Guide for plan members

Public Service Pension Plan is committed to helping you make the most of your pension. This guide is a provincial requirement. Please use the links at right to explore the topics most relevant to you.


When you can retire


Your age at retirement

The age at which you apply for your pension will affect the amount of your lifetime monthly pension payment. Different rules apply to regular members, ambulance paramedics and correctional members.

Regular members may apply for their pension as early as age 55.

  • Public safety members may apply for their pension as early as age 50. Public safety members include regular part-time and full-time ambulance paramedics in CUPE Local 873 and correctional officers, probation officers and youth probation officers employed in a correctional centre with BC Corrections.

If you retire before your normal retirement age, your age and years of contributory service will determine if you are eligible for an unreduced pension.

If you do not apply to start your unreduced pension when you are eligible, you will not be entitled to have your pension backdated to a previous date. You are responsible for choosing the date your pension will start and you must apply to start your pension.

Regardless of your occupation, you must begin receiving your pension no later than the end of the year in which you turn 71, even if you are still working.

Sign in to My Account and use the personalized Pension Estimator to find out what your monthly pension might be based on your salary and years of service.

You may want to talk to an independent financial advisor about which start date is best for you and your situation.


When you can retire for regular members

Qualifying for an unreduced pension

Although you can apply for your pension as early as age 55, your pension will be reduced if you stop working for a plan employer before you turn 65 and do not meet the criteria for an unreduced pension.

Sign in to My Account and use the Personalized Pension Estimator to find out what your monthly pension may be based on your salary and years of service.

Plan rule changes implemented on April 1, 2018, affect your service differently. For pensionable service earned on and after April 1, 2018, you will qualify for an unreduced pension if, at the date of your retirement, you are:

  • 55 or older, with 35 years of contributory service
  • 60 or older, with two or more years of contributory service
  • 65 or older, with any amount of contributory service

For pensionable service earned before April 1, 2018, you will qualify for an unreduced pension if, at the date of your retirement, you are:

  • 55 or older, and your age plus years of contributory service equals 85 or more
  • 60 or older, with two or more years of contributory service
  • 65 or older, with any amount of contributory service

Note: the service earned after April 1, 2018, will still count toward your rule of 85.

Receiving a reduced pension

For pensionable service earned on and after April 1, 2018, you will receive a reduced pension if, at the date of your retirement, you are:

  • Over 55 but under 60, with less than 35 years of contributory service
  • Over 60 but under 65, with less than two years of contributory service

For pensionable service earned before April 1, 2018, you will receive a reduced pension if, at the date of your retirement, you are:

  • Over 55 but under 60, and your age plus years of contributory service is less than 85
  • Over 60 but under 65, with less than two years of contributory service

When you can retire for ambulance paramedics

Although you may be able to apply for your pension as early as age 50, your pension will be reduced if you stop working for a plan employer before you turn 55 and do not meet the criteria for an unreduced pension.

Sign in to My Account and use the Personalized Pension Estimator to find out what your monthly pension might be, based on your salary and years of service.

Plan rule changes implemented April 1, 2020, affect your service differently. This table compares retirement rules before and after the plan rule changes:

  Old rules
(applies to service
before April 1, 2020)
New rules
(applies to service
April 1, 2020, onward)
Less than 2 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 65 60
Earliest reduced retirement age 55 50
Reduction factor 5% per year from age 65 6.2% per year from age 60
Between 2 and 10 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 60 60
Earliest reduced retirement age 55 50
Reduction factor 5% per year from age 60 6.2% per year from age 60
Between 10 and 25 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 60 55
Earliest reduced retirement age 50 50
Reduction factor 3% per year from age 60 (or rule of 80) 6.2% per year from age 55
More than 25 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 55 55
Earliest reduced retirement age 50 50
Reduction factor A 3% reduction will apply if you terminate your employment* after age 50.
If you terminate your employment before age 50, there will be a 5% reduction per year.
6.2% per year from age 55

* ”Terminating employment” means that you stop working for a plan employer and do not start contributing to the plan again with another plan employer. If you terminate your employment you can begin to take a reduced or unreduced pension.


When you can retire for correctional officers

For pension purposes, correctional officers, probation officers and youth probation officers employed in a correctional centre are designated as public safety occupations and have a different plan design and early retirement ages than regular members do.

Qualifying for an unreduced pension

Although you can apply for your pension as early as age 50, your pension will be reduced if you stop working for a plan employer before you turn 55 and do not meet the criteria for an unreduced pension.

Under the current plan design, you qualify for an unreduced pension if, at the date of your retirement, you are:

  • 50 or older, and your age plus years of contributory service equals 85 or more
  • 55 or older, with two or more years of contributory service
  • 60 or older, with any amount of contributory service

Receiving a reduced pension

If your age and years of service do not meet the rule of 85, your pension will be reduced by three per cent per year if you terminate employment after age 45 with at least 10 years of contributory service. Otherwise, it’s five per cent per year before age 55.

