The PPMP

For further information, visit the Retraite Québec website .

The PPMP

What is the Pension Plan of Management Personnel (PPMP)?

The PPMP is a plan that has applied since 1 January 1997 to employees who hold a non-unionized position and who have the required classification.

How did the PPMP come about?

The PPMP succeeded the Government and Public Employees Retirement Plan as it pertained to non-unionized personnel (referred to as RREGOP 02). On 1 January 1997, special provisions of the Government and Public Employees Retirement Plan affecting management personnel in the public service, education, and health and social services sectors took effect. For administrative purposes, those provisions were called the Pension Plan for Management Personnel (PPMP).

The special provisions form the basis of the Act respecting the Pension Plan of Management Personnel, which came into force on 1 January 2001. The Act dissociated employees in a non-unionized position from unionized employees covered by RREGOP.

In addition, all non-unionized employees who stopped contributing to RREGOP 02 prior to 1 January 1997 and are entitled to a pension under that plan have been receiving their benefits under the PPMP since 1 January 2001.

In accordance with the Act respecting the Pension Plan of Management Personnel, the contributions made to RREGOP by non-unionized employees were transferred to the PPMP employees' contributions fund.

Eligibility

What are the eligibility requirements?

In order to become a member of the PPMP, you must meet all the following requirements:

• You must be appointed to or hired for a non-unionized position.
• You must hold the permanent position for the non unionized position.
• You must have the required classification for the non-unionized position.
• You must work in that position at least 20% of the full-time schedule of an equivalent position.

Since 15 June 2021, you have been participating in the PPMP if you meet all the following requirements:

• you were hired to hold a non-unionized position temporarily
• you are holding the non-unionized position temporarily for one of the two following reasons:
• to fill a vacant position on a provisional or interim basis or;
• to replace, during his or her absence, a person covered by the PPMP
• you are holding another position covered by the PPMP at the same time
• you have the required classification for the position held temporarily
• you have been working in that position temporarily at least 20% of the full-time schedule of an equivalent position.

What is the qualification period?

In short, it is a period during which you acquired the right to become a member of the PPMP.

During the qualification period, you contribute to the PPMP. However, except in the event of terminal illness or death, the provisions of the Government and Public Employees Retirement Plan (RREGOP) apply.

Your qualification period starts on your first day of employment covered by the PPMP, provided you meet all the requirements.

How long is the qualification period?

It depends on the percentage of hours you work.

• If you work in a non-unionized position at least 40% of the full-time schedule for the same position, it is 24 consecutive months.
• If you work in a non-unionized position at least 20% (but less than 40%) of the full-time schedule for the same position, it is 48 consecutive months.

I currently hold two non-unionized positions. Do I have to qualify twice?

No. If you hold more than one non-unionized position during your qualification period, the percentages of hours worked are added together.

What will happen if the percentage changes during my qualification period?

If the percentage used to determine the duration of your qualification period changes, the latter will be reduced or extended as follows:

• If the percentage increases to 40% or more, the time required to complete your qualification period will be reduced by half.
• If the percentage decreases to less than 40%, the time required to complete your qualification period will double.

One of my colleagues currently holds a non‑unionized position 40% of the time and a unionized position 60% of the time. During his qualification period for the PPMP, does he have to contribute to the PPMP for both positions?

No. During his qualification period, your colleague will contribute to the PPMP only for his non‑unionized position, and he will contribute to RREGOP for his unionized position.

What will happen at the end of the qualification period?

When your eligibility period is over, we will contact you in writing to confirm that you have become a member of the PPMP and the starting date of membership.

You will then contribute to that plan for all the unionized and non-unionized positions you hold.

What will happen if my situation changes before the end of my qualification period and I no longer meet the requirements?

You will no longer be a member of the PPMP and you will have to contribute to RREGOP.

Is it true that I must contribute to the plan for an additional five years following my qualification period?

Yes. If your qualification period for the PPMP began after 31 December 2012 and you do not complete the additional five years of membership, specific eligibility requirements for an immediate unreduced pension will apply.

If you had already qualified or were in the process of qualifying on 31 December 2012, you do not have to complete the additional five-year period.

Membership

Is membership in the PPMP mandatory?

Yes. Membership in the pension plan is an integral part of your working conditions.

Do I have to contribute to my pension plan throughout my career?

Yes. You must contribute to your pension plan until you have accrued a maximum of 40 years of credited service, excluding the years for which you acquired a pension credit or paid-up annuity.

Note that even if you have not accrued 40 years of credited service, you cannot continue to contribute to the PPMP after 30 December of the year in which you turn 71.

How can I obtain details on my membership in the plan?

For more details, you can consult your Statement of Participation under the PPMP online, in My Account.

If I find a mistake on my statement, how can I have it corrected?

You must inform your employer of any mistakes on your statement. He or she will contact us to have the information corrected.

