Deadline for Common Experience Payments (CEP) Applications
September 19, 2011
What is the CEP?
“The Common Experience Payment (CEP) is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). The CEP recognizes the experience of residing at an Indian Residential School and its impacts.
Eligible applicants may receive $10,000 for the first school year (or partial school year) of residence at one or more residential schools, plus an additional $3,000 for each subsequent school year (or partial school year) of residence at one or more residential schools. Eligible recipients will receive a one-time payment of their full CEP entitlement.”:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/cep/index.shtml
Forms
CEP Forms can be accessed in this website:
https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/LauncherES/LaunchES
CEP Forms Toll-free Number at Service Canada:
1-800-699-1742
There are also CEP Forms for Estate. These are for deceased persons who were alive on or after May 30, 2005 and who may have been eligible for CEP before their date of passing. However, only the estate can apply for the CEP. If you or a family member believes your late relative may have been eligible for CEP, please notify the Public Trustee’s Office who may have dealt with your late relative’s estate.
The Public Trustee’s Office in Nunavut is:
Office of the Public Trustee
P.O. Box 1000, Station 560
Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0
Email: PublicTrustee@gov.nu.ca
Tel: 867-975-6388
Fax: 867-975-6343
Toll Free: 1-866-294-2127
Forms for CEP Applications by Estate can be found at:
https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/LauncherES/fsAction
Eligibility for CEP
Eligibility is for former students were alive on or after May 30, 2005 and did not opt out of the Indian Residential School Services Agreement and who lived in a hostel while attending a school in the List of Schools under the care and control of the Federal Government.
Students who attended Federal Day Schools while living with their parents are not eligible for CEP.
Reconsiderations
Reconsiderations are requests by Service Canada to allow time to verify a CEP Application. A reconsideration request by Service Canada could mean further requests for identification to prove name used, to provide further information on years of school attended, further information as name of school etc.
Reconsideration application forms may be submitted by mail, fax, email or telephone to:
Common Experience Payment Response Centre
P.O. Box 5260
Nepean LCD Merivale
Ottawa, ON
K2C 3H5
Fax: 1-866-352-4080
E-mail: reconsideration@inac-ainc.gc.ca
CEP Response Centre Toll Free:
1-866-565-4526
Apply online:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/images/cep_recon_eng.pdf
“It is important to note that applicants do not need to find their records or provide additional information in order to have their file reconsidered. However, we encourage applicants to provide anyinformation they may have that might help researchers to confirm residence and years of residence.
A CEP applicant has 6 months to file a reconsideration request from time of receiving a letter from CEP Processing Centre or six months to provide the information requested by the National Administration Committee (NAC).” :
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/rqpi/cep/rec/index-eng.asp
CEP Appeals
“Applicants who are still not satisfied with the Reconsideration Decision may appeal to the National Administration Committee. Applicants cannot appeal to the NAC unless reconsideration has occurred.
The Appeal Process procedure will be in writing. The NAC will not hold oral appeals. The Appeal Process must be applied for within 12 months of the date on the top of the Reconsideration Decision letter.
If a CEP Applicant is not satisfied with the decision made by the NAC, they can apply to the Courts.
Information on how to file an appeal can be obtained at:
Website: Residential Schools Settlement
Telephone: 1-866-879-4916.
Mail:
CEP Appeal Administrator
Suite 3 – 505, 133 Weber St. N.
Waterloo, ON
N2J 3G9
CEP Appeal Forms:
https://fmwa.classactionservices.ca/IRS/cep_appeal/documents/NACAppealFormFinal-English2.pdf
