Phoenix problems prevent students from accessing inheritance

Jean-Marc Fortin, a federal public servant in Gatineau, waited until his two children finished their university exams to tell them he was dying.

The 61-year-old father did not want their grades to suffer.

Hedied a few days after they found out.

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His children, liane,23, and Landre, 21, organized the funeral. As the sole beneficiaries of their father'sestate, they expected to use their inheritance to cover theexpenses, but they couldn't.

Jean-Marc Fortin died shortly after the Phoenix pay system was implemented in the spring of 2016.His last fewpaychequescontained numerous errors that are now passed on to his children.

More than a year later, his children are still fighting to get the money owed to their father.

File awaits missing paycheques

"At the federal government pension center, I was toldI cannot do anything for you,'" she recounted.

In addition to incorrect paycheques,liane and Landre have notreceived any money from their father'sdeath benefit, which is worth approximately $100,000.

The Public Services and Procurement Canada'spension centresaid it can't give them accessuntil their father's file and outstanding pay havebeen settled.

"I was told that my father's last five paycheques weremissing," says liane.

Since the file remains open, liane and Landredon't haveaccess to the funds.

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"All the money he had was in an inheritanceaccount that cannot be touched, because we do not have all the elements of his pay historyin our hands,"saidliane Fortin

Exasperated by the administrative procedures, the brother and sister put their father's file in the hands of their notary.

"Every week, his partner calls the governmentto see if the file is moving forward, but there is no outlet," says liane.

Depending on family for financial support

The notary was able to secure achild allowance for the siblings, about$200 per month during their studies.

"I'm still lucky, but I seeI have to pay attention to everything I want to do," saidLandre.

liane and Landrespent$10,000 from their own pockets to organize the funeral, and are now receiving assistance from their family.

"We cannot live forever on nothing," saidliane.