Prior Service

You may buy back the following types of prior service:

• Prior Federal Public Service
• Service with the Canadian Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Service as a Member of Parliament
• Pensionable Employment Outside of the Federal Public Service
• Other Types of Prior Service

Here are some elements to consider when buying back prior pensionable service:

Surrendering Previous Pension Entitlements

Please keep in mind that you must surrender any pension entitlement you may have with another employer before you can count that service as pensionable under the public service pension plan. Once you complete a Service Buyback Form, the Government of Canada Pension Centre (Pension Centre) will contact you with details concerning the surrender of your previous entitlement. Refer to the Tax Implications for additional information.

You should also remember that, if you leave the federal public service voluntarily with less than two years of continuous employment, you are only entitled to a return of your contributions paid into the public service pension plan.

Consequently, if you intend to leave within that period, you should consider whether it is in your interest to surrender the entitlement under the outside plan. This provision does not apply if your termination from the federal public service is involuntary. Consult with the Contact Us - Public Service Pension Centre if you require more information.

Buying Back Partial Periods of Prior Service

You may buy back all or part of a period of prior service. If you are buying a part of a period, in most cases, it must be for the part that occurred most recently. The Contact Us - Public Service Pension Centre can provide you with information about exceptions to this requirement.