If I leave my current employment after I have qualified for the PPMP and then work for another employer in the public or parapublic sectors, will I continue to contribute to the PPMP?

If you start working for your new employer within 180 days after you resign, you will continue to contribute to the PPMP, whether your new position is unionized or non-unionized.

Beyond that time limit, you will not necessarily contribute to the PPMP. If you hold a non-unionized position, you will contribute to the PPMP. However, if you hold a unionized position, you will contribute to RREGOP.

Contributions

What is the contribution rate?

In 2024, the PPMP contribution rate is 12.67%.

Note that the same contribution rate applies in 2024 to former members of the Civil Service Superannuation Plan (CSSP) and the Teachers Pension Plan (TPP) who had their contributions transferred to the PPMP in 2000.

How are my contributions calculated?

Your contributions are calculated only on the portion of your pensionable salary that exceeds 35% of the maximum pensionable earnings (MPE). In 2024, since the MPE is $68 500, your contributions are calculated only on the portion of your pensionable salary that exceeds $23 975 ($68 500 × 35%). That exemption is subtracted from your pensionable salary, and the result is multiplied by the applicable contribution rate (12.67% in 2024) to obtain the amount of your annual contributions.

Your is the salary used for pension calculation purposes.

Are my contributions calculated the same way if I work part time?

Yes. However, your exemption is determined based on the ratio between the hours you worked and the full-time schedule for an equivalent position.

Exemption from making contributions

Do I have to contribute to the PPMP if I receive salary insurance benefits?

No. You do not have to contribute to your pension plan while you are receiving salary insurance benefits. The contributions that you would normally have to pay are credited to you as though you had paid them. You generally do not lose any rights during that period.

The same exemption applies if you are receiving benefits from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec, the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail or benefits under the Québec Pension Plan while also receiving any salary insurance benefits provided for under your working conditions.

How long can I be exempted?

The maximum exemption period is generally three years, even if your employer severs your employment ties after a two-year disability period.

Since you participate in the mandatory basic long-term disability insurance plan offered to management personnel in the public and parapublic sectors, that plan will pay your contributions to the PPMP if you are still disabled after the three-year exemption period. For more information, contact the insurance company that administers that plan.

Years of service

What is the difference between service credited for calculation purposes and service credited for eligibility purposes?

Service credited for calculation purposes are the years that will be used to calculate the amount of the basic pension to which you will be entitled when you retire. Those are your years of participation in the pension plan.

Service credited for eligibility purposes refers to the years that will be used to determine your eligibility for an immediate pension (with or without reduction), that is, a pension generally payable when membership in your plan ends. It is the total of:

• the years of service credited for the calculation of your pension (your years of participation in the plan); and
• the years of service that are credited under your pension plan but excluded from the calculation of your pension, such as years in which you were a member of a supplemental pension plan.

One year of service corresponds to a calendar year (1 January to 31 December) and usually consists of 260 working days (5 days/week × 52 weeks).

How can I have a full year of service credited for calculation purposes?

In order to have a complete year of service credited for the calculation of your pension, you must work full-time throughout the year in a position covered by the PPMP.

Furthermore, you cannot have any periods of absence without pay that have not been credited under your pension plan.

If I work part time, how will my years of service for calculation purposes be determined?

At the end of each year, you will be credited part of a year of service, which is calculated using the ratio between the hours you worked (excluding overtime) and the full-time schedule for an equivalent position.
That part of a year will be included in the calculation of your retirement pension.

Can an incomplete year of service for calculation purposes be credited as a full year of service for eligibility purposes?

This is a provision that applies only to individuals who were members of RREGOP or PPMP on 1 January 2000, or who have become members since that date.

Within certain limits provided for under the Income Tax Act, you will be credited a full year of service for eligibility purposes if, during the year:

• you worked part time;
• you worked only part of the year; or
• you were absent without pay for all or part of the year.

Note that service credited for eligibility purposes cannot exceed the number of days between the date on which membership started and 31 December for the first year of participation, or between 1 January and the date on which membership ended for the last year participation.

This provision only applies to years of service since1 January 1987.

Is it true that a certain number of years will be added to my service credited for eligibility and calculation purposes?

If certain years of service are incomplete following periods of absence without pay that were not credited under your plan, we will add the number of days corresponding to those absences to those years, up to 90 days.

Those years of service may be incomplete for such reasons as a strike, a lockout or an absence without pay that you have not bought back.

The number of days in your periods of absence without pay will be fully credited and included in the calculation of your pension. Absences that ended before 1987 will also be taken into account to determine your eligibility for benefits. Absences since 1987 have already been credited for eligibility purposes.

Participation in a supplemental pension plan before RREGOP or the PPMP

I used to be a member of a supplemental pension plan (SPP). What can you tell me about it?

