Plan Enrolment Package

This package provides new and re-employed public service pension plan members with general information that is important to know at the onset of joining the public service pension plan as well as drawing attention to parts of the plan that are time-sensitive.

You are required to acknowledge your enrolment in the public service pension plan and to supply additional information:

  • Contact Information: to ensure the Pension Centre is able to provide you with the necessary information to handle your pension matters. You can update your contact information using the Personalized Pension Tools located within the Compensation Web Applications (CWA) Active Member Pension Applications, under Member Information. If you do not have access to the CWA, you can update this information by calling or writing to the Pension Centre.
  • Eligible Dependants: Information to assist in the payment of future potential benefits.

Acknowledgement of plan membership is a mandatory requirement. Ensure you read and understand all the information provided by the Pension Centre prior to proceeding.

Administrative Process

The Plan Enrolment Package will be mailed to you using the address supplied by your employer and includes:

Upon receipt of your enrolment package, if you do not understand the content or agree with the effective date of plan membership, you may contact the Pension Centre for further clarification on the information provided or for assistance in completing the required documentation. It is also recommended that you carefully read the Welcome to the Public Service Pension Plan orientation information kit. Additional information for new plan members can be found on the Your Public Service Pension and Benefits Web portal, under the Active Member audience, within the New to the Public Service life event.

If you do not receive a Plan Enrolment Package within two months of the date you feel you were eligible to join the public service pension plan, please contact the Pension Centre.

Plan Enrolment and Acknowledgment Form

Acknowledgement of plan membership is a mandatory requirement.

If your organization has access to the Compensation Web Applications (CWA), you are required to acknowledge receipt of your “Notification of Plan Membership” using the Personalized Pension Tools located within the CWA's Active Member Pension Applications, under Member Information. If you have not yet enrolled in the CWA, we encourage you to do so in order to acknowledge your plan membership as well as to verify and update your contact information, including your address.

If your organization does not have access to the CWA, you must complete and sign the Enrolment Information and Acknowledgement of Plan Membership form (PWGSC-TPSGC 571) and return it to the Pension Centre in order to acknowledge receipt of your “Notification of Plan Membership”.

Note: The Enrolment Information and Acknowledgement of Plan Membership form (PWGSC-TPSGC 571) must only be completed and sent once you have received your “Notification of Plan Membership”.

Proof of Age and Other Important Documents

As a member of the public service pension plan, you are required to provide proof of your age, proof of age of any children under the age of 25 and any documents relating to your marital status such as your marriage certificate or a certificate of divorce.

Proof of age and other relevant documentation should be forwarded by fax or mail to the Pension Centre as soon as you become a plan member and also if your personal situation changes. Remember to include your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) or pension number on all correspondence.

Documents which may be required are:

  • Your Birth or Baptismal Certificate;
  • Your Children's Birth Certificate (under the age of 25);
  • Your Children's Adoption Certificate or Evidence of Guardianship;
  • Your Marriage Certificate;
  • Proof of Final Divorce such as a Certificate of Divorce or a Decree Absolute;
  • Separation Certificate;
  • Your Spouse's Death Certificate.

Primary Proof of Age

Primary Proof of age consists of a birth certificate issued by an appropriate civil authority or a baptismal certificate showing the date of birth and indicating that the baptism took place within five years of birth. A photocopy of the birth or baptismal certificate is normally sufficient.

If you cannot obtain a birth or baptismal certificate as described above, refer to Proof of Age Using Secondary Evidence which explains alternatives to establishing primary proof of age.

Proof of Age – Born Outside of Canada

If you were born outside of Canada and do not have a copy of your birth or baptismal certificate, you should contact the embassy or consulate of your country of birth on how to obtain copies of these documents. This also applies to your children. Please note that documents issued outside Canada should not be translated. Consult the Embassies Web site for a list of embassies and consulates in Canada.

