When you can retire

Learn how your age at retirement affects your pension.


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