SGI has implemented some extended benefits for their customers receiving support after getting a serious injury in an accident.
The enhancement sees major changes on two fronts. Firstly, customers who require assistance with daily tasks like self-care, housekeeping or yard work will see the maximum payments for those services increase to better reflect current market rates.
The second will see SGI customers who receive income replacement benefits from SGI and the Canada Pension Plan Disability keep their full SGI benefit. It will no longer be reduced by the amount of their CPPD benefit.
Also being launched is financial reimbursements on meals, transportation, and lost earnings for immediate family members who attend counselling and a new attending care benefit for people who need to stay at home with an injured person under medical advice.
SGI will also be increasing the maximum limit for expenses when someone is required to accompany an injured person to medical care because of their physical or mental condition or age.Â
The funding for these initiatives, $65 million in total, will be coming from the profits SGI has made in the last year through successful investments. Other funds from this will be going into their rebate program as well.
The changes took effect on May 1st, with living assistance benefits expected to directly benefit approximately 1,100 customers, and elimination of the reduction of benefits based on CPP income helping around 200 customers, SGI says.