Are you thinking about joining the federal public service? As a federal public service employee, you may be eligible to join the public service pension plan and may be entitled to group insurance benefits. Knowing more about these plans will give you a better understanding of the compensation package offered to federal public service employees.

Listed below are some common questions that may be of interest to you as a potential public service employee. The answers link to more detailed information.

• Who can become a member of the public service pension plan?
• What would your pension plan include?
• How would your pension be calculated?
• After you retire, would your pension be protected from inflation?
• Who pays into the public service pension plan?
• How are contributions to the public service pension plan managed and where is the money invested?
• Would previous federal public service employment count as pensionable service under the public service pension plan?
• Would employment outside the federal public service count as pensionable service under the public service pension plan?
• Would your family members be protected in the event of your death?
• What insurance benefits are available to you?
• What insurance benefits are available to you when you retire?

Who can become a member of the public service pension plan?
Generally, if you work for the federal public service, you accumulate Pensionable Service as a member of the pension plan if:

• You are an indeterminate employee, hired to work an average of at least 12 hours a week.
  OR
• You are an employee, hired for more than 6 months to work an average of at least 12 hours a week.
  OR
• You are an employee, hired at first for 6 months or less to work an average of at least 12 hours a week, and have worked for more than 6 continuous months.

What would your pension plan include?
Your Pension at a Glance provides a summary of what the plan offers.

For more information, consult the Pensions section of the Treasury Board of Canada Web site for more on how the public service pension plan works.

How would your pension be calculated?
Your Retirement Income Sources would be calculated based on your age when you retire, your years of pensionable service (maximum of 35 years) and your average salary for the 5 consecutive years of highest paid service. See the How to Calculate Your Pension section for more information.

After you retire, would your pension be protected from inflation?
Yes. Your pension ensures Protection from Inflation from losing its value as a result of inflation or increases in the cost of living for the rest of your life.

Who pays into the public service pension plan?
Both you and your employer would contribute a certain percentage. These current service contributions may change annually. For more information on this topic, visit the Pensionable Service section.

How are contributions to public service pension plan managed and where is the money invested?
The Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSPIB) manages the contributions in a variety of investments. For more information visit the Funding section of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Web site.

Would previous federal public service employment count as pensionable service under the public service pension plan?
You may be able to buy back several types of prior service:

• Prior federal public service
• Service with the Canadian Forces
• Service with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Would employment outside the federal public service count as pensionable service under the public service pension plan?
If you were a member of a pension plan with your former employer, there are ways of Increasing Your Pension under the public service pension plan. You have two options:

1. Buy back of eligible prior service.
2. Transfer pensionable service from your former pension plan to the public service pension plan. Your former employer must have Pension Transfer Agreements with the federal government. If not, your former employer may be able to negotiate one.

Note: You must decide to use these options within a certain time limit, once you become a member of the public service pension plan.

Would your family members be protected in the event of your death?

If you have 2 or more years of pensionable service to your credit, your family is protected under your pension plan in the event of your death. Your eligible survivors and eligible children may be entitled to Survivor Benefits and a Child Allowance.

If you have less than two years of pensionable service to your credit, your eligible survivors or estate is entitled to a Return of Contributions, plus interest.

What insurance benefits are available to you?
The following plans may be available to you:

• Disability Insurance Plan provides a monthly income benefit for members of the Disability Insurance Plan who are unable to work for lengthy periods of time because of a totally disabling illness or injury.
• Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) provides a form of decreasing term life insurance protection, which is designed to cover members of the public service pension plan. Coverage begins when you become a member of the pension plan.
• Public Service Dental Care Plan (DCP) provides members of the Public Service Dental Care Plan and their dependants with coverage, up to certain limits, for dental service and supply expenses. Benefits can be paid after a waiting period of three months from the day you become a member of the DCP.
• Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) provides optional health care coverage for members of the Public Service Health Care Plan and their eligible dependants.
• For prospective employees who live in provinces or territories where a contribution is required for provincial health care, Employer Contribution to Provincial Health Insurance will explain how your employer shares the contribution.
• Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) provides group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, dependants' insurance and long-term disability insurance to members. Members are generally those who are employed in managerial or confidential positions.

What insurance benefits are available to you when you retire?
Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is available if you retire and are entitled to receive an immediate on-going pension under the public service pension plan, you may continue your PSHCP membership without interruption.

Note: Certain Agencies and Public Service Corporations do not participate in the regular public service insurance programs. Former employees of those Agencies or Corporations cannot participate in these programs as pensioners.

Pensioners' Dental Services Plan (PDSP). Your Public Service Dental Care Plan coverage immediately ceases when you retire. However, as a public service pensioner, you may have the option to enrol in the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan. The PDSP is a voluntary, contributory dental services plan established by the Government to provide dental services coverage to eligible public service pensioners and their eligible dependants. It provides coverage for specific services and supplies that are not covered under a provincial health or dental care plan.