Couple told to return baby bonus after eight-day-old son dies

[Locutus]

Can you even imagine if this happened under Harper gov....

anyway, from the heart out and all that sunny jazz

Ashley Lisabeth and Frank Greco show a picture of their son Emmett who died one year ago from myocarditis. The swing was made by a friend of the family for their memory garden. They will be hosting a walk to remember Emmett and raise awareness about myocarditis this weekend. (MORRIS LAMONT/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network)

LONDON, Ont. -- A London couple was devastated when their happy, seemingly healthy eight-day-old baby boy died suddenly.

But then the Canada Revenue Agency asked for their baby bonus back, adding insult to injury.

Ashley Lisabeth and her fiance Frank Greco were overjoyed when they found out they were going to have a baby.

"Our whole life changed," said Lisabeth, an office assistant at Anderson's Electronics. "Everything in our life changed because of Emmett. We bought our first house together, we really started thinking about our future."

But eight days after their son, Emmett Richard Greco was born on Aug. 2, 2015, he died from a rare condition called myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart.

Lisabeth and Greco were shattered.

They called the government to say their son had died and the monthly baby bonus cheques - now called the Canada Child Benefit - could stop.

But when they got in touch with a government official, they say they were told they had to return the baby bonus they'd received for August.


mo


Couple told to return baby bonus after eight-day-old son dies

 

[lone wolf]

Doesn't August come before November?

 

[Kreskin]

Yes Wolf I think so. Nevertheless I won't hold it against Harper. Not every government administrative process is about politic idealogy.

 

[JLM]

Can you even imagine if this happened under Harper gov....

anyway, from the heart out and all that sunny jazz

Ashley Lisabeth and Frank Greco show a picture of their son Emmett who died one year ago from myocarditis. The swing was made by a friend of the family for their memory garden. They will be hosting a walk to remember Emmett and raise awareness about myocarditis this weekend. (MORRIS LAMONT/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network)

LONDON, Ont. -- A London couple was devastated when their happy, seemingly healthy eight-day-old baby boy died suddenly.

But then the Canada Revenue Agency asked for their baby bonus back, adding insult to injury.

Ashley Lisabeth and her fiance Frank Greco were overjoyed when they found out they were going to have a baby.

"Our whole life changed," said Lisabeth, an office assistant at Anderson's Electronics. "Everything in our life changed because of Emmett. We bought our first house together, we really started thinking about our future."

But eight days after their son, Emmett Richard Greco was born on Aug. 2, 2015, he died from a rare condition called myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart.

Lisabeth and Greco were shattered.

They called the government to say their son had died and the monthly baby bonus cheques - now called the Canada Child Benefit - could stop.

But when they got in touch with a government official, they say they were told they had to return the baby bonus they'd received for August.


mo


Couple told to return baby bonus after eight-day-old son dies

Typical bureaucrap!

 

[gerryh]

Ok, I'm not seeing the problem here. Yes, it is VERY sad that they lost the baby. Since they did lose the baby, then they don't get the "baby bonus". Simple, no real surprise.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

So how many days in a month qualifies one for the bonus? If a kid dies at 3 years and 29 days, do they get that last month? Do you have to have the baby live 1 full month to collect?

 

[DaSleeper]

The first month is when you get the most expenses.

 

[gerryh]

So how many days in a month qualifies one for the bonus? If a kid dies at 3 years and 29 days, do they get that last month? Do you have to have the baby live 1 full month to collect?

Read the linked article. A CRA spokesperson explains that.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Read the linked article. A CRA spokesperson explains that.

Thanx, now that I read it I understand it but very strange. If he had been born 3 days earlier he would have qualified.

 

[gerryh]

Thanx, now that I read it I understand it but very strange. If he had been born 3 days earlier he would have qualified.

Yup, but they have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Due respect and sympathy to the couple, but the government is correct here. The criteria for the benefit are specific, they did not meet the criteria. There is no "slap in the face" here, no cruelty. They received a payment erroneously. Requiring them to return it is good stewardship.

 

[JLM]

Sometimes facts and emotions are on a crash course!

So how many days in a month qualifies one for the bonus? If a kid dies at 3 years and 29 days, do they get that last month? Do you have to have the baby live 1 full month to collect?

Maybe they should have gotten to keep 8/31 of the cheque!

 

[gerryh]

Maybe they should have gotten to keep 8/31 of the cheque!

Maybe they shouldn't have gone whining to the media.

 

[DaSleeper]

The year that a person dies in Canada the estate is allowed to collect any income tax over payment but is not eligible for any provincial or federal rent or property tax credit.

 

[gerryh]

The year that a person dies in Canada the estate is allowed to collect any income tax over payment but is not eligible for any provincial or federal rent or property tax credit.

Well then, I guess you should plan on dieing in the first week of January so you don't screw your estate. :roll:

 

[JLM]

Maybe they shouldn't have gone whining to the media.

When you are badly devastated you are not reasoning properly and should likely be granted a little slack!

 

[MHz]

WOW. I would have sent them a Chucky doll with a note saying, 'See if you can do it better.' or something along that line that would be as cold as thier move is.

 

[petros]

The first month is when you get the most expenses.

2nd month. Shower stuff like bales of diapers, formula, onesies, barf blankets and such are covered the first.

Doesn't August come before November?

Yes Wolf I think so. Nevertheless I won't hold it against Harper. Not every government administrative process is about politic idealogy.

It's August again and here we are with Liberal heathens asking for money a year later.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Maybe they shouldn't have gone whining to the media.

Don't be a dick. They still lost their kid, whether entitled or not.

 

[gerryh]

Don't be a dick. They still lost their kid, whether entitled or not.

Let's look at the depth of their entitlement

In total, the couple received just under $530 in child care benefits which they had to repay -- a considerable amount for them, said Lisabeth, who'd just bought a house with Greco.