Joining the Pension Plan
The Pension Plan covers the employees of all
Participating Employers.
Full-time—If you are a full-time employee with a Participating
Employer, you are automatically enrolled in the Pension Plan from your
date of hire, regardless of whether you have permanent or temporary status.
Part-time, Casual, Seasonal—If you are a part-time,
casual, or seasonal employee, you may join the Pension Plan at any time—contact your employer’s Human Resource department and ask for a
Voluntary Enrolment form. You will be enrolled automatically once you
earn at least 25% of the Canada
Pension Plan (CPP) earnings ceiling (also known as the Year’s Maximum
Pensionable Earnings, or YMPE) during two consecutive calendar years.
Full-time Student—If you declare you are a
full-time student, you will never be automatically enrolled in the Program;
although you may still voluntarily join at any time. To join, contact your employer's
Human Resource department and ask for a Voluntary
Enrolment form.
If your previous employer is a public sector employer, you may be eligible for a
reciprocal pension transfer from
that employer’s plan.
You are required to fill out a Declaration of Pension
Beneficiary form when you join the Pension Plan. Your Spouse or Common-law Partner, and, in certain circumstances, your Dependent Children, are automatically entitled to receive a survivor pension under the Pension Plan. Designated Beneficiary refers to the person who will receive survivor benefits in the absence of a Spouse or Common-law Partner or eligible Dependent Children. If you do not designate a beneficiary, or your designated beneficiary has died, your survivor benefits would be paid to your estate.