FAQ

1. How do I change my mailing address or bank account information?
2. When will my Canadian Forces pension first become indexed?
3. Is anyone else entitled to indexing?
4. What happens to my CFSA annuity when I attain age 65 or start receiving Canada Pension Plan(CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan(QPP)?
5. What should I do if I start to receive a CPP/QPP disability benefit?
6. How much is the reduction?
7. Will this reduction affect an annuitant's indexing?
8. What happens if I take an early CPP/QPP retirement benefit prior to age 65?
9. Do you notify CPP/QPP to start sending me my cheques at age 65?
10. I am the survivor of a former CF member and I am receiving a CFSA survivor's annual allowance. Will I be affected at age 65?
11. What do we do to report the death of a Canadian Forces pensioner or a survivor?
12. Can I receive my Canadian Forces Pension outside of Canada?
13. When will I receive my T4A, NR4, Relevé 1 and/or Relevé 2 slips for my Canadian Forces Pension?
14. Why is the amount shown on my T4A different from the amount that I received at the bank?
15. How do I have the tax deduction from my Canadian Forces Pension increased?

Q1. How do I change my mailing address or bank account information?

In order to change your direct deposit information please fill out the following form Direct Deposit Pensioner Account Information - Canadian Forces and send it to our office by fax or by mail. Please Contact the Canadian Forces Pension Office for our address or fax number.

To change your mailing address please contact us by telephone at 1-800-267-0350 or 613-952-9933.

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Q2. When will my Canadian Forces pension first become indexed?

Normally, on the 1st of the month of the annuitant's birthday, between the ages of 55 and 60, depending on how many full years of pensionable service the annuitant has to his credit.

1. If the former member has 30 or more full years of pensionable service, the 1st increase commences the month of the member's 55^th birthday
2. If the former member has 29 full years, it commences at age 56
3. If the former member has 28 full years, it commences at age 57
4. If the former member has 27 full years, it commences at age 58
5. If the former member has 26 full years, it commences at age 59
6. If the former member has less than 26 years, it commences at age 60

The first increase will never commence later than age 60. If, prior to the annuitant's normal entitlement age, the annuitant becomes disabled to the point where the annuitant is “incapable of pursuing any substantially gainful occupation” the annuitant may contact National Defence, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2, Attention: Canadian Forces Pension Services to inquire about applying for early indexing.

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Q3. Is anyone else entitled to indexing?

Yes. Anyone receiving a monthly CFSA or DSPCA pension and at least 60 years of age is entitled to indexing, including:

1. all survivor's allowance recipients, including children, regardless of age;
2. disabled persons who are under 60 years of age and were release under CBI 15.01, Item 3(a) (Item 3(b) if released after 1 April 1991;
3. pensioners who, prior to their normal entitlement date, become disabled to the extend that they are incapable of pursuing any substantially gainful occupation and who make application for early indexing

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Q4. What happens to my CFSA annuity when I attain age 65 or start receiving Canada Pension Plan(CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan(QPP)?

If you were released from the Canadian Forces after 1 June 1966, your CFSA annuity will be reduced. This reduction will automatically take place the month following your 65^th birthday.

The only exception to this is if the annuitant is awarded a CPP or QPP disability benefit prior to age 65. In this case, the annuity will be reduced effective the same date that the CPP/QPP disability benefit commenced.

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Q5. What should I do if I start to receive a CPP/QPP disability benefit?

You should advise National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2, attention: Canadian Forces Pension Services as soon as possible and provide them with a copy of the CPP form “1808 Notice of Entitlement” or QPP “Avis d'Acceptance”. Canadian Forces Pension Services is periodically provided with a list by the CPP/QPP authorities which advises them of all CFSA annuitants who have been awarded disability benefits. However, they often receive this advice several months after benefits have commenced. As the pension reduction is effective the date that disability benefits are awarded, the reduction must in such cases be applied retroactively. This often creates an overpayment of benefits which then must be recovered from the annuitant. It is therefore best to advise Canadian Forces Pension Services as soon as you receive the “Notice of Entitlement” or “Avis d'Acceptance”. These forms are included with the first CPP/QPP cheque.

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Q6. How much is the reduction?

The reduction varies from person to person. It is, very simply put, based on the amount of pensionable service the annuitant has to that annuitant's credit after 1 January 1966.

The amount of the annuitant's CPP/QPP benefit is not taken into consideration when calculating this reduction. In fact, as most former members retire from the Canadian Forces many years prior to becoming entitled to CPP/QPP benefits, and are employed elsewhere after retirement (thus remaining CPP contributors) the amount of the annuitant's actual CPP entitlement is not known at the time of the annuitant's release from the CF.

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Q7. Will this reduction affect an annuitant's indexing?

If the former member's annuity is currently being “indexed” (if cost of living increases are being applied) under Supplementary Retirement Benefits (SRB), indexing will be recalculated based on the reduced benefits. This is necessary as the SRB “indexing” is applied as a percentage of the former member's basic annuity.

If the former member's annuity is not yet being “indexed” and the annuitant is awarded a CPP/QPP disability pension, SRB indexing will be automatically applied to the annuitant's reduced benefits retroactive to the date that the CPP/QPP disability benefit commenced. If the annuitant receives a CPP/QPP disability benefit during the year of that annuitant's release from the CF, the indexing will commence to be applied the January following the former member's release(if the annuitant was in receipt of the pension at least 1 full month in that annuitant's release year). If not, it will commence the next January.

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Q8. What happens if I take an early CPP/QPP retirement benefit prior to age 65?

The former member's annuity will not be reduced until attaining age 65 or unless upon receipt of CPP/QPP disability benefit prior age 65. It is not necessary to advise Canadian Forces Pension Services that an annuitant is receiving early CPP/QPP retirement benefits.

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Q9. Do you notify CPP/QPP to start sending me my cheques at age 65?

No. You must apply under the CPP or QPP program when you wish to receive CPP/QPP benefits.

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Q10. I am the survivor of a former CF member and I am receiving a CFSA survivor's annual allowance. Will I be affected at age 65?

No. Only the pensions of actual CFSA contributors are affected. Pension benefits payable to their survivors are not affected.

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Q11. What do we do to report the death of a Canadian Forces pensioner or a survivor?

The death of a Canadian Forces pensioner or survivor should be reported in writing or by calling the Specialized Services Division. See the Contact the Canadian Forces Pension Office page.

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Q12. Can I receive my Canadian Forces Pension outside of Canada?

Yes. Since January 2004 if you reside in one of the countries where arrangements exist, payments are made in the currency of that country. The amount deducted for income tax is determined by your country of residence in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency guidelines.

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Q13. When will I receive my T4A, NR4, Relevé 1 and/or Relevé 2 slips for my Canadian Forces Pension?

The income tax slips are mailed by the end of February each year. Therefore you should always wait until mid March before requesting a duplicate.

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Q14. Why is the amount shown on my T4A different from the amount that I received at the bank?

The T4A shows the gross amount of pension income, including amounts deducted for income tax, the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB), Canada Savings Bonds, etc. The amount that you actually receive is a net amount equal to the gross pension minus any applicable deductions.

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Q15. How do I have the tax deduction from my Canadian Forces Pension increased?

If you wish to increase the amount of tax deducted each month from your pension, simply fill in a Federal TD-1 form and/or the corresponding Provincial TD form. The form is available on the CRA Web site or call our toll free number 1-800-267-0350 our local number at (613) 952-9933 or for  Telephone Teletype (TTY) 1-855-255-9935 and the form will be provided to you.

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