Before their employers were covered by RREGOP, certain employees in the health and social services and education sectors were members of what is called a supplemental pension plan (SPP). Most SPPs were administered by insurance companies, and not by Retraite Québec.

What happened to the contributions I made to my SPP?

If your SPP contract did not provide for a transfer of funds, the insurance company that administered the plan still holds the contributions you and your employer paid. Upon request, the insurance company will pay you a pension in accordance with the provisions of your contract, probably when you turn 65. This is what we call a paid-up annuity.

However, if the funds were transferred to us, you have what is called an SPP pension credit. This means that an amount will be added to the pension you will receive under the PPMP.

Will you take into account the years in which I was a member of the SPP?

Yes. However, those years will be used only to determine your eligibility for a pension, and not to calculate the amount. They could also be revalued.

Some of my colleagues were members of the Teachers Pension Plan (TPP) or the Civil Service Superannuation Plan (CSSP) and had their contributions transferred to the PPMP. How will their pensions be affected?

Their pension will be calculated as though they had been members of the PPMP the whole time.

However, until they are eligible for a retirement pension under the PPMP, they retain their right to a disability pension, a surviving spouse's pension or an orphan's pension under the TPP or the CSSP with respect to the years in which they contributed to those plans.

When I began working in the public sector, I had the amounts accrued under the pension plan offered by my former employer (not subject to public-sector pension plans) transferred to my new plan. How will my pension be affected?

It depends on the provisions of your former plan and the agreement under which the funds were transferred.

In most cases, the years credited are considered years of membership in your public-sector plan. They are taken into account to determine your eligibility for a pension and to calculate the amount of the pension.

In some cases, however, the years can only be used to determine your eligibility for a pension. They give you entitlement to what is called a transfer agreement pension credit. As of result, a certain amount will be added to your pension under the PPMP. Those years could also be revalued.

Buy-backs

Can I increase the benefits provided for under my pension plan?

Your retirement pension is calculated based on the number of years credited to your account at the time of your retirement. Therefore, if you are entitled to a retirement pension, you could buy back certain periods of service or absence without pay that were not credited to you under your pension plan. As a result, the amount of your pension could increase. Please note that only the buy-back of certain periods of service or absence can allow you to retire earlier. To find out the number of days of absence that can be bought back, consult your Statement of Participation in the Days of absence that can be bought back section.

Are years of service that were bought back considered years of membership in the PPMP?

It depends on the type of buy-back. In the case of absences without pay and casual service, for example, the years you buy back are considered years of membership in the PPMP, and are used both to determine your eligibility for a pension and to calculate its amount.

In other cases, such as years of service prior to your membership in RREGOP or the PPMP during which you did not contribute to a plan, the years you buy back are used only to determine your eligibility for a pension and not to calculate its amount.

However, they entitle you to a buy-back pension credit. As a result of the pension credit, a certain amount will be added to your pension under the PPMP. Those years can also be revalued.

What are the most common types of buy-backs?

The main periods of service that can be bought back are:

periods of work carried with an employer subject to the Plan, when you had casual employee status, from 1 July 1973 to:

• 31 December 1986, for employees who were on a recall list in the health and social services sector
• 31 December 1987, for employees who were not on a recall list in the public, health and social services and education sectors.

Since 1 January 1988, all casual employees in the education, public service and health and social services sectors working on a part-time or full-time basis have been covered by public-sector pension plans. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to buy back service for periods worked as a casual employee since that date because those employees have already made contributions to their plan.

It must be noted that the periods during which you were self-employed cannot be considered periods of service accrued as a casual employee for the purpose of a buy-back.

The main periods of absence that can be bought back are:

• full-time or part-time periods of absence without pay that began after you became a member of RREGOP or the PPMP and that were not credited under your plan, including parental leaves;
• maternity leaves that ended before or were underway on 1 January 1989. Different conditions apply depending on the periods.

A period of absence can be considered a period of absence without pay provided all the following conditions are met:

• It must be provided for in your conditions of employment.
• It must be authorized by your employer, except for periods of absence resulting from a strike, a lockout or a disciplinary suspension.
• You must not have received any remuneration during the period in question.
• You would or could have worked had it not been for the absence.

If I work part time, can I buy back days I do not work?

To buy back a period of service or a period of absence without pay, you must have had employment ties with your employer subject to the Plan during that period.

When you work part time, employment ties exist only for the days included in your work schedule. Therefore, since there are no ties with your employer on the days you do not work, you cannot buy them back.

What do I have to do to buy back years of service?

First and foremost, you must file an application for a buy-back while you are still a member of your plan. As a rule, you cannot buy back periods of service or absence without pay after you have left your position, even if you left to retire.

To find out the number of days of absence that can be bought back, consult your Statement of Participation online, in My Account, in the Days of absence that can be bought back section.

