Joining the Plan and Notification of Plan Membership (PWGSC-TPSGC 2018)

(Background music: Welcome page with a logo of the Government of Canada Pension Centre.)

At the government of Canada Pension Centre, we're here to help.

Hi, my name is Carron.

Welcome to the Federal Public Service.

You may be a new or reemployed member to the Public Service Pension Plan.

Today, I want to draw your attention to parts of your plan enrollment.

Membership to the plan is required for all eligible employees.

Upon joining, you automatically contribute to the plan through pay deductions.

The Public Service Pension Plan is coordinated with the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan, or CPP and QPP.

As a result, there are two contribution rates to which you pay into your pension plan.

You contribute at a lower rate on the salary you earn that is lower or equal to the yearly maximum pensionable earnings or YMPE.

This is due to you also contributing into the CPP or QPP, and you contribute to the Public Service Pension Plan at a higher rate for the portion of your salary that is over the YMPE.

The YMPE amount is set each year by the Canada Pension Plan.

(When the narrator says “The public service pension plan is coordinated with the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan …,” a chart appears in the top-right corner of the screen. At the far left, a salary scale starting from $0 at the bottom to $100,000 at the top. At the bottom of the chart, there are two columns: PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION PLAN on the left side and CANADA PENSION PLAN/QUEBEC PENSION PLAN on the right side. Each column is represented in pale grey, and goes approximately up to the $55,000 mark. When the narrator says “You contribute at a lower rate …,” the words LOW RATE appear in the PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION PLAN column. When the narrator says “… on the salary you earn that is lower or equal to the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings …,” the acronym YMPE appears in the middle of the chart, between the two columns. When the narrator says “And you contribute to the public service pension plan at a higher rate …,” the left column extends to reach the top of the chart in blue with the words HIGH RATE. The chart disappears.)

You will pay these contributions until you reach 35 years of service.

That is the maximum amount of service you can count under the Public Service Pension Plan.

This includes: Service as a member of the Public Service Pension Plan, known as current service; service that you buy back; service that you transfer from another pension plan; and service that entitles you to a benefit with another Government of Canada pension plan, such as the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

(When the narrator says “This includes …,” a text box appears on the top-right corner of the screen with the words CURRENT SERVICE/SERVICE THAT YOU BUY BACK/TRANSFERRED SERVICE/SERVICE WITH ANOTHER GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PENSION PLAN [CAF OR RCMP]. The text box disappears.)

You can still work more than 35 years.

If you do, your contribution rate will decrease to 1% of your salary.

This helps cover the cost of living increases that you will receive once you start receiving your pension.

You can't accumulate additional years of pensionable service after 35 years, but the salaries you earn after that time still count towards your highest average salary for pension calculation. You receive an orientation information kit when you become a new plan member.

This kit includes your notification of plan membership PWGSC-TPSGC 2018, which is important for a few reasons: first, it is the official document that confirms the effective date you became a planned member.

Second, it shows your eligibility under the Supplementary Death Benefit Plan. And lastly, it provides your pension number as this is an important document you should keep it in your records.

(When the narrator says “You receive an orientation information kit …,” the NOTIFICATION OF PLAN MEMBERSHIP – PWGSC-TPSGC 2018 [2018-03] form appears full screen. When the narrator says “… it is the official document that confirms the effective date …,” the field highlighted in yellow is EFFECTIVE DATE/À COMPTER DU. When the narrator says “… it shows your eligibility under …,” the field highlighted in yellow is MEMBER OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY DEATH BENEFIT PLAN/PARTICIPANT AU RÉGIME DE PRESTATIONS SUPPLÉMENTAIRES DE DÉCÈS. When the narrator says “… it provides your pension number …,” the field PENSION NO./N° DE PENSION is highlighted in yellow. The form disappears.)

When you receive your notification of planned membership, you need to acknowledge your enrollment in the public service pension plan.

You have 30 days to do so from the date the notice is sent.

