HOW MUCH PENSION WILL I BE CREDITED WITH EACH YEAR ?

Each year, your pension credit is based on the number of hours reported for you and on your employer’s rate of contribution in accordance with your Collective Agreement.

HERE'S HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR CURRENT SERVICE PENSION

First… the number of hours that are reported on your behalf are used to determine the percentage of a year for which you will receive credit by using the following table (applicable from January 1, 1992).

Then… the resulting percentage is multiplied by the “Current Service Pension Unit” from the applicable Scale of Benefits. The Current Service Pension Unit is determined by your employer’s rate of contribution. There are many employers participating in the CCWIPP who are contributing at different rates. Check your Collective Agreement to find out how much your employer is contributing.

This Scale Of Benefits is applicable from January 1, 2005.

Here is how your monthly Current Service Pension would be calculated if your employer’s rate of contribution was equal to .85¢ per hour.

WILL I BE KEPT INFORMED OF THE PENSION THAT HAS BEEN CREDITED TO ME ?

Yes. You will receive by mail, in June of each year, a Benefit Statement showing your personal information, the hours reported for you in the previous calendar year and the pension that has been credited to you up to the end of the prior calendar year. Be sure to check all of the information on the Benefit Statement, especially the hours reported. It is a good idea to keep your pay slips because oversights may occur in the reporting or the tabulating of your hours. If any of the information shown on your Benefit Statement is not correct, call the Administration Office in your region, or e-mail the Plan Administrator..

CAN I MAKE A SELF-PAYMENT TO INCREASE THE PENSION CREDITED TO ME IN A YEAR ?

Yes. You can make a self-payment if you have at least 2 continuous years of: plan membership; membership with the UFCW; or, service with a participating employer, and if you are within 150 hours of the next benefit level for the year. You will be notified of the opportunity to make a self-payment when you receive your Benefit Statement.

The self-payment amount is equal to the number of hours you are short to reach the next benefit level …multiplied by your employer’s rate of contribution for current service. Here is how your self-payment would be calculated if your employer’s rate of contribution was equal to .85¢ per hour.

If you make a self-payment of $64.60 (76.00 hours x .85¢), the amount of your monthly pension will increase by $4.00 to $40.00 per month.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPTION. Make sure your money order or certified cheque is mailed to one of the Administration Offices before August 31.

A T4A slip will be issued to you before the end of February of the following year so that your self-payment can be claimed as a tax deduction. (This is to be considered your receipt for your self-payment.)

CAN I CONTINUE TO BE CREDITED WITH HOURS IF I AM UNABLE TO WORK BECAUSE OF ILLNESS OR INJURY, OR IF I AM AWAY FROM WORK BECAUSE OF A MATERNITY, PARENTAL OR ADOPTION LEAVE ?

Yes. If you are under age 65, you can apply for Supplementary Hours Credit, to have pension credits continued as if you were still working. Call the Administration Office in your region and the necessary forms will be mailed to you for completion or log in to access the necessary forms. Return these forms to the administrator. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU APPLY BY THE FOLLOWING DATES.

If your illness or injury lasts less than 30 days…
as soon as you return to work.

If your illness or injury lasts 30 days or more…
within 6 months from the beginning of your illness or injury.

If you are off on maternity, parental or adoption leave…
as soon as you return to work or within 14 months of the beginning of your leave.