Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program
March 31, 2026 - Defence Stories
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The voluntary Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) program is now available, and eligible employees may now apply.
Employees who are eligible for the ERI program will receive a letter with information on how to apply for the program. Eligible employees who have access to the My GC Pension Portal will receive an email notifying them that a letter is available in the portal. Eligible employees who don’t have access to the Portal will receive the letter in the mail.
Program timelines
- Incentive period (300 days): From March 26, 2026 to January 20, 2027
- Application period (120 days): From March 26, 2026 to July 24, 2026
- Employee retirement deadline (day 300): January 20, 2027
Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee approval under the ERI. All applications will be reviewed against Treasury Board eligibility requirements, as well as the Department of National Defence’s operational needs and priorities. Final approval of ERI requests rests with the Deputy Minister.
For more information about the incentive, including eligibility and how to apply, please visit the Early Retirement Incentive Information Notice.