Sign in to My Account and use the Personalized Pension Estimator to find out what your monthly pension might be based on your salary and years of service.


How we calculate your pension


We calculate your pension based on your years of service and the average of your five highest years of salary.

Your lifetime pension is calculated using:

  • The accrual rate (multiplier) for your member group
  • The average of your five highest years of salary (not necessarily the last five years)
  • Your years of pensionable service

Pension formulas for the plan’s different member groups may change over time, as determined by the Public Service Pension Board of Trustees.

To see how your pension is calculated, use the personalized pension estimator in My Account.


Early retirement for regular members

For most members of BC’s Public Service Pension Plan, the normal retirement age is 65, and the earliest retirement age is 55.

Depending on when you started your service, your pension may be affected by up to three different plan designs. The latest plan design change became effective April 1, 2018, on a go-forward basis.

Note: the rules in effect at the time you earn service will apply.

The Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account calculates your pension estimates with all the applicable plan designs.

If you are thinking about retiring before age 65, please note:

  • You will receive a reduced pension if you do not meet the minimum age and service criteria for an unreduced pension
  • You will receive a bridge benefit on service earned before April 1, 2018
  • You can buy a temporary annuity (full or half) to supplement your retirement income until you turn 65 or die, whichever happens first
  • When you retire, any extended health care and dental coverage you were receiving through your employer will stop. However, you can apply for extended health care and dental coverage through the Public Service Pension Plan when you apply for your pension.

Calculating your reduced pension

If you decide to retire early but do not meet the criteria for an unreduced pension, your pension will be reduced. For pensionable service before April 1, 2018, the bridge benefit will also be proportionately reduced.

The reduction amount is based on a combination of your:

  • Age when you leave your job
  • Contributory service
  • Age when you start receiving your pension

Reductions are pro-rated by month for partial years.

The easiest way to learn how your pension will be calculated is to use the Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account. You can save up to 10 different estimates, allowing you to see how your monthly pension can be affected by different retirement ages. Sign in to My Account at the top of your screen.

Pensionable service earned before April 1, 2018

3.0 per cent reduction

All your years of contributory service (before, on and after April 1, 2018) are used to calculate your eligibility. For years of service earned before April 1, 2018, however, the rule of 85 applies. That means if your age and years of contributory service equal at least 85, you can retire with an unreduced pension. 

If your age plus years of contributory service is less than 85, your pension will be reduced by 3.0 per cent per year if you meet the following criteria:

  • You are at least age 50 when you leave your job
  • You have at least 10 years of contributory service

Your pension will be reduced by 3.0 per cent for each year that

  • you are under age 60, or
  • the sum of your age plus years of contributory service is less than 85, whichever is less.
5.0 per cent reduction

If you do not meet the age and service criteria for a 3.0 per cent reduction, and you have at least two years of contributory service, your pension will be reduced by 5.0 per cent for each year that

  • you are under age 60, or
  • the sum of your age plus years of contributory service is less than 85, whichever is less.

If you are 55 and have less than two years of service, your pension will be reduced by 5.0 per cent for each year you are under age 65.

Pensionable service earned on and after April 1, 2018

If you have two or more years of contributory service, your pension will be reduced by 6.2 per cent for each year you are under age 60.

If you have less than two years of contributory service, your pension will be reduced by 5.0 per cent for each year you are under age 65.

Note for ambulance paramedics and correctional workers: If you have less than two years of contributory service and can retire as early as age 50, your regular member service will have both a:

  • 5.0 per cent per year reduction applied from age 65 to 55
  • 3.0 per cent per year reduction from age 55 to 50 (earliest retirement age)

Calculating your bridge benefit

If you retire before age 65, your pension will include a temporary monthly payment, called a bridge benefit, for pensionable service earned before April 1, 2018. The Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account will calculate your entitlement to a bridge benefit.

Up to April 1, 2006 0.65% x (lesser of previous year’s maximum pensionable earnings [YMPE] or highest average salary) x pensionable service
April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2018 0.35% x (lesser of YMPE or highest average salary) x pensionable service
April 1, 2018 and beyond No bridge benefit—members earn a higher lifetime pension instead

The bridge benefit may increase because of an annual inflation adjustment.


Early retirement for ambulance paramedics

For ambulance paramedics in CUPE Local 873, the normal retirement age is 65, and for certain ambulance paramedics the earliest retirement age is 50.

Depending on when you started your service, you may be affected by up to three different plan designs. The latest plan design change became effective April 1, 2020, on a go-forward basis. Note: the rules in effect at the time you earn service will apply.

The Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account calculates your pension estimates with all the applicable plan designs.

If you are thinking about retiring before age 60, please note:

  • You will receive a reduced pension if you do not meet the minimum age and service criteria for an unreduced pension
  • You will receive a bridge benefit on service earned before April 1, 2020
  • You can buy a temporary annuity (full or half) to supplement your retirement income until you turn 65 or die, whichever happens first

When you retire, any extended health care and dental coverage you were receiving through your employer will stop. However, you can apply for extended health care and dental coverage through the Public Service Pension Plan when you apply for your pension.

Calculating your reduced pension

Under the new plan rules, you can now retire as early as age 50, regardless of your service. Reduction factors may apply.

Before the plan rule change, you could only retire as early as age 50 if you had at least 10 years of service.

Under the new plan rules, if you have 10 or more years of contributory service in total, you can retire as early as age 55 with an unreduced pension. Before the plan rule change, you had to have at least 25 years of service to retire at age 55 with an unreduced pension.

The easiest way to learn how your pension will be calculated is to use the Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account. You can save up to 10 different estimates, allowing you to see how your monthly pension can be affected by different retirement ages. Sign in to My Account at the top of your screen.

The table below compares the retirement rules before and after the plan rule changes.

  Old rules
(applies to service before April 1, 2020)
New rules
(applies to service April 1, 2020, onward)
Less than 2 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 65 60
Earliest reduced retirement age 55 50
Reduction factor 5% per year from age 65 6.2% per year from age 60
Between 2 and 10 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 60 60
Earliest reduced retirement age 55 50
Reduction factor 5% per year from age 60 6.2% per year from age 60
Between 10 and 25 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 60 55
Earliest reduced retirement age 50 50
Reduction factor 3% per year from age 60 or rule of 80 (85) 6.2% per year from age 55
More than 25 years contributory service
Unreduced early retirement age 55 55
Earliest reduced retirement age 50 50
Reduction factor 3% per year from age 55 6.2% per year from age 55

Calculating Your Bridge Benefit

If you retire before age 65, your pension will include a temporary monthly payment, called a bridge benefit, for pensionable service earned before April 1, 2020. The Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account will calculate your entitlement to a bridge benefit.

Up to March 31, 2006 0.65% x (lesser of previous YMPE or highest average salary) x pensionable service
April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2018 0.35% x (lesser of previous year's maximum pensionable earnings [YMPE] or highest average salary) x pensionable service
April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020 0.65% x (lesser of previous YMPE or highest average salary) x pensionable service
April 1, 2020 and beyond No bridge benefit earned

The bridge benefit may increase because of an annual inflation adjustment.


Early retirement for correctional officers

For correctional officers, probation officers and youth probation officers, the normal retirement age is 60 and the earliest retirement age is 50.

Depending on when you started your service, you maybe be affected by up to three different plan designs. The latest plan design change, which became effective April 1, 2018, provided correctional members with a past service pension improvement for service earned between April 1, 2006 and April 1, 2018.

Note: the rules in effect at the time you earn service will apply.

The Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account calculates your pension estimates with all the applicable plan designs.

If you are thinking about retiring before age 60, you should keep the following in mind:

  • You will receive a reduced pension if you do not meet the minimum age and service criteria for an unreduced pension
  • You will receive a bridge benefit as part of the current plan design
  • You can buy a temporary annuity (full or half) to supplement your retirement income until you turn 65 or die, whichever happens first

When you retire, any extended health care and dental coverage you were receiving through your employer will stop. However, you can apply for extended health care and dental coverage through the Public Service Pension Plan when you apply for your pension.

Calculating your reduced pension

If you decide to retire early but do not meet the criteria for an unreduced pension, your pension will be reduced. Your bridge benefit will also be proportionately reduced.

The reduction amount is based on a combination of your:

  • Age when you leave your job
  • Contributory service
  • Age when you start receiving your pension

Reductions are pro-rated by month for partial years.

The easiest way to learn how your pension will be calculated is to use the Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account. You can save up to 10 different estimates, allowing you to see how your monthly pension can be affected by different retirement ages. Sign in to My Account at the top of your screen.

The rule of 85

All of your years of contributory service are used to calculate your eligibility. In the current plan design, the rule of 85 applies to correctional members. That means if your age and years of contributory service equal at least 85, you can retire with an unreduced pension.

Your pension will be reduced by 3.0 per cent per year from the earlier of age 55 or the date when the sum of your age and contributory service equals 85 if you meet the following criteria:

  • You are at least age 45 when you leave your job
  • You have at least 10 years of contributory service

If you do not meet the age or service criteria for a 3.0 per cent reduction, and you have at least two years of contributory service, your pension will be reduced by the lesser of:

  • 5.0 per cent for each year that you are under age 55
  • 5.0 per cent for each year that the sum of your age and contributory service is under 85

If you have less than two years of contributory service, your pension will be reduced by 5.0 per cent for each year you are under age 60.