If you would like to file an application for a buy-back, you must complete and send one of the following forms, or both of them, to Retraite Québec, depending on your situation:

• Application for a buy-back of one or more periods of absence (RSP‑727A‑ABS);
• Application for a buy-back of one or more periods of work (RSP‑727A‑WRK).

To find out which of the above-mentioned forms must be used based on the type of period, consult the The most common type of buy-backs section mentioned above. The forms are available on Retraite Québec's website and can be sent using the Sending a document online service.

If the study of your file shows that the periods can indeed be bought back, we will send you a buy-back proposal, which you are free to accept or reject. The proposal will indicate the cost and payment terms of the buy-back and will be valid for 60 days.

If your application is incomplete, we will return the documents to you. You must then send us your application once again, making sure that it has been completed so that we are able to process it.

Do I need to buy back all my periods of absence without pay?

Under the provisions of your plan, up to 90 days (called a 90-day bank) can be automatically added at no cost to your years of service to offset certain periods of absence. The days in your 90-day bank are automatically credited when Retraite Québec determines whether you are entitled to a retirement pension.

Periods of absenceSee Note 1 completed at no cost by the 90-day bank
Before 1 January 2011	After 31 December 2010
Any period of absence without pay	Any period of absence without pay related to a parental leave

When Retraite Québec processes your buy-back application, it will deduct the number of days of absence that can be offset at no cost by the 90-day bank from the number of days of service corresponding to the period concerned by your application. Therefore, it will prevent you from paying to buy back the days of absence that could be credited to you at no cost. However, if you would rather buy back all your days of absence, which means you would like the 90-day bank not to apply while processing your application, it must be specified in the space provided for that purpose in the form entitled Application for a buy-back of one or more periods of absence (RSP‑727A‑ABS).

Note that the number of days of absence automatically added cannot exceed 90 days, whether or not these absences were before or after 1 January 2011^{See Note 6}.

Furthermore, the absences without pay that you can buy back must concern periods during which you contributed to RREGOP or the PPMP. Note that you can buy back only part of your absences without pay.

How much does a buy-back cost?

The Estimate of the cost of a buy-back under RREGOP and the PPMP tool allows you to quickly find out the approximate cost of a buy-back of:

• a period of absence without pay;
• parental or compassionate care leaves;
• periods of service accrued as a casual employee.

Maternity leaves are generally credited at no cost.

The cost of a buy-back is generally determined according to:

• the type of buy-back;
• the period to buy back;
• your annual pensionable salary on the date of the application;
• your age on the date of the application.

For more information on buy-backs, please read our Buy-backs  brochure, available on our website.

Pension credits

Pension credits resulting from a buy-back

I bought back years of service prior to becoming a member of RREGOP or PPMP. As a result, I obtained a $950 annual pension credit. What is a buy-back pension credit?

If you bought back periods of service earned prior to your membership in RREGOP, you have what is called a buy-back pension credit.
This means that an amount will be added to your pension under the PPMP. In your case, the amount will be $950, if payment of your pension credit begins at age 65.

Can payment of my buy-back pension credit begin earlier if I retire before age 65?

Yes. You may request that payment of your buy-back pension credit begin on the same date as your retirement pension or on any other date between the date of your retirement and your 65th birthday.

The amount of your pension credit will then be reduced permanently by 0.5% for each month prior to your 65th birthday (6% a year). It is important to point out that even if the amount of the pension credit is lower, receiving it sooner can be in your best interest.

If you retire after age 65, payment of your pension credit will begin on the date of your retirement. The amount of your pension credit will be increased by 0.75% for each month (9% a year) between your 65th birthday and the date on which you retire.

Will my buy-back pension credit be indexed?

Yes, but only as of 1 January 2021. Once you have started receiving it, it will be indexed on 1 January of each year, based on the Pension Index (PI), which is determined under the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan. The indexation becomes applicable on 1 January following the starting date of the pension.

Will my buy-back pension credit be enhanced in any other way?

It may be enhanced once every three years based on the actuarial valuations results in certain cases.

Pension credits resulting from a transfer from a supplemental pension plan (SPP)

Before becoming a member of RREGOP or PPMP, I was a member of a supplemental pension plan (SPP) and received a $450 annual pension credit when my years of service were transferred to my new pension plan. What is that exactly?

If you were a member of an SPP and your SPP membership years as well as your contributions for those years were transferred to us, you have what is called an SPP pension credit.

Since you have an SPP pension credit, we will add an amount to your pension under the PPMP.

In some cases, the value of the pension credit is a percentage of the average pensionable salary that will be used to calculate your retirement pension.

Can payment of my SPP pension credit begin as soon as I retire?

Yes. However, the amount of your pension credit may be reduced permanently if payment begins before certain requirements are met.

Can I minimize or cancel the reduction applicable to my pension credits?

