Planning for retirement means knowing what’s ahead

When pension reform happened in 2014, a five-year transition period began where some plan members could still retire under the pre-reform rules.

PSPP members who meet the following criteria by December 31, 2019, are eligible to retire under the pre-reform pension eligibility rules and will be grand-parented.

• A plan member was eligible to retire under pre-reform pension eligibility criteria prior to January 1, 2015, but decided to continue working.
• A plan member who became eligible to retire under pre-reform pension eligibility criteria by December 31, 2019.
• A plan member who accrued a minimum of 30 years of pensionable service by December 31, 2019, allowing them to be eligible to retire anytime after reaching age 55.
• A plan member who accrued a minimum of five years of pensionable service and reached age 60 by December 31, 2019.

After the transition period ended on December 31, 2019, post-reform pension eligibility criteria applies to all PSPP members, except for those who are grand-parented.

Pension reform is what originally created Provident¹⁰ back in 2014, and even though it began years ago, this transition could still impact some members today. The purpose of reform was to have a sustainable defined-benefit pension plan; allow for a reasonable retirement income for public service employees; and to reduce the financial impact on the taxpayers of the province by putting the plan on track to be fully funded within 30 years.

For more information about pension reform, please visit: https://www.gov.nl.ca/exec/tbs/pensions/plans/pspp/

The transitional period ended on December 31, 2019. This was a significant change in the Plan and may have had a major impact on those who were eligible to take advantage. But, the change wouldn’t apply to everyone.

We want to make sure that you have access to the information you need to make the right decisions for you, your pension, and your retirement. We encourage plan members who want to learn more to get in touch with our team by phone (709.701.3355) or email ([email protected]).

We want to make sure you have access to the information you need to make the right decisions for you, your pension, and your retirement. We encourage plan members who want to learn more to get in touch with our team by phone (709.701.3355) or email ([email protected]).

If you have returned from a leave of absence in 2020 and fall into any of these categories, or if you are unsure, please contact us.

• If you have less than 30 years of credited service in the PSPP, but you have service in another pension plan that has not been credited in the PSPP.
• If you turned 60 years old by December 31, 2019, with less than five years of credited service in the PSPP, but you have service in another pension plan that has not been credited in the PSPP.
• If you have service that was refunded from the PSPP or service in the GMPP that hasn’t been credited in the PSPP.
• If you are currently or formerly on leave and may need service credited in the plan to qualify for transition period rules.

It’s possible that pension reform will impact the date your deferred pension is due to become payable. We encourage plan members to get in touch with our team by phone (709.701.3355) or email ([email protected]) to discuss their personal circumstance.

Provident¹⁰ does not administer group insurance programs. We recommend that you contact your Human Resources Department or your Group Insurance administrator/provider to determine if your eligibility for medical coverage has changed.

We’re here to help. You can always contact the member service team at Provident¹⁰ to find out more. Our contact information is as follows:

• Phone: 709.701.3355
• Toll-free: 1.844.247.1237
• Email: [email protected]

In addition, we’ll be in touch with employers, so your Manager or HR representative can be a great resource for information.