Member Benefits FAQ

1. How can I find out how much my pension will be?
2. I will be entitled to an immediate pension when I retire. When can I expect to receive my first cheque?
3. How do I have my Public Service Pension sent directly to my bank account?
4. Whom do I contact to suggest changes to the pension plan?
5. Who manages the funds in the Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan?
6. Will my Public Service Superannuation Pension be indexed to the cost of living?
7. What happens to my Public Service Superannuation Pension if I become re-employed with the Federal Government?
8. What happens to my pension if I become disabled?
9. How do I change my mailing address or bank account information?
10. Can I receive my Public Service Superannuation Pension outside of Canada?
11. My spouse and I are separating. Can my pension be divided?
12. Can debts or other financial obligations be deducted from my pension?
13. Who can have access to the information on my pension file?

1. How can I find out how much my pension will be?

If you are still employed and considering retirement, you should contact your pay and benefits specialist for information on the benefit options available to you and for an up-to-date estimate of the amounts of those benefits.

If you have ceased to be employed, you can obtain information concerning your pension entitlement from the Superannuation Sector .

2. I will be entitled to an immediate pension when I retire. When can I expect to receive my first cheque?

The Superannuation Sector is normally able to issue the first pension cheque within 45 calendar days after the date of retirement, provided that your personnel office has submitted the required information prior to retirement. If you have not received your first payment within 45 calendar days, please contact us.

3. How do I have my Public Service Pension sent directly to my bank account?

You can have your monthly pension deposited directly to your account by sending us a written request along with a cheque for that account marked "void". Your payments will be deposited directly to your account starting usually the following month. You should not close the old account until a payment has been deposited to the new one.

4. Whom do I contact to suggest changes to the pension plan?

Pension policy falls under the responsibility of the President of the Treasury Board. If you have comments or concerns about the pension program, you can write to the Treasury Board Secretariat at the following address:

Pensions Division
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
5th Floor, West Tower, L'Esplanade Laurier
140 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R5

5. Who manages the funds in the Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan?

The Public Sector Pension Investment Board is responsible for overseeing the investment of the plan funds. The Board is an independent body whose members are nominated by representatives of the employer, as well as by associations representing employees and pensioners. Benefits to plan members are determined in accordance with the Public Service Superannuation Act and are not affected by fund performance.

6. Will my Public Service Superannuation Pension be indexed to the cost of living?

Your pension is fully indexed to the cost of living. You will receive indexing (known as supplementary benefits) each January based on the previous year's consumer price index, calculated from October 1 to September 30. If there happens to be a decrease in the cost of living, no reduction applies - your pension would remain the same. The first increase after your year of retirement is prorated to reflect only the number of full months after retirement.

The increases for the current and last five years are:

More information on supplementary benefits is available in the Annuitant Booklet.

7. What happens to my Public Service Superannuation Pension if I become re-employed with the Federal Government?

If you are again required to contribute under the terms of the Public Service Superannuation Act, there are several changes that may apply, including your pension being suspended, the amount of supplementary benefits (indexing benefits) being reduced due to the change in your retirement date, and the potential loss of a waiver of the reduction to your annual allowance.

If you are re-employed but do not become a contributor under the Public Service Superannuation Act, your pension will not normally be affected. The one exception is if you had retired on grounds of disability. If you are able to resume work, you may lose your entitlement to a disability pension.

Additional details concerning re-employment are available from the Annuitant Booklet. You should consult the Superannuation Sector or the personnel office of the federal department or agency you intend to work for concerning the impact of re-employment on your pension before accepting a position.

8. What happens to my pension if I become disabled?

If you are not already receiving an immediate annuity (i.e. an unreduced pension) and you become permanently disabled prior to age 60, you may be entitled to additional benefits. If you are receiving an annual allowance (i.e. a reduced pension for early retirement), you may qualify to have the amount of your pension increased. If you are entitled to a deferred annuity, payment of the annuity would commence from the date of permanent disability rather than starting at age 60. Eligibility for a disability pension is subject to confirmation by Health Canada.

9. How do I change my mailing address or bank account information?

You can change your address or bank account information by contacting us in writing or by telephone.

10. Can I receive my Public Service Superannuation Pension outside of Canada?

Yes. You should note that if you reside in one of the countries where arrangements exist, payments are made in the currency of that country. The amount deducted for income tax is determined by your country of residence in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency guidelines.

11. My spouse and I are separating. Can my pension be divided?

Benefits under the Public Service Superannuation Act can be divided on marriage breakdown. For further details, please contact us.

12. Can debts or other financial obligations be deducted from my pension?

If you are required by a court order issued in Canada to pay maintenance or support to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependant, that person can apply to have the support deducted from your pension, subject to certain limits. If an application is received, you will be notified before the deduction commences. Deductions for maintenance or support cannot be made from survivor pensions.

Debts owed to the Crown such as income tax arrears or an overpayment of your salary or pension can be recovered from future pension payments. Debts owed to other individuals or companies cannot be taken directly from your pension.

13. Who can have access to the information on my pension file?

The information on your pension file is personal information that is protected under the Privacy Act. With very limited exceptions as set out in the Act, it cannot be released to anyone else without your written permission. If you wish to have another person such as your spouse make inquiries on your behalf about your account, you must send a written authorization to the Superannuation Sector.