Disability—Reservists in the Reserve Force Pension Plan
The following questions and answers will help you understand your options in the event that you become disabled or suffer from a long-term illness.
You may want to know
What pension benefits do I receive if I am disabled when I release from the Canadian Armed Forces?
The following table tells you what pension benefits you receive if you are disabled when you release:
| If you are disabled when you release… | You receive… |
|---|---|
| and have 2 or more years of pensionable service | an immediate unreduced pension, based on the pension formula that uses your pensionable earnings up to the date you released. |
| and have fewer than 2 years of pensionable service | your contributions, plus interest, up to the date you released. |
There are other benefits and services, in addition to your pension benefits, to assist you if you become disabled while serving. Contact Veterans Affairs Canada for more information.
What happens if I begin to receive a Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan disability pension after I have started to receive my pension or while my pension is deferred?
- If you are entitled to a deferred pension, or are receiving a reduced pension, and you become eligible for a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) disability pension, you are eligible to receive an unreduced pension equal to the pension you had accumulated at the date you released. The unreduced pension is payable while you are disabled
- If you are receiving a pension and are under age 65, the bridge benefit is no longer payable once you become entitled to a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or QPP disability pension. If you continue to receive a bridge benefit, you will eventually have to pay it back
- Your pension is indexed immediately, when you become entitled to a CPP/QPP disability pension
It is your responsibility to inform the Government of Canada Pension Centre if you become eligible for a CPP or QPP disability pension.
Do I have to do anything in regards to my pension if I become entitled to a disability pension from the Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan?
Yes. The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) / Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) does not inform the Government of Canada Pension Centre when you become disabled. You must notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre that you are eligible for a CPP or QPP disability pension. You may be entitled to a larger pension or to an immediate pension from the Regular Force Pension Plan. And, if you are already in receipt of a pension and are under age 65, you are no longer eligible for the bridge benefit. If you continue to receive a bridge benefit, you will eventually have to pay it back.
It is your responsibility to inform the Government of Canada Pension Centre if you become eligible for a CPP or QPP disability pension, so that the bridge benefit is discontinued.
If I have granted someone a general Power of Attorney, can that person manage my pension affairs?
If you wish for another person to manage some of your pension affairs, an original, notarized, or a certified true copy of the general Power of Attorney (POA) document bearing the original signature of the lawyer, notary, commissioner of oaths or justice of the peace must be sent to the Government of Canada Pension Centre. The person you name can then request address changes, direct deposit and choose a benefit on your behalf. However, a POA does not provide that person with the authority to change the recipient of a pension benefit.
In order to protect plan members, the Government of Canada Pension Centre cannot accept photocopies, faxes or scans of legal documents. Original POA documents will be returned to you by mail.
If you simply wish to allow someone to make enquiries and receive information about your pension matters, but not make decisions on your behalf, you can provide the Government of Canada Pension Centre with a written consent to that effect.