Welcome to the Reserve Force Pension Plan

PDF version ( 1.5MB)
Help with alternative formats and plug-ins

The following information is intended to draw your attention to parts of the Reserve Force Pension Plan, Part I.1 under the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA), that are important for you to know, as a new or re-enrolled member. Some aspects of the plan are time sensitive, so please review this document as soon as possible.

Orientation information kit

What is the Reserve Force Pension Plan?

The rules governing the Reserve Force Pension Plan are set out under Part I.1 of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA) and the plan is designed to provide qualified members with a retirement income payable upon release from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Benefits are based on pensionable service and Canadian Forces (CF) service, and on your age at release.

Who can join the Reserve Force Pension Plan?

Other benefits include:

Is there a limit to the amount of service that may be counted towards my Reserve Force pension?

Yes, the maximum amount of service that may be counted for a participant under the Reserve Force Pension Plan is 35 years, which includes:

How can I increase the amount of service that my pension is based on?

Members can obtain a quote of the cost to buy back service by using the Service Buyback Estimator on the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Pension and Benefits Web portal.

As a participant under the Reserve Force Pension Plan, you may be eligible to buy back:

Note

You have one year from the date of this notification of participation to elect any prior service in the CAF. If you do not elect to buy back your service within the year time limit, this option will no longer be available to you.

Pensionable service is: the period of service when you contributed as an active member of the Reserve Force Pension Plan and any service you buy back. This determines what type of pension benefit you receive at release, and if you are entitled to a reduced pension on release, how much it will be reduced.

CF Service is: the days of service in the Regular or Reserve Force for which you are paid. This also determines what type of pension benefit you receive at release.

Important points to consider

Your obligations

What is the Supplementary Death Benefit plan?

The Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) plan provides a form of decreasing term life insurance protection, which is designed to provide insurance coverage to Regular Force members and members of the Reserve Force on Class "C" service.

Who can I designate as a beneficiary for the Supplementary Death Benefit?

If you are on a Class "C" contract, you will be asked to complete the "Naming or Substitution of a Beneficiary" form. Your beneficiary can be one of the following:

Please note that you must complete a new designation form each time you commence a Class "C" contract.

For detailed information about the SDB plan, please visit the Supplementary Death Benefit page on the Pension and Benefits Web portal.

Your Canadian Armed Forces pension web portal

We invite you to take the time to discover what Your Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Pension and Benefits Web portal has to offer, including information, forms and online tools. With the knowledge you gain, you will be able to make more informed decisions with respect to life events that may affect your pension and benefits.

As a new or re-enrolled participant of the Reserve Force Pension Plan, there is a section specifically designed for you: Select the "Active member" button, Select the audience that is specific to your plan, and click on the "Increasing your Pension" Life Event.

Disclaimer

This information is provided for orientation purposes only and does not constitute a legal document on your rights and obligations. Should there be any discrepancy between the information in this document and that contained in the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA), the Canadian Forces Superannuation Regulations (CFSR), and the Reserve Force Pension Plan Regulations (RFPPR)or other applicable laws, the Act and Regulations apply.

Date modified: