All persons who are in receipt of a Provincial Public Sector Pension or who are surviving spouses of such persons, or in receipt of a pension from the Government Money Purchase Pension Plan, and who have completed and signed the Association’s application for membership form are eligible for voting membership in NLPSPA. Those Founding Members who were present at the founding meeting of the
Association and who have paid the prescribed membership dues are also eligible for voting membership.
There are other additional categories of membership. Affiliate Members are those persons who are provincial public sector employees and are eligible to retire within five (5) years; Associate Members are spouses of Regular or Affiliate Members; Honorary Members are those persons whom the Association has, by resolution, granted a life-time membership as a result of their significant contribution to the well being of public service pensioners; and Reciprocal Members are those persons who are in receipt of a pension from a pension plan that has a reciprocal agreement with the Public Service Pension Plan of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. With the exception of the Honourary Membership, all other membership categories require a completed and signed Association application for membership and payment of the prescribed membership dues. These additional membership categories are non-voting members.
There are other additional categories of membership. Affiliate Members are those persons who are provincial public sector employees and are eligible to retire within five (5) years; Associate Members are spouses of Regular or Affiliate Members; Honorary Members are those persons whom the Association has, by resolution, granted a life-time membership as a result of their significant contribution to the well being of public service pensioners; and Reciprocal Members are those persons who are in receipt of a pension from a pension plan that has a reciprocal agreement with the Public Service Pension Plan of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. With the exception of the Honourary Membership, all other membership categories require a completed and signed Association application for membership and payment of the prescribed membership dues. These additional membership categories are non-voting members.
A defined benefit pension plan means you are eligible to enjoy your pension benefits from the time you retire for the rest of your life—without having to worry if your benefits will run out or be terminated.
All basic and optional life insurance ceases for retirees at age 65.
In the event you have been insured under this program for a period of five consecutive years immediately prior to your 65th birthday, you will be eligible for a reduced insurance policy with no further premium payment on the first of the month following attainment of age 65, which will remain in force throughout your lifetime. The reduced insurance policy is currently at $7,500 and is subject to change. You do not have to be in receipt of a defined benefit pension plan to receive this benefit.
You are also eligible to continue your supplementary health and group travel insurance plans. Dental insurance may also be continued during retirement.
In the event of your death, your surviving spouse, who on the date of your death was insured under the plan, will be given the option of continuing in the group health insurance program if in receipt of a survivor pension. The premium share and the supplementary health coverage will be the same as that of the deceased plan member.
In the event you have been insured under this program for a period of five consecutive years immediately prior to your 65th birthday, you will be eligible for a reduced insurance policy with no further premium payment on the first of the month following attainment of age 65, which will remain in force throughout your lifetime. The reduced insurance policy is currently at $7,500 and is subject to change. You do not have to be in receipt of a defined benefit pension plan to receive this benefit.
You are also eligible to continue your supplementary health and group travel insurance plans. Dental insurance may also be continued during retirement.
In the event of your death, your surviving spouse, who on the date of your death was insured under the plan, will be given the option of continuing in the group health insurance program if in receipt of a survivor pension. The premium share and the supplementary health coverage will be the same as that of the deceased plan member.
The PSPP is integrated with the CPP on earnings up to the YMPE. Therefore, a portion of your pension will stop on the first of the month following your 65th birthday (the offset). The reduction is 0.6% for each year of service (to a maximum of 35 years) of the lesser of your HAE (Highest Average Earnings) and the YMPE (Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings) average for the 36 months immediately preceding the month of retirement. The CPP offset is also referred to as the “bridge benefit” as it is the portion of your pension that is paid by the Plan from your retirement date up to age 65.
If you die after retirement, your surviving principal beneficiary will receive a survivor benefit, equal to 60% of your pension, that is payable for life. In the absence of a principal beneficiary, your dependent children will receive a survivor benefit equal to 60% of your pension. For a dependent child, the benefit is payable until the child reaches age 18 or, if a child is in full-time attendance at a recognized school or post-secondary institution, until the course of study is completed, or the child reaches age 24, whichever comes first.
If there is no impediment to marriage, such as the pensioner was never married or is divorced, he/she must be living common-law for 12 months prior to death. If there is an impediment to marriage, such as the pensioner is separated from his/her spouse but not divorced, he/she must be living common-law for 3 years prior to death. After the death of the pensioner, the common-law spouse must apply for the spousal benefit and produce documentation that he/she is indeed the common-law spouse. Such documented proof could be Joint Bank Account or an Insurance Policy whereby the common-law spouse is named as beneficiary; or, affidavits from family members.
For members who have five years of credited service, and are therefore vested, you may choose to remain in the Plan and receive a lifetime pension, or you may transfer the value of your pension to a financial institution of your choice. The lump-sum value of your pension available for transfer is called the commuted value. This is not a recommended option by NLPSPA, as the commuted benefit payments often terminate long before life expectancy and once out of the PSPP there is no option to return to the Plan. Another consideration is the loss of health and other insurance benefits, survivor benefits, and indexation (if applicable) that are forfeited when choosing a commuted valuation.
1) Pre-January 1, 2015 Benefits:
All pensions payable in respect of Pre-January 1, 2015 Pensionable Service, including a Survivor Benefit, are subject to an annual inflation protection increase commencing on October 1 of the year following the date the Pensioner turns or would have turned age 65. This increase is calculated at the rate of 60% of the preceding year’s rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index, up to a maximum Consumer Price Index increase of 2%. For greater certainty, the maximum possible increase in an annual Pension or Survivor Benefit in a given year is 1.2%. In no event will the amount of Pension or Survivor Benefit decrease as a result of the application of this section.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall, at the direction of the Sponsor Body in accordance with the Funding Policy and based on the advice of the actuary, provide an increase in the Pension beyond the annual inflation protection increase above, subject to the limits of the Income Tax Act. Granting an increase in any year in excess of the guaranteed increase described above does not mean that such excess increase will be granted in any subsequent year.
2) Post-December 31, 2014 Benefits
2) The Administrator shall, at the direction of the Sponsor Body in accordance with the Funding Policy and based on the advice of the actuary, increase the Pension or Survivor Benefit payable in respect of Post-December 31, 2014 Pensionable Service, subject to the limits of the Income Tax Act. In no event will the amount of Pension or Survivor Benefit decrease as a result of the application of this section. Granting an increase in any year does not mean that such an increase will be granted in any subsequent year.
All pensions payable in respect of Pre-January 1, 2015 Pensionable Service, including a Survivor Benefit, are subject to an annual inflation protection increase commencing on October 1 of the year following the date the Pensioner turns or would have turned age 65. This increase is calculated at the rate of 60% of the preceding year’s rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index, up to a maximum Consumer Price Index increase of 2%. For greater certainty, the maximum possible increase in an annual Pension or Survivor Benefit in a given year is 1.2%. In no event will the amount of Pension or Survivor Benefit decrease as a result of the application of this section.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall, at the direction of the Sponsor Body in accordance with the Funding Policy and based on the advice of the actuary, provide an increase in the Pension beyond the annual inflation protection increase above, subject to the limits of the Income Tax Act. Granting an increase in any year in excess of the guaranteed increase described above does not mean that such excess increase will be granted in any subsequent year.
2) Post-December 31, 2014 Benefits
2) The Administrator shall, at the direction of the Sponsor Body in accordance with the Funding Policy and based on the advice of the actuary, increase the Pension or Survivor Benefit payable in respect of Post-December 31, 2014 Pensionable Service, subject to the limits of the Income Tax Act. In no event will the amount of Pension or Survivor Benefit decrease as a result of the application of this section. Granting an increase in any year does not mean that such an increase will be granted in any subsequent year.
Since October 1, 2002, the Teacher’s Pension Plan has been partially indexed. The indexing occurs September 1st of each year and is based on 60% of the annual change in the Consumer Price Index or the National Inflation Rate for the previous year to a maximum annual increase of 1.2%. This indexing applies only to pensioners/survivors who have been on pension since September 1, 1998, and who have reached age 65. Under the Pension Reform Agreement, all indexation for service accrued after August 31, 2015, has been suspended.
For more detailed information, visit the Provident 10 website, Final-NL-PSPP-Plan-Text-web.pdf ( https://provident10.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Final-NL-PSPP-Plan-Text-web.pdf ), go to Public Service Pension Plan, Plan text.
Commonly referred to as the “Coalition”, this is a shortened name for the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition of Seniors, Pensioners and Retirees Associations. Currently, thirteen pensioner or senior focused organizations compose the Coalition. The principal purpose of the Coalition is to provide a forum for seniors’, pensioners’, and retirees’ associations and groups to collaborate on issues that may affect financial well-being, health and wellness issues and benefits, and social considerations in retirement; to build a network for information exchange; to facilitate a collective voice of influence; and, to advocate on matters that are of importance to members and their families.
NLPSPA is the infrastructure support to the Coalition, by covering costs and other expenses, research services, preparation of position papers, meeting set-up, preparation, and distribution of a variety of documents and documentation and other administrative services, as may be deemed necessary from time to time. To best expedite infrastructure support, the NLPSPA assumes the position of Chair of the Coalition. For more information on the Coalition, visit the Coalition page on this website.
NLPSPA is the infrastructure support to the Coalition, by covering costs and other expenses, research services, preparation of position papers, meeting set-up, preparation, and distribution of a variety of documents and documentation and other administrative services, as may be deemed necessary from time to time. To best expedite infrastructure support, the NLPSPA assumes the position of Chair of the Coalition. For more information on the Coalition, visit the Coalition page on this website.