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Support Staff Pension Overview

As a full-time or part-time Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Support Staff member, you may be eligible to participate in the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP). The PSPP is a defined benefit plan designed to provide you with continued income after you retire.

Enrolment in the plan is automatic for eligible Support Staff members (except where participation is optional). For more information, click on "Eligibility to Participate" button on the right.

Participation will continue until you retire, terminate employment, or you change to an ineligible employment category. The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà matches the amount of the payroll deduction for your pension contribution. Refer to theÌýBenefits at a Glance for Support StaffÌýto see the current contribution rates.

Within fourÌýweeks of enrolment, you will receive a PSPP welcome package in the mail. Once you receive your welcome package you may set up your online account on theÌýÌýsecure webpage at any time to view annual statements, manage your account details and beneficiary designations.

Contact the Member Services Centre atÌýmemberservices@pspp.caÌýif you have questions, or visit theÌýÌýto see additional information, including:

  • PSPP at a Glance
  • FAQs
  • Member Handbook
  • Pension information sessions and webcasts
  • Forms and publications

Service with a previous Canadian employer may be eligible to be established as pensionable service in the PSPP. Contact a HR Pension AnalystÌýatÌýtotalrewards@ucalgary.caÌýfor more information.

Pension Resources

Learn more about the PSPP, enrol, or get estimates.Ìý

  1. About PSPP

    ÌýLearn about how the Public Service Pension Plan works.Ìý

  2. Get Estimates

    To help plan your future, learn about where your pension plan is at now and get estimates on targets for the future.Ìý

  3. Planning and Forms

    Acquire forms necessary to change your personal information due to a life event and plan for your future.Ìý

    Be sure to inform the HR department at UCalgary of anyÌýchanges as well.Ìý

  1. Changing Beneficiaries

    Go to life events to find out how to update your benefit information.Ìý

    Life Events

YouÌýmayÌýbe able to transfer service from another pension plan to PSPP if a transfer agreement exists between these two plans.

YouÌýmayÌýalso be able to buy optional service with respect to prior employment with the university or another PSPP employer when you did not participate in the PSPP.

For more information:

Pension rules allow your pension partner to waive his or her right to the death benefit that would be paid to him or her if you die before you retire. This provision may provide you with greater flexibility when planning for your family's needs. To waive their rights your pension partner needs to complete a Pension Partner Waiver of Pre-retirement Death Benefit Statutory Declaration Form, which can be found on theÌýÌýor obtained from the Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS) -Ìýsee resources section below.

Your pension contributions are tax deductible. As a member of a defined benefit plan, your taxable income is reduced by the amount of allowable pension contributions you make. Your employer will report your tax deductible pension contributions on your T4.

Members and employers both make contributions to the pension plan. The employer's contribution rate is the same as the member's. The Public Service Pension Board reviews contributions rates at least every three years and may change them as necessary. Contribution rates are adjusted periodically to help ensure sufficient assets are available to pay all benefits promised under the Public Service Pension Plan both today and in the future.

If your position is pension-eligible, you must become a member of the PSPP. You cannot change your contributions or opt out of the pension plan. The only exception happens if your employment type is Part-Time and you are working between 14 and 29 hours/week. In this case, you may choose to opt out of PSPP.

If your participation in PSPP is optional, you cannot chose to opt out of the pension plan at a later date.Ìý

After setting your contribution rate, you are unable to change the amount that you are contributing.Ìý

If you have re-joined the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP), your funds will automatically be added to your new pensionable service under PSPP, if you have elected to leave the funds in the PSPP. If you were in a different pension plan, you may be eligible to transfer those entitlements to PSPP through a reciprocal transfer if the other pension plan currently has transfer agreements with the PSPP. Review the information on pension transfers on theÌýÌýor contact Alberta Pension Services CorporationÌýto find out if your prior pension plan has a transfer agreement with the PSPP.

Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Retirees Association

The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Retirees Association (UCRA) brings retirees together for the betterment of the membership and their families, and to foster ways that members can contribute to the life of the university and society at large. Originally founded in 1992 as the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Emeritus Association, the Association was established to serve members, the university, and the public.

The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Retirees Association provides a visible and active focus for the history, experience and expertise available to the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà and the public through retired university employees. The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Retirees Association maintains an active relationship with the university, and provides a discussion forum for former colleagues, whose input shapes the further development of the Association.

For additional information regarding the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Retirees Association, including how to become a member, subscribing to monthly newsletters, meeting dates, and other membership activities, please visit the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Retirees Association or contact retirees@ucalgary.ca.

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