Your organization may have access to the Compensation Web Applications or CWA.

If so, you can acknowledge your planned membership online.

The online process is as follows: Go to the Compensation Web Applications or CWA, Click on Pension Portal for active members of the public service. Once you are logged in, click on pension tools, then click on personal information.

Please read the information carefully.

Then go to the bottom of the page for your confirmation for acknowledgment of planned membership. After you've acknowledged your enrollment, you should verify and update your contact information.

To do so, simply click on Your Contact Information in the left menu bar.

It is important to always keep your contact information up to date.

(When the narrator says “The online process is as follows …,” a screen shot of the Web page that leads to the Compensation Web Application appears in the middle of the screen. When the narrator says “Log onto CWA …,” a screen shot of the Web page that leads to the Active member pension applications appears. When the narrator says “When you are logged in …,” a screen shot of the Web page that leads to the Personalized Pension Tools appears. When the narrator says “… click on ‘Member Information’ …,” a screen shot of the Web page that leads to the Member Information appears. When the narrator says “Then, go to the bottom of the page …,” the Web page Acknowledgment of Plan Membership appears. When the narrator says “To do so, simply click on Your Contact Information …,” the Web contact information page appears. The screen shot disappears.)

If you do not have access to CWA, you must complete the enrollment information and acknowledgment of planned membership form. PWGSC-TPSGC 571 to acknowledge your plan enrollment.

You will also need to contact the Pension Centre to update your contact information if changes are required.

(When the narrator says “… you must complete the Enrolment Information and Acknowledgement of Plan Membership form …,” a text box appears on the top-right corner with the words ENROLMENT INFORMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PLAN MEMBERSHIP PWGSC-TPSGC 571. The text box disappears upward.)

As a plan member, you must provide proof of age for yourself and any children under 25 years of age.

Photocopies of birth certificates are usually enough.

Please send a copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree if it applies to you.

These documents help us determine other benefit eligibility, such as survivor pension.

You should send these documents as soon as possible.

Always indicate your personal record identifier PRI, or pension number on all documents you send to the Pension Centre.

(When the narrator says “Always indicate your Personal Record Identifier …,” a text box appears on the top-right corner with the words PERSONAL RECORD IDENTIFIER [PRI] OR PENSION NUMBER. The text box disappears by the right side of the screen.)

You may also be eligible to participate in the Supplementary Death Benefit, SDB plan.

You can compare the SDB to a decreasing term life insurance benefit. Upon your death, the benefit is paid to your beneficiary or estate.

When eligible, your coverage starts as soon as you become a member of the Public Service Pension Plan.

(When the narrator says “You may also be eligible to participate in the Supplementary Death Benefit …,” a text box appears on the top-right corner with the words SUPPLEMENTARY DEATH BENEFIT PLAN [SDB]. The text box disappears upward.)

Your employer may not take part in the SDB plan, If so, your notification of plan membership would indicate that you are not eligible.

You can contact your employer's human resources office to find out if you participate to another death benefit plan.

Finally, as an active member of the Public Service Pension Plan, you can buy back previous service.

Some types of service buybacks have strict deadlines.

Therefore, it is important to be informed.

Please view the service buyback videos we have prepared for you.

You can also contact the Pension Centre for further information on how to buy back past service.

I hope this was helpful to you.

So should you have any questions regarding this video? Feel free to contact us.

You can also access more information about your pension plan by visiting: canada.ca/pension-benefits.

(When the narrator says “… by visiting …,” the words CANADA.CA/PENSION-BENEFITS appear on the bottom of the screen. The text disappears.)

Thanks for watching!

(Text on screen: Contact information: Government of Canada Pension Centre – Mail Facility, PO BOX 8000, MATANE QC G4W 4T6. Telephone: 1-800‑561‑7930. Email: pwgsc.pensioncentre-centredespensionstpsgc@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca)

(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)

[Music stops]

(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)

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