the automation of payments.

This document was shared with the federal government earlier this month. Similarly, The Ministry of Employment and Social Development was unable to answer questions from Radio-Canada before Thursday. Meanwhile,

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Vulnerable seniors deprived benefits, according

Ottawa wanted to ignore the arrival of new software

The federal government has also asked employees of service Canada not to attribute delays. payment errors to the new Cúram computer software, denounces theAFPC.

Agents who deal with the files do not have the right to attribute their problems to a bug software [ni] to put the problem on the back of Cúram software. even if they know very well that this is the casesays in an vulnerable seniors deprived benefits, according interview Sébastien Paquette, the executive vice-president for Quebec of theAFPC.

According to a government note that Radio-Canada was able to consult. civil servants also had the directive, in April, not to mention that a new program has managed services since mid-March.

Employees note major dysfunctions.

The deputy for the new Democratic Party of Canada, Alexandre Boulerice, described the situation as disturbing.

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It is quite disturbing to be in a situation where vulnerable older people are expected to complain to know that there are problems, because maybe they will not realize that there is a problem in paying their paymenthe exclaimed with frustration.

Concern among the aînand

The French -speaking elder. elder federation of Canada does not hide its concerns.

We are very worried to see that there may be payments that vulnerable seniors deprived benefits, according have not been made. that there are errorssays its managing director, Jean-Luc Racine.

We saw what happened with Phoenix. We just have to watch TV recently with the Saaq in Quebec where new programs have been implemented […] And when you don’t be transparent […] We see that it does not run so well.

According to Mr. Racine, the government must demonstrate better transparency so that the elders are informed of the situation and can detect errors.

Everything is fine. according to Ottawa

The press officer of the Minister vulnerable seniors deprived benefits, according of Employment and Families Patty Hajdu, Jennifer Kozelj, wants to be reassuring.

To be clear, old age security customers have not found any change in the way their payments are paidshe says.

Payments […] were carried out with accuracy and time in April and May.

The minister’s office emphasizes that the establishment of the Cúram system constitutes The largest digital transformation initiative ever undertaken by the government.

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It is a modern platform that meets all the established service standards, offers better access and better services to Canadians, and can adapt to policies changes, the addition of services and other necessary modificationsaccording to Ms. Kozelj.

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The report of the Canada Employment. Immigration Syndicate stresses that many federal officials are living in a psychological distress faced with the magnitude of the problems linked to Cúram and learning by test-error which increases the risks.

The union report reports a climate where institutional messages are perceived as vulnerable seniors deprived benefits, according disconnected. even unrealisticbecause the management presents Cúram as a success.

The lived reality is quite different: overload. confusion, ineffectiveness.

The problem is increasingly starting to look like [fiasco du système de paye] Phénixnote with disenchantment Mr. Paquette.

The union deplores that federal officials who provide customer service still have a target of calling: they must last between 750. 800 seconds.

Some agents could hang up prematurely to try to respect these targets, which harms the quality of service.

Several errors have also been detected thanks to reports of customers and civil servants, depending on the report. The latter maintain that their training is insufficient.