Canadian Armed Forces pensions
Disability (Retired member): Reservists in the Regular Force pension plan
The following will help you understand your options in the event that you become disabled or suffer from a long-term illness after retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
On this page
- Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan
- Notify the Canadian Armed Forces Pension Centre when you become entitled to Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefits to avoid overpayment
- How receiving a Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefits affects your pension indexing
- Managing pension affairs with a general Power of Attorney
Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan
If you are entitled to a deferred pension, or are receiving a reduced pension, and you become eligible for a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) disability pension, you are eligible to receive an unreduced pension equal to the pension you had accumulated at the date you released. The unreduced pension is payable for as long as you remain entitled to CPP or QPP disability benefits.
If you receiving a pension and are under age 65, the bridge benefit is no longer payable once you become entitled to a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or QPP disability pension.
Notify the Canadian Armed Forces Pension Centre when you become entitled to Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefits to avoid overpayment
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) does not inform the Government of Canada Pension Centre when you become entitled to a CPP or QPP disability pension. If you do become entitled to CPP or QPP disability benefits, it is important that you notify the Canadian Armed Forces Pension Centre and provide them with a copy of the CPP form "1808 Notice of Entitlement" or QPP "Avis d'Acceptance" so they can adjust your benefits. Notifying the Government of Canada Pension Centre will avoid an overpayment of benefits which you would eventually have to pay back.
How receiving a Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefits affects your pension indexing
If, at the time you begin to receive Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) disability benefits, your pension is not being indexed for the cost of living under Part III (Supplementary Benefits) of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA), your life-time benefit will begin to be indexed effective the date that you become eligible for CPP or QPP disability benefits.
If your pension is being indexed when you become eligible for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) disability benefits, your bridge benefit and any indexing being applied to it will also cease. Visit the indexing page for more information.
Managing pension affairs with a general Power of Attorney
If you wish for another person to manage some of your pension affairs, an original, notarized, or a certified true copy of the general Power of Attorney (POA) document bearing the original signature of the lawyer, notary, commissioner of oaths or justice of the peace must be sent to the Canadian Armed Forces Pension Centre. The person you name can then request address changes, direct deposit and choose a benefit on your behalf. However, a POA does not provide that person with the authority to change the recipient of a pension benefit or to change a beneficiary under the Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) plan.
In order to protect plan members, the Government of Canada Pension Centre cannot accept photocopies, faxes or scans of legal documents. Original POA documents will be returned to you by mail.
If you simply wish to allow someone to make enquiries and receive information about your pension matters, but not make decisions on your behalf, you can provide the Pension Centre with a written consent to that effect.