Calculating Your Bridge Benefit

This benefit is designed to bridge the gap between your early retirement income and your income after you turn 65, which may also include Canada Pension Plan and old age security benefits. The Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account will calculate your entitlement to a bridge benefit.

Up to March 31, 2006 0.65% x (lesser of previous year’s maximum pensionable earnings [YMPE] or highest average salary) x pensionable service
April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2018

0.35% x (lesser of previous YMPE or highest average salary) x pensionable service

On and after April 1, 2018 0.65% x (lesser of previous YMPE or highest average salary) x pensionable service

The bridge benefit may increase because of an annual inflation adjustment.


Naming beneficiaries


Your pension is a secure lifetime source of income after you retire. In addition to the financial security it provides you, your pension may also provide financial care for your beneficiaries after your death. Your beneficiaries can be family members, friends, charities or organizations that are important to you.

If you die before you retire, BC's Public Service Pension Plan will pay a death benefit to your beneficiary(ies).

If you die after you retire, the plan may pay a death benefit to your beneficiary(ies) based on the pension option you chose when you retired.

The beneficiary(ies) you name while you are working are entitled to a portion of your pension if you die before retirement. When you apply for your pension, you can name the same beneficiary(ies) or different ones.

It’s a good idea to talk with an estate planner, lawyer or financial adviser to determine the best choice for you when it comes to naming beneficiaries.

There are two default beneficiaries: your spouse and your estate.

Your spouse

Your spouse is automatically your beneficiary when you die. Your spouse is the person you are married to or have been in a common-law relationship with for a continuous period of more than two years.

Your spouse can choose to give up their right to the death benefit they would normally receive when you die by signing a waiver.

If you do not have a spouse, or if your spouse has given up their right to a death benefit, you can name other people, charities or organizations as your beneficiaries.

You can also name a trust as your beneficiary. This is helpful if your beneficiary is a minor at the time of your death or is not able to manage their own finances.

You can also name one or more alternate beneficiaries for each beneficiary. This means that if a beneficiary dies before you, the alternate beneficiary(ies) will receive the death benefit when you die.

Your estate

If you do not have a spouse and have not named a beneficiary, your estate is automatically your beneficiary when you die. Your executor will be responsible for distributing the death benefit. If you do not have a legal will, someone must apply to the courts to administer your estate.

You can also name your estate as your beneficiary. The death benefit will then be paid to your estate and distributed according to the instructions in your will.

Sign in to My Account to view your current beneficiary information.

If you are a member of more than one pension plan administered by BC Pension Corporation, you need to submit a separate beneficiary nomination form for each plan.


Preparing for retirement


When it’s time to apply for your pension, you have some important decisions to make. These decisions will affect the financial future of you and your loved ones. Take time to review the available resources and gather the documents you’ll need.

Looking for more information? Visit the links in the Related Content box for more details on the topics in the checklist.

One year before you retire

Get a pension estimate. Use the Personalized Pension Estimator in My Account to explore your pension options instantly.

Take a webinar or online course. Approaching retirement is offered as a 75-minute instructor-led webinar or 45-minute online course.

Consider your beneficiaries. Think about who you will name as your primary beneficiary and alternate beneficiaries. Your spouse is automatically your primary beneficiary.

Learn about retirement health coverage. You can access extended health care and dental coverage through the plan when you apply for your pension.

Maximize your pension. You may be able to transfer prior service from another plan or buy back service for an approved leave. There are deadlines to apply.

Confirm your age and identity. Submit verification documents to the plan in My Account. Go to Personal Information in your My Account profile.

  • If you changed your name, submit documents to show proof of your new legal name.

Tell us if you have or had a spouse. We need to know if you have a current or former spouse. Go to the Spouse Information section in your My Account profile.

Tell us how to divide your pension. This is necessary only if you are separated from a spouse and they have a claim to a portion of your pension. Upload your separation agreement or court order in your My Account profile.

Contact Service Canada. You may be eligible for the Canada Pension Plan and/or old age security pension. These may provide other sources of retirement income. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply.

Book a one-on-one appointment with us. Ask a trained representative questions you have about your individual situation.

Talk with an independent financial advisor. They can help determine which pension option is best for your financial situation.

Inform your employer. Contact your employer(s) in writing to arrange your last day of paid employment. You must fully terminate all employment in the Public Service Pension Plan in order to collect your pension

90 days before your pension effective date

You can begin your pension application 90 days before you’d like your pension to begin. Make sure you apply at least 30 days before your pension effective date (the date you’d like to retire).

Apply for your pension online in My Account. Or request a paper application package. Visit Applying for your pension, under Pension Basics for next steps.


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