 Important Updates

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​Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

These are unprecedented times for all of us. We are closely monitoring developments and will post any changes to our service delivery here. At this time, our information line remains open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time; however, recent surges in land line and cellular phone usage may saturate national service provider networks causing disruption to our call centre service. As an alternative, you may also contact us by email or mail. We hope that you are safe and well.

 

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 Government of Canada’s 1991 Extraordinary Assistance Plan (”EAP”) for Thalidomide Victims and/or the former Thalidomide Survivors Contribution Program (”TSCP”) will be transferred automatically to the new Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program (“CTSSP”) without the need to re-apply.

 

Anyone who believes that they are a Thalidomide survivor, including those previously refused by the 1991 EAP or the 2015 TSCP, may apply for assessment under the new CTSSP program.

 

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?

 

• A five-year time frame to apply to the CTSSP, beginning June 3, 2019 and ending June 3, 2024, for those individuals who believe they are a Thalidomide Survivor.  Individuals denied under the Government of Canada’s 1991 Extraordinary Assistance Plan (“EAP”) or the 2015 Thalidomide Survivors Contribution Program (“TSCP”) are also eligible to apply
  
  
• A probability-based medical assessment process to determine 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 TSCP will receive a top up payment of $125,000 to equalize the ex gratia amount payable to all Survivors under the two programs;
  
  
• 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 Thalidomide 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 Thalidomide Survivor’s lifetime.

 

Confirmed Survivor Benefits

 

• Ongoing Tax Free Support Payments
  
  
• Extraordinary Medical Assistance Fund
  
  
• Health Status Reassessments