Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program

Important Updates

 

 

CTSSP Application Deadline:

The CTSSP application period will be open for a period of five years once the Administrator launches the intake process. Click here for more information.

 

Confirmed Survivor Survey:

The deadline to submit the annual Confirmed Survivor survey is April 15, 2019.

 

Reassessment:

Confirmed Survivors who are currently at a level 1 or a level 2, may request reassessment of their health status for the 2019-2020 FY anytime between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

 

EMAF:

EMAF applications are now being accepted for the 2019-2020 FY. Confirmed Survivors may submit up to a maximum of two applications per year anytime between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

The Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program (“CTSSP”) is a financial support package for Canadian thalidomide survivors, announced by the Minister of Health on January 9, 2019.

 

Thalidomide survivors who were already confirmed under the 1991 EAP and/or the former Thalidomide Survivors Contribution Program (TSCP) will automatically be transferred to the new Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program (“CTSSP”) without the need to re-apply.

 

Any individual who believes that they are a thalidomide survivor, including those previously denied under the 1991 EAP or the 2015 TSCP, can apply for assessment under the CTSSP.

 

What is the purpose of the CTSSP?

 

The CTSSP is intended to contribute to meeting the needs of thalidomide survivors for the remainder of their lives so that they may age with dignity.

 

What does the CTSSP include?

 

  • Updated eligibility criteria for any individual who believes they are a thalidomide survivor;

  • A five-year time frame to apply to the CTSSP, beginning when the application process is publically launched;

  • An enhanced process for assessing if individuals are thalidomide survivors employing techniques utilized in other international thalidomide survivor programs;

  • An increased initial ex gratia lump sum, tax-free payment of $250,000 for survivors confirmed under the new CTSSP. Survivors already recognized under the former Thalidomide Survivors Contribution program will receive a top up payment of $125,000;

  • Ongoing annual tax-free payments to Thalidomide Survivors indexed at 2% per year for life based on each individual’s assessed level of disability;

  • Access to an annual Extraordinary Medical Assistance Fund (“EMAF”) to help cover the costs of extraordinary health support costs of thalidomide survivors with needs such as specialized surgeries and home or vehicle adaptations that are not otherwise provided in provincial/territorial healthcare plans.

  • An increase to the EMAF to $1 M per year, indexed at 2% per year, to account for an anticipated greater number of confirmed survivors.

 

​Any individual who believes that they are a thalidomide survivor, including those previously denied under the 1991 EAP or the 2015 TSCP, can apply for assessment under the CTSSP. Click here for more information.

 

Confirmed Survivors:

 

Thalidomide survivors who were already confirmed under the 1991 EAP and/or the former TSCP will automatically be transferred to the new Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program (“CTSSP”) without the need to re-apply.

 

Health Canada will contact existing confirmed survivors directly to arrange payment of the CTSSP ex gratia $125,000 top up payment.

 

Annual ongoing support payments will continue uninterrupted for the confirmed survivor’s lifetime.

 

Confirmed Survivor Benefits

 

  • Ongoing Tax Free Support Payments

  • Extraordinary Medical Assistance Fund

  • Health Status Reassessments

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