The public service pension plan and group insurance benefits plans provide you, as a member, peace of mind today and for years to come. The following information is intended to provide you with an understanding of your pension and benefits options.

A printable brochure Welcome to the public service pension plan is available for new or re-employed members. It is intended to draw your attention to parts of the public service pension plan that are important to you. Some aspects of the plan are time-sensitive, therefore it is suggested that you review this document as soon as possible.

You may want to know...

• Are you eligible to join the public service pension plan?
• What does your public service pension plan include?
• How is your public service pension plan governed?
• What should you consider if you have worked for the federal public service in the past?
• What should you consider if you have worked outside the federal public service in the past?
• Is there a limit to the amount of pensionable service you may accrue?
• What insurance benefits are available to you?
• Under the Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) Plan, whom can you designate as your beneficiary?
• Does your Will affect who receives your Supplementary Death Benefit?
• Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP), how do you name a beneficiary?

Are you eligible to join the public service pension plan?
Find out if you are eligible to become a member of the public service pension plan.

What does your public service pension plan include?

• Public Service Pension Plan at a Glance link provides a summary of what the plan offers.
• Your Pension Plan offers more detailed information.

How is your public service pension plan governed?
The public service pension plan is a legislated pension plan. The main provisions of the pension plan are governed by the Public Service Superannuation Act (PSSA) and the Public Service Superannuation Regulations. Further authority is provided under other statutes.

What should you consider if you have worked for the federal Public Service in the past?
You may be eligible to increase your pensionable service by purchasing past periods of employment. Increasing your pensionable service may allow you to retire at an earlier date. There are also other advantages. Please refer to the Service Buyback Package to see if you are eligible to buy back prior service.

If you are eligible to buy back prior service, use the Service Buyback Estimator tool to estimate the cost of purchasing past service.

What should you consider if you have worked outside the federal Public Service in the past?
You may be eligible to transfer your pensionable service from your former employer to the public service pension plan through a Pension Transfer Agreement (PTA) or through a buyback of past pensionable service.

Is there a limit to the amount of pensionable service you may accrue?
Yes. You may only accrue up to a maximum of 35 years of pensionable service. This 35-year maximum includes the following types of service:

• service for which you contributed to the public service pension plan through deductions from your salary;
• past service you have purchased;
• past service you have transferred from another pension plan;
• pensionable service with certain other federal government pension plans, such as the Canadian Forces pension plan or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police pension plan.

When you reach the maximum of 35 years of pensionable service, your public service pension plan contribution rate reduces to one percent of your salary. This lower contribution amount ensures your future pension is fully protected from inflation. Although you will not accrue additional years of pensionable service after reaching 35 years, the salary paid to you during this period will be used in the calculation of the best 5-year average salary on which your pension under the public service pension plan will be based.

What insurance benefits are available to you?
The following insurance benefits may be available to you:

• The Disability Insurance (DI) Plan provides a monthly income benefit for members who are unable to work for a lengthy period of time because of a totally disabling illness or injury.
• The Supplementary Death Benefit Plan (SDB) Plan provides a form of decreasing term life insurance protection, which is designed to cover members of the public service pension plan. Coverage begins when you become a member of the public service pension plan.
• The Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP) provides members and their dependants with coverage, up to certain limits, for dental service and supply expenses. Benefits can be paid after a waiting period of three months from the day you become a member of the PSDCP.
• The Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) provides optional health care coverage for members and their eligible dependants. If you wish to join, you must apply for coverage by completing and submitting either an electronic application using the secure online PSHCP Web Application on the Compensation Web Applications (CWA) or, if you do not have access to CWA, you can complete and submit a paper application form to your designated compensation advisor.
• The Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) provides group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, dependants' insurance and long-term disability insurance to eligible members. Eligible members are generally those who are employed in managerial or confidential positions. To determine if you are eligible to enrol in the PSMIP, contact your Compensation Advisor.
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Under the Supplementary Death Benefit Plan, whom can you designate as your beneficiary?
You may choose one of the following as your beneficiary:

• any one person 18 or more years of age at the time of designation;
• your estate or succession;
• any charitable or benevolent organization or institution;
• any educational or religious organization or institution that is supported by donations.

To designate your beneficiary, you must complete the Naming or Substitution of a Beneficiary form (PDF 654KB, Help for PDF file).

You should notify the Public Service Pension Centre when your beneficiary moves. A current address on file will enable the Pension Centre to pay the benefit without delay.

In the absence of a named beneficiary, the benefit is paid to your estate.

Does your Will affect who receives your Supplementary Death Benefit?
The pension administration does not take into consideration the provisions of Wills, Agreements or Court Orders in determining to whom your death benefit will be paid. The payment will be made to the last valid designated beneficiary for the SDB.

You can only name one beneficiary under this plan. If you wish to divide your death benefit among two or more people, you must name your estate as your beneficiary. In that case, the SDB will be paid to your estate. You may then specify in your Will how you want the Executor of your estate to divide the payment.

Under the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP), how do you name a beneficiary?
To designate a beneficiary under the PSMIP, you must complete the Public Service Management Insurance Plan form (PDF 70KB, Help for PDF file).