Yes. When you apply for your retirement pension, you can request to have payment of your pension credits start on a date different from the date on which you retire. You must specify so on the reply form you receive with the Your Options document accompanying your application form. This reply form is uploaded automatically to My Account. You can file it and track your application in your digital file. Note that the closer the date on which you start receiving your pension credits is to the date on which they would be payable without a reduction, the lesser they will be reduced.

However, before making a decision, it is important to analyze the consequences. In order to receive a slightly higher amount, you would have to deprive yourself of amounts you could benefit from as soon as you retire.

Will my SPP pension credits be indexed?

Yes. Once payment has begun, your pension credits will be indexed on 1 January of each year ^SeeNote 2.

Pension credits resulting from a transfer under an agreement with another organization

After becoming a member of the plan, I had my years of service for an employer not covered by a public-sector pension plan transferred, and I received a 9.48% pension credit. What is a transfer agreement pension credit?

If you were a member of a pension plan that was not administered by our organization and had your years of service, as well as your contributions for those years, transferred to us, you have what is called a transfer agreement pension credit.

This means that an amount will be added to your pension under the PPMP. In your case, the amount will be equal to 9.48% of the average pensionable salary used to calculate your pension.

If you were a member working in the public or parapublic sector on 31 December 1999, the amount of your pension credit will not be reduced if payment begins when you meet one of the following two requirements:

• You are age 60 or over (regardless of the number of years of service). Or
  
  
• You have at least 35 years of service credited for eligibility purposes (regardless of your age).

If you were not working in the public or parapublic sector on 31 December 1999, you must be at least 65 years old to receive your unreduced pension credit.

Can payment of my transfer agreement pension credit begin earlier if I retire before I meet any of the two requirements mentioned above?

Yes. You may ask for payment of your pension credit to begin on the same date as your retirement pension or on any other date between your retirement and the date on which you would have met one of the two requirements mentioned above.

The amount of your pension credit will be reduced permanently by 0.33% for each month (4% a year or 6% a year if you were not working in the public or parapublic sector on 31 December 1999) prior to the date on which you would have met one of the two requirements mentioned above. Please note that even if the amount of the pension credit is lower, receiving it sooner could be in your best interest.

Will my transfer agreement pension credit be indexed?

Once payment of your basic pension has begun, your transfer agreement pension credit will be indexed on 1 January of each year.

Additional pensions for certain periods of service credited prior to membership in RREGOP or the PPMP

I heard about the additional pension for certain years of service. What does that entail?

The revaluation concerns RREGOP and PPMP members who ceased to contribute on 31 December 1999 or after, and who have acquired a paid-up annuity as a result of their membership in a supplemental pension plan (SPP), or a pension credit resulting from buy-back of service prior to membership in the plan, a transfer from an SPP or a transfer carried out before 1985 under an agreement with another organization. When those persons retire, they benefit from additional pensions related to a paid-up annuity or a pension credit.

What are additional pensions?

There are two types of additional pensions:

• a life annuity, that is, a pension guaranteed for life, from the pension credit service, generally calculated as follows :

  1.1%

  ×Average pensionable salary of your five best-paid years of service, whether the additional five-year period has completed or not

  × Number of years or parts of years of service that entitle you to a paid-up annuity or a pension credit

• a temporary annuity for pension credit service payable until age 65 (or until death, if this occurs before age 65) which, as a rule, corresponds to:

  $230	×Number of years or parts of years of service that entitle you to a paid-up annuity or a pension credit

  However, the total of the additional pensions and the paid-up annuity or pension credit must not exceed the amount to which the corresponding years of service would entitle you, if they had been credited for basic pension calculation purposes. If so, the amount of the additional life annuity and the amount of the temporary annuity could be limited.

Will the additional pensions replace the pension credit?

No. Those two annuities are paid in addition to the retirement pension and the pension credit.

If I am eligible for a reduced, immediate of deferred retirement pension, will my additional pensions also be reduced?

Yes. Like the basic retirement pension, the life annuity and the temporary annuity linked to pension credit service are also reduced by 0.5% per month of early retirement (6% a year), if applicable. Since they are related to the basic pension, they cannot be paid on a later date.

Will the additional pensions be indexed?

They will be indexed each year according to the rate of increase of the Pension Index (PI), determined in accordance with the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan, minus 3%. When the rate of increase of the Pension Index is equal to or lower than 3%, the pensions are not indexed.

Is there a limit to the number of years that can be used for the calculation of additional pensions?

Yes. The number of years used for the calculation of additional pensions and years used to calculate your pension cannot exceed the maximum service, that is, 40 years of credited service.

When I die, will my additional pensions linked to pension credit service be paid to my spouse?

When you die, only your additional life annuity linked to pension credit service (1.1% of your average pensionable salary) will be taken into account in calculating your spouse's pension, in accordance with the rules that apply to the basic pension.

Time management and work reduction

If I participate in a time management and reduction program, will my pension be affected when I retire?

No. You will be credited the same service and salary you would have been credited under your plan had you not participated in the program, even if your work schedule and your salary are reduced.

Note that time management and reduction programs could be known under different names depending on whether you work in the public service, education or health and social services sectors.

Sabbatical leave with deferred pay

If I sign an agreement with my employer to take a sabbatical leave with deferred pay, will my retirement pension be affected when I retire?

No. You will be credited the same service and salary you would have been credited under your plan had you not signed an agreement.

Once your leave is over, you must return to your usual work for a period equivalent to at least the duration of the leave. If you do not abide by the conditions of the agreement, your employer could cancel it, which could affect your retirement pension.

Phased departure

Can I reduce my work schedule before I retire?

Yes. If your working conditions so provide, you can ask your employer to sign a phased departure agreement with you.

The agreement allows you to reduce your work schedule for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 60 months. However, you must retire at the end of that period. Note that for the duration of the agreement, your new work schedule must not be less than 40% of the full-time schedule for an equivalent position.

To be eligible for phased departure, you must be a regular employee with a part-time or full-time schedule.

Before entering into a phased departure agreement, you must file the Application for Confirmation of Eligibility for Phased Departure (form 267, in French only) so that we can confirm that you are in fact eligible for a retirement pension on the expiry date of the agreement. The form is available on our website.

Will concluding a phased departure agreement affect my retirement pension?

No. Your contributions to your public-sector pension plan during the agreement are calculated on the salary you would have received had you not signed such an agreement.

You will be credited with the same service and salary you would have been credited had you not concluded this agreement.

Will the legislative changes to the PPMP affect my phased departure?

The legislative amendments brought about by the Act to foster the financial health and sustainability of the Pension Plan of Management Personnel and to amend various legislative provisions, which was assented to in May 2017, apply even if you came to an agreement concerning phased departure before the Bill was tabled. Furthermore, there is no measure to maintain the provisions in effect prior to the legislative amendments with regard to phased departure agreements that ended after 30 June 2019.

However, transitional measures are in place for phased departure agreements that began before 8 February 2017. If this applies to your situation, you can choose between:

• postponing the end date of your phased departure agreement; or
  
• continuing to work after the agreement ends.

To take advantage of either of these measures, you must notify your employer in writing at least 12 months before your agreement ends. Your employer must respect your choice.

If your agreement ends in less than 12 months and you would like to take advantage of either of the measures, you must obtain your employer's written authorization before the agreement ends.

Note that if you have not yet completed your additional period of plan membership, different transitional measures apply to any phased departure agreements that came into effect prior to 11 May 2016 or between 11 May 2016 and 7 September 2016. These measures were brought about by the Act to amend certain Acts establishing pension plans applicable to public sector employees and, under certain conditions, allow for the eligibility criteria for unreduced immediate pensions (be age 60 or have accrued 35 years of service) and the annual reduction of 4% applicable to immediate reduced pensions to be maintained.

End of employment prior to eligibility for an immediate pension

Can I obtain a refund of my contributions if I leave my job before I am eligible for a pension?

Yes.You can request a refund of your contributions, with interest, if you meet these two requirements:

• You are under age 55;
• You have less than two years of service credited for eligibility purposes (regardless, of the periods credited to make up for incomplete years of service due to part‑time work or work during only a part of a year).

You must not have had any employment ties for at least 210 days when you send us your Application for Retirement Pension Under a Public-Sector Pension Plan (RSP-079A).

If you are a member of RREGOP, the PPMP or the PPPOCS at the same time for more than one position, you must have left all of those positions for at least 210 days before filing your application for a refund.

If I am not eligible for the refund of my contributions and I leave my job before I am eligible for an immediate pension, when will I receive benefits under the PPMP?

If you are under age 55 and have at least two years of service for eligibility purposes when you cease your employment, you can choose between the following two options:

Is it better to wait for a deferred pension or apply for a transfer of the benefits accrued under my pension plan to an LIRA or an LIF?

In order to compare the advantages of those options, you must consider your age, the amount of your deferred pension, the indexation rate that could apply and, mainly, the interest rate you could obtain on the amount you would transfer to an LIRA or an LIF. We recommend that you consult a financial planner to obtain a clear picture of your situation.

What will happen if I return to work in the public or parapublic sector after I had my accrued benefits transferred to an LIRA or an LIF?

The periods of service that were credited to you before you had the benefits accrued under the PPMP transferred to an LIRA or LIF can be credited under your pension plan.

You will have to repay the amount that was transferred from the PPMP to your LIRA or LIF, with interest accrued at the PPMP rate of return. Thus, you will re-establish the rights you had under your pension plan at the time of transfer with regard to your number of years of service and the benefits accrued under your pension plan.

Note that in order to do so, you must have held your new employment for at least three months.

