Termination options
When your employment is terminated – meaning you no longer work for a participating employer member of the CSS Pension Plan – you can no longer contribute to the Plan and will have to decide what to do with any pension funds you've accumulated.
Your employer will let us know that you are done working, then we'll send you a current statement of your account along with a description of your termination options.
Many members choose to leave their funds in the CSS Pension Plan after they're done working for a participating employer. If you choose this option, you'll become an "inactive" member – but you'll still enjoy the many benefits the Plan has to offer:
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Inactive members can still access support from our experienced staff
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You'll continue to benefit from a low management expense ratio (MER). The benefit of a low MER is that there will eventually be more funds available to you at retirement.
If you change your mind later on, you can still apply for a transfer or withdrawal.
You can keep your funds in the Plan right up until the end of the year you turn 71. At that point you'll have to set up
retirement income payments either with the CSS Pension Plan or your financial institution (as in accordance with the
Income Tax Act.)
Transferring between employer members
A key benefit of your membership with the CSS Pension Plan is that you can take your pension with you if you leave one participating employer member of the Plan for another.
This is considered a transfer between employers, meaning we do not deem your employment terminated (you are still working for a Plan employer, so in our eyes you are still a Plan member).
Transferring between employer members is often seamless. Depending on the length of your break in service between your previous employer and your new employer, you may be able to skip the waiting period and continue contributing to the CSS Pension Plan immediately. Talk to us or your new employer to determine your eligibility.
Early retirement age
If your employment is terminated and you've reached your early retirement age, then you'll also have
retirement income options available to you.
If your employment is terminated because of disability, injury or illness, you may be able to use your pension funds to provide a retirement income before you reach your early retirement age. See
taking a leave for more information about your options.