The EFCA provides financial support to military and medically released Veteran families after all avenues of support provided by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Director General Compensation and Benefits (DGCB) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) have been explored and/or enacted and are insufficient to meet a family’s emergency needs.
EFCA eligibility requirements
The EFCA supports the military and medically released Veteran family when emergency care is required under the following circumstances:
1. Inability to provide care on short notice
- For CAF personnel
- When CAF personnel are required to report for duty on unexpected and short notice, or are absent due to a military tasking
- AND neither the primary nor secondary family care provider (as identified in the Family Care Plan) is available.
- AND the financial assistance available through Assistance for Military Duty Absence (AMDA) is insufficient.
- For medically released Veterans
- When the medically released Veteran is unable to provide care for their family on unexpected and short notice,
- AND neither the primary nor secondary family care provider is available,
- AND the financial assistance available through the Veteran Emergency Fund is insufficient.
2. House Hunting Trip
When CAF personnel need family care expenditures beyond what is available through House Hunting Trips (Relocation Directive), and to secure necessities (e.g., search for housing, and/or spousal employment) when newly posted (up to three months after arrival).
3. Emergency medical and/or mental health services
- For CAF personnel
- When CAF personnel or immediate family members need emergency medical and/or mental health services,
- AND neither the primary nor secondary family care provider (as identified in the Family Care Plan) is available,
- AND the financial assistance available through Casualty Support Services and the CAF Caregiver Assistance Benefit are insufficient.
- For medically released Veterans
- The medically released Veteran or immediate family member requires emergency medical and/or mental health services,
- AND neither the primary nor secondary family care provider is available,
- AND the VAC health support programs and services,
- OR the CAF Assistance Caregiver Benefit are insufficient.
4. Death
When a CAF personnel or an immediate family member has died and the family needs support through the repatriation, funeral and bereavement process,
5. Unique situations
A unique situation, other than what is described above, where emergency family care assistance may be required. Special requests may be approved at the discretion of MFS or in the case of a medically released Veteran family, at the discretion of the Executive Director of their local Military Family Resource Centre in coordination with the National VFP Operations/Development Manager.