Years of service recognized resulting from a transfer carried out under an agreement with another organization

If you have accrued years of service under a pension plan administered by an organization other than Retraite Québec, you might be able to transfer them to the PPMP if there is an agreement between both organizations. The effects of the transfer on the pension you will receive under the PPMP depend on the provisions of your former plan and the transfer agreement under which the funds are transferred to the PPMP.

If the amount transferred by the former organization is equal to the amount required by the PPMP, the latter will grant you the full service that was credited to it under the exporting plan for the purposes of the calculation of and eligibility for the retirement pension *.

If the amount transferred by the former organization is lower than the amount required by the PPMP, the latter will grant you the full service that was credited to it under the exporting plan for the purposes of eligibility for the retirement pension, but only a portion of the service that was credited to it for the purposes of the calculation of the retirement pension *.

* However, not more than one year of service per calendar year may be granted, or a certain maximum for an incomplete calendar year, taking into account service already granted under RREGOP or the PPMP.

Buy-back not recognized during a transfer

Following a transfer, if you were granted only a portion of the service credited under your exporting plan for the calculation of your retirement pension under the PPMP, you can buy back service not recognized during the transfer.

Transfer of years of service recognized under the PPMP to another organization

If you change employment and your new employer offers a pension plan that is not administered by Retraite Québec, you can have your years of service accrued under the PPMP credited under your new pension plan provided that there is a transfer agreement with Retraite Québec. Our organization has entered into agreements with certain organizations to allow persons who change employment to transfer the value of the benefits accrued under the PPMP to their new plan.

Retraite Québec has such agreements with various organizations, including the federal government and certain provincial governments, municipalities, as well as certain public and private organizations.

To take advantage of a transfer agreement, you must not be receiving a retirement pension from the exporting plan or receiving plan. Furthermore, based on the provisions of various agreements, you must not be eligible for an unreduced immediate pension under the exporting when you file your application for a transfer. This requirement does not apply to the agreements made between the federal government and the plans for teachers or provincial civil servants.

Calculation of your pension

How will you calculate the amount of my retirement pension?

To determine the amount of your basic pension, we will use the following formula:

Years of service credited for calculation purposes (maximum 40 years)

× Accrual rate of the pension (2%)

× Average pensionable salary for the five best-paid years  SeeNote 3, whether the additional period of membership has been completed or not

= Basic pension

Will the same formula be applied if I work part-time?

Yes. In that case, however, we will consider the annual pensionable salary you would have received had you worked full time.

Will the retroactive payment I received be used to calculate my retirement pension?

When you retire, we will use all or part of the retroactive payment to calculate your pension, provided the following two requirements are met:

• This retroactive payment was made on the basis of your pensionable salary (the basic salary set out in your work contract);
• The retroactive payment concerned one or more of the five years to be used to calculate your average pensionable salary.

When will I be entitled to my basic pension?

You will be entitled to your basic pension when you cease to be a member of the plan, provided your qualification period for the PPMP and the additional membership period, where applicable, are completed and you meet one of the following three eligibility requirements:

• You are at least age 61;
• You are at least age 56 and have accrued at least 35 years of service credited for eligibility purposes;
• You are at least age 58 and have reached the 90 factor (age + years of service credited for eligibility purposes).

As a rule, and subject to tax rules, you will then be eligible for an unreduced immediate pension.

However, if you have not completed the additional period of plan membership, if applicable, you will be entitled to an unreduced immediate pension if you meet at least one of the following three eligibility requirements:

• You are at least age 61;
• You have accrued at least 35 years of service credited for eligibility purposes;
• You are at least age 60 and have reached the 90 factor (age + years of service credited for eligibility purposes).

How can I know if I have reached the 90 factor?

To determine when you will reach the 90 factor, add your age and the number of years of service that you have accrued for eligibility purposes. Subtract this number from 90, then divide the result by two. That figure is the number of years you need to reach the 90 factor. Then add this number to your age and your years of service to determine the age at which you will reach the 90 factor and the number of years of service you will have accrued at that time.

Can I retire even if I do not meet any of the eligibility requirements above?

Yes. You can retire provided you are at least age 55, even if you do not meet any of the eligibility requirements for an unreduced immediate pension, such as the 90 factor (age + years of service credited for eligibility purposes).

In this case, however, you are eligible for a reduced immediate pension. This means that your basic pension will be reduced permanently by 0.5% per-month of early retirement (6% a year). Your pension will be reduced because you will be receiving it for a longer period than if you had waited to meet one of the eligibility requirements for an unreduced immediate pension.

How can I calculate the amount of my reduced immediate pension?

First, you must determine the percentage of reduction applicable to your annual basic pension. This percentage is obtained by multiplying by 0.5% (6% a year) the number of months between the date of your retirement and the date on which you meet one of the following three eligibility requirements:

• You are at least age 61;
• You are at least age 56 and have accrued at least 35 years of service credited for eligibility purposes;
• You are at least age 58 and have reached the 90 factor (age + years of service credited for eligibility purposes).