Proof of Marital Status

Documents relating to your marital status are required to establish the eligibility to survivor's benefits. A marriage certificate issued by an appropriate civil or religious authority is normally sufficient to establish marital status. Also, any other documents relating to your marital status such as the certificate of divorce, separation papers, or death certificate of your spouse should be forwarded to the Pension Centre.

Proof of Age of Children

Documents relating to children such as birth certificates, adoption papers, evidence of guardianship are required to establish eligibility to children's benefits. Your children who are less than age 18 or who are between the ages of 18 and 25 and in full time attendance at an educational institution may be entitled to children's benefits after your death.

Discrepancies and Name Changes

The Pension Centre will request additional documentation such as a statutory declaration if there is a discrepancy between the name appearing on the document establishing your proof of age and the name on the record of employment in the public service. Minor differences are accepted such as using Mc instead of Mac, Leger instead of Légère or when one or more of the Christian names have been omitted from other documents used for proof of age.

You may contact the Pension Centre to obtain the Statutory Declaration for name discrepancies (ADM 165.1).

As different Life Events occur throughout your career, other documentation may be required. The Pension Centre will request such documentation as needed.

Proof of Age Using Secondary Evidence

If you are unable to provide an official birth or baptismal certificate (refer to the Proof of Age and Other Important Documents), secondary evidence may be accepted as proof of age. If providing secondary evidence, you must satisfy all three of the following requirements:

Requirement 1 (either A or B):

  1. A letter from an appropriate authority stating that a search for a birth certificate was unsuccessful.
    -OR-
  2. A full statement from yourself explaining why a search for a birth certificate or baptismal certificate would be impractical or undesirable.

Requirement 2 (either A or B):

  1. A document issued within five (5) years of the birth that shows the name and the date of birth.
    -OR-
  2. Two documents which show the name and the date of birth. One document must be at least twenty (20) years old and the other document must be at least ten (10) years old at the time it is submitted to the Pension Centre.

Examples of birth documentation that can be used as secondary evidence are provided below. If you are unable to obtain any of the documents required for secondary evidence please contact the Pension Centre for guidance.

Requirement 3:

A Statutory Declaration:

  • Signed by you stating that the secondary evidence is valid and
  • Signed by a Commissioner of Oaths (expiry date of the commission is required), a lawyer, or a notary public certifying the sworn statement.

The originals of all affidavits, sworn statements or statutory declarations are required. If you wish you may contact the Pension Centre to obtain the Statutory Declaration for Secondary Proof of Age (ADM 104) form which will satisfy both Requirements 1 and 3.

Notes Regarding Secondary Evidence:

  1. Original documents, with the exception of the Statutory Declaration, do not have to be provided. A certified copy or a photocopy will be accepted.
  2. A Statutory Declaration made by a close relative that knows the facts of your birth may be submitted in place of the ten (10) year old document (Requirement 2B).
  3. Records of employment in the federal public service or public service pension plan forms can only be used as a 20 year old document.

Examples of Secondary Evidence:

  • Record of physician or nurse attending birth;
  • Hospital, Clinical, or Medical Record;
  • Printed notice of birth or Christening;
  • Record of a Child Welfare Organization;
  • School Record;
  • Family Bible entry (ex. pages from the Family Bible)
  • Baby Book or similar record;
  • Church records, could include certificates of first communion, confirmation, Sunday School, etc.;
  • Naturalization or citizenship papers;
  • Insurance policy or Government annuity certificates;
  • Passport, Immigration or Consular Record (a copy of your immigration record IMM 1000 can be requested from a local immigration officer);
  • Marriage Certificate showing the age of the plan member;
  • Military Record;
  • Census or National Registration Record;
  • Membership records, these could include records received from a fraternal, trade or commercial organization;
  • Unemployment insurance file;
  • Letter or telegram dated less than one month after the birth and describing the details of the birth;
  • Dated records of a former employer;
  • Dated newspaper clippings, photographs, etc.

Note: Any document submitted as secondary evidence must show the name, the date of birth, and the date of (document) issue.