CD 2013-006

Subject: Changes in the processing of Public Service Management Insurance Plan forms

March 26, 2013

1. Purpose

1.1. The purpose of this directive is to provide details about the new procedures for processing of Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) forms that will take effect on April 1, 2013.

1.2. This directive will also identify the roles and responsibilities of Pay Policies and Training Services Directorate (PPTSD) and the Government of Canada Pension Centre (Pension Centre), formerly known as the Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

2. Background

2.1. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), in its continued efforts to improve services for clients, is realigning PSMIP insurance administration activities in order to undertake efforts to streamline roles and responsibilities.

2.2. The Pension Centre has been providing PSMIP insurance services to both employees and pensioners, but in the future will only provide insurance services to pensioners. Since PSMIP is only available to employees ("active" members), internal administration of this benefit is being moved to the Pay Policies and Training Services Directorate (PPTSD), Compensation Sector, Accounting, Banking, Compensation Branch (ABCB), effective April 1, 2013.

2.3. This means that the Pension Centre will only maintain the administration of insurance under the Post Retirement Life Insurance Plan (PRLIP) for "retired" members only.

3. Procedures and Instructions

3.1. Effective April 1st, 2013 Compensation Advisors (CAs) are to cease forwarding copies of all PSMIP forms (except Post Retirement Life Insurance Plan (PRLIP) forms), to the Pension Centre.

3.2. Effective April 1, 2013, all PSMIP forms, (except for PRLIP and Long Term Disability (LTD)), are to be sent to the following group who will assume responsibilities previously carried out by the Pension Centre:

3.3. The Insurance Advisory Division will now liaise directly with the Compensation Advisors and with Industrial Alliance regarding PSMIP for active employees.

3.4. The Pension Centre will only maintain responsibility for the Post Retirement Life Insurance Plan (PRLIP) forms processing. In this regard, only forms PWGSC-TPSGC 2451 - Post-Retirement Life Insurance Plan (page available on Government of Canada network only) and PWGSC-TPSGC 2451-1 - Post-retirement Life Insurance Plan - Change of Name/Beneficiary (page available on Government of Canada network only) are to be directed to the Pension Centre.

3.5. All other procedures with respect to the administration of the PSMIP will continue to be followed as described in Chapter 4 of the Insurance Administration Manual (IAM) which will also be updated with this new information in the near future.

4. Forms

4.1. PSMIP forms are presently in the process of being updated to change any references and/or addresses from the Pension Centre to PPTSD, Compensation Sector. Departmental CAs are to ensure that all forms currently in progress are routed accordingly in order to avoid unnecessary processing delays

4.2. The Declaration of Health Form, PWGSC-TPSGC 2028-2 is being reprinted, along with the accompanying self-addressed envelope. Departments may continue to use existing stock, as long as labels are placed on page 2 of Form 2028-2 as well as the envelope, to reflect the address of PWGSC, PPTSD Gatineau Quebec (section 3.2. above).

5. Contact Information

5.1. Inquiries concerning the day to day administration of the PSMIP should continue to be directed to PWGSC, Client Services Centre, Application and Program Support (APS) - Pay.

5.2. Inquiries concerning policy interpretation should be directed to your Corporate Compensation Section (CCS) who may in turn contact Group Insurance Policy and Programs (GIPP) at the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS).

5.3. Effective April 1, 2013, inquiries concerning individual cases, except cases dealing with the PRLIP and Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance, should be directed to the PPTSD Insurance Advisory Group, Compensation Sector at the following address. Please note that this contact information is for Compensation Advisor use only. Employees should continue to direct their inquiries to their CA for action.

5.4. Effective April 1, 2013, inquiries concerning individual cases dealing with the PRLIP should be directed to the Insurance Section of the Government of Canada Pension Centre (Pension Centre) by facsimile at 506-533-5518.

5.5. Inquiries concerning individual claim cases dealing with LTD should be directed directly to the Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

6. Inquiries

6.1. Any inquiries on the information contained in this directive should be addressed to your Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Compensation Services Office.

Reference(s): CJA 9006-16-2