The eligibility requirements are different for those who have not completed their additional period of membership when required:

• You are at least age 61.
• You have accrued at least 35 years of service credited for eligibility purposes.
• You are at least age 60 and have reached the 90 factor (age + years of service credited for eligibility purposes).

If you cease all employment under the plan, your pension will be reduced permanently by 0.5% per month of early retirement (6% per year).

You then multiply the amount of your annual basic pension by the percentage of reduction in order to determine the reduction applicable to your pension.

Finally, you subtract the result from your annual basic pension. In this manner, you can determine the amount of the reduced immediate pension to which you are entitled.

Is it possible to reduce or eliminate the reduction due to early retirement?

Yes. This is what we call the compensation of the reduction due to early payment of a pension. It consists of transferring to the PPMP the amount necessary for you to be paid each year under your plan an amount equal to the reduction you wish to have decreased or eliminated.

The funds must be transferred from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or a registered pension plan (RPP), in accordance with tax rules, within 60 days of the end of your membership. Your employer may also pay the amount required to reduce or eliminate the reduction of your pension, at the latest on the date on which you cease your employment under the plan.

Will I be entitled to a pension if I resign before the end of my qualification period for the PPMP?

If you resign before your qualification period for the PPMP is over, you will not be entitled to a pension under the PPMP. However, if you meet one of the eligibility requirements provided for under RREGOP, you will be entitled to a pension under RREGOP.

Will I be entitled to a pension if I resign before the end of my qualification period but before I have completed my additional period of membership?

Yes. You will be entitled to a pension under the PPMP based on the eligibility requirements that apply in that situation, as mentioned in the Calculation of your Retirement Pension section of the document.

Integration of the PPMP with the Québec Pension Plan (QPP)

How does integration with the QPP affect my pension under the PPMP?

When you turn 65, your pension plan will take into account the fact that you also receive a pension under the QPP, which will cause a reduction of your pension under the PPMP. This is what is called integration with the QPP.

The reduction will be applied to your pension as of the month following your 65th birthday.

Integration with the QPP has no impact on the amount of retirement pensions under the QPP. However, at age 65, a reduction not linked to integration can apply to disability or surviving spouse's pensions payable under the QPP.

If I apply for my pension under the QPP at age 60, will my pension under the PPMP be reduced at the same time?

No. Your pension under the PPMP will be reduced as of the month following your 65th birthday, even if you began receiving your pension under the QPP before age 65.

How will you calculate the reduction that will be applied to my pension under the PPMP?

The reduction is calculated as follows:

Service credited for the calculation of your basic pension under the PPMP (maximum 35 years)
×	QPP annual pension integration rate (0.7%)
×	The lesser of: your average MPE (maximum pensionable earnings) for your last five years of service; and your average pensionable salary for your last five years of service.

Note that the MPE is calculated in accordance with the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan.

Is the exemption in the calculation of my contributions to the PPMP related to the integration of the PPMP with the QPP?

Yes. The contributions you pay to the PPMP throughout your career are lower because your pension under the PPMP will be integrated with your pension under the QPP when you turn 65.

In the example shown in the section entitled Contributions, if the PPMP were not integrated with the QPP, Ann's contributions to the PPMP would be calculated on her total pensionable salary, and the exemption (35% of the MPE) would not apply. Thus, in 2024, her contributions to the PPMP would amount to $9593.09 instead of $6555.46, for a difference of $3037.63.

Indexation of your pension

When I retire, will my pension under the PPMP be indexed?

Yes. Once you begin receiving your pension, it will be indexed on 1 January of each year as follows:

• The portion of your pension that corresponds to service accrued prior to 1 July 1982 will be fully indexed using the rate of increase of the Pension Index (PI), determined in accordance with the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan and applied to take into account the increase in the cost of living.
• The portion of your pension that corresponds to service accrued from 1 July 1982 through 31 December 1999 will be indexed using the rate of increase of the PI minus 3%.
• The portion of your pension that corresponds to service accrued since 1 January 2000 will be indexed according to the more advantageous of the following formulas:
  • 50% of the rate of increase of the PI;
  • The rate of increase of the PI minus 3%.

Period of service	Indexation rate
Years of service before 1 July 1982	50 % of the rate of increase of the PI
Years of service from 1 July 1982 to 31 December 1999	Rate of increase of the PI minus 3%
Years of service since 1 January 2000	The greater of: Rate of increase of the PI minus 3% or 50% of the rate of increase of the PI

If I retire on a date other than 1 January, will my pension be indexed in the same manner?

Yes. However, the first time your pension is indexed, that is, on 1 January following the date of your retirement, indexation will be calculated based on the number of days for which your pension was paid during the year in which you retired, out of 365 days (or 366 days, if it is a leap year).

Taking the previous example, but in which Roger retired on 5