Domestic Benefits - FAQ
- Leave Travel Assistance (LTA)
I live in Nova Scotia, what kilometric rate is used to calculate my entitlement for LTA?
Under the current construct of LTA - effective 1 February 2011 - the Ontario Low Kilometric Rate (OLKR) is the only provincial rate used to calculate the LTA entitlement, regardless of the location of the member's "place of duty" and the "family member" location.
Refs: CBI 209.50(7) and CBI 209.50(10)
I am a single member and my parents are deceased. Can I elect my friend for the purpose of LTA?
No. The definition of family member identifies the individuals that a member can meet while on LTA and does not include non-family members.
Ref: CBI 209.50(2) definition of "family member"
Does the member need to use one day of annual leave for this benefit?
No, however the member must have an authorized leave pass (CF 100) with some form of paid leave. Paid leave can be any of the following; annual, accumulated, accrued, sick, special, short or weekend.
Refs: CBI 209.50 (3) and CF Leave Policy Manual
Can I be reimbursed expenses to fly my children to my "place of duty" if the cost does not exceed the kilometric entitlement via PMV to their location?
No. LTA is authorized in respect of the travel expenses of only one person.
Ref: CBI 209.50(4)
I am presently a single Regular Force member and would like to fly my mother to my location in order to attend my marriage. What is my entitlement for reimbursement under the construct of LTA?
The Treasury Board (TB) has not granted authority for one way travel and therefore reimbursement isn't intended to reimburse such a scenario of a qualifying family member. In this scenario the member's entitlement is relinquished at the time he takes on a dependant and therefore not within the intent of the policy construct.
My mother passed away and my father remarried after my enrolment. He has since passed away. Am I entitled to be reimbursed LTA expenses to visit my step-mother?
No, your step-mother did not stand in as a parent prior to your enrolment and therefore does not meet the definition of "family member".
Ref: CBI 209.50(2) definition of "family member"
My father and mother divorced. After my enrolment, my father remarried and has recently passed away, and I have not spoken to my mother since the divorce. Can I use my LTA to visit my step-mother?
No, as the construct for "family member" still includes your mother, there is no entitlement for reimbursement of LTA benefits to visit your step-mother.
Ref: CBI 209.50(2) definition of "family member"
Am I entitled to an LTA while on retirement leave?
No, there is no entitlement to LTA while on retirement leave.
Ref: CBI 209.50 (3)(a)
Can my spouse meet me at my TD or attached posting location?
Yes. A member can utilize reverse LTA for the spouse to travel to the member's temporary place of duty, provided there is no service or operational restrictions.
Ref: CBI 209.50(6)(a)
I am a single Regular Force member away on TD for more than 60 days, am I entitled to LTA?
Yes. A single Regular Force member has an annual entitlement and it does not matter when it is utilized during the leave year. However, entitlement cannot exceed the maximum reimbursement from the normal place of duty.
Refs: CBI 209.50(3) and 209.50(5)
I am a single Class B Reserve Force member, am I entitled to an annual LTA?
Yes, only if you have been moved at public expense for that Class "B" or "C" period of service
Ref: CBI 209.50(3)
I am a married member and have been away from my normal place of duty for 35 days of a 90 day tasking. Am I entitled to LTA benefits?
No, a member must be absent from their place of duty for 60 continuous days for service reasons or no entitlement exists.
Ref: CBI 209.50(3)(f)
I am a single member with no children and currently posted to CFB Edmonton, my mother resides in London, UK. Am I entitled to LTA for travel to London, UK, to visit my mother and what amount of benefits am I entitled to?
Yes, when travel is between Canada or the United States and another country, the amount of LTA is the lesser of the actual cost of return travel by commercial carrier from your place of duty to the family member's principal residence and the sum of 13092 x the Ontario lower kilometric rate. For this case, the actual cost of return airfare for Edmonton to London is $1,840.00 and the sum of 13092 x the Ontario lower kilometric rate (currently $0.16, in January 2012) equals $2,094.72. The amount of LTA is therefore $1,840.00 which is the lesser.
Ref: CBI 209.50(9)
I am a single Regular Force member serving on HMCS HALIFAX on a MARLANT Operation, and have been away from my home port for 40 days. We have now docked in Baltimore, Maryland, am I entitled to LTA benefits for my family member to unite with me in Baltimore?
Yes. Where operational requirements do not prohibit you from an annual entitlement, you may be reimbursed LTA for a family member to travel to the third location where you are. When all travel is within Canada and the United States, the amount of LTA is the lesser of the actual cost of return travel by commercial carrier and the sum determined by the formula:
[({Dx2}-800)-P] xOLKR.
'D" is the most direct kilometric road distance - Halifax (home port) to Baltimore equals 1,760 km. "P" is the distance the member travels as a passenger in a private motor vehicle with another person who is reimbursed at public expense for traveling that distance. "OLKR" is the Ontario lower kilometric rate - currently $0.16 (January 2012).
For this case, the actual cost of return travel by commercial carrier is $439.00, and [({1,760 kmx2}-800)-0]x$0.16 equals $435.20. Therefore, the amount of LTA is $435.20 which is the lesser.
Refs: CBI 209.50(6)(b)(ii) and CBI 209.50(7)
I am a married service member and tasked away from my normal place of duty for over 60 continuous days. Am I entitled to LTA benefits?
Yes, a member with a dependant who is tasked away from their place of duty for 60 continuous days is entitled to receive LTA benefits.
Ref: CBI 209.50(3)(f)
I am a married Class B Reserve Force member and residing with my spouse and not tasked away. Am I entitled to an annual LTA to visit a family member?
No, you have no entitlement to an annual LTA as you are residing with your family member at your normal place of duty.
My ex-spouse and I each have a child living with us. Can I use LTA to visit my child living with my ex-spouse?
No, a member with dependant(s) normally resident at the place of duty has no entitlement to an annual LTA.
I'm divorced but my ex-spouse has full custody of our child. Can I use LTA to visit my child?
Yes, if you are a member who has no dependant you are entitled to LTA benefits to visit your child. In this case the child does not normally reside with the member and is therefore not considered a "dependant" for LTA, as defined at reference.
Refs: CBI 209.50(2) and CBI 209.50(3)
I have less than 90 days of service, am I entitled to LTA?
Yes, there is no such restriction in the current policy construct.
If the low kilometric rate changes during my LTA, which rate should I use?
In such a circumstance, the Ontario low kilometric rate (OLKR) on the actual date of travel is used. If the returning rate differs from the departing rate, then both rates are used accordingly. Rates are revised quarterly by the National Joint Council (NJC).
Ref: CBI 209.50(7)(b)
How many times can I use the LTA benefit in any given year?
LTA is authorized once every fiscal year. If the travel spans over two fiscal years the travel is deemed to have occurred in the year which the travel commenced.
Ref: CBI 209.50(5)
While at the LTA location, can I be reimbursed for a rental car instead of using a taxi?
No. There is no provision under the current LTA construct - effective 1 February 2011 - to reimburse a rental vehicle, taxi or any other form of local transportation to and from the commercial carrier.
Refs: CBI 209.50(7) and CBI 209.50(10)
If I drive from my residence to the airport and leave my car to fly can I be reimbursed for long term parking?
No. There is no provision under the current LTA construct - effective 1 February 2011 - to reimburse parking for the purposes of LTA.
Refs: CBI 209.50(7) and CBI 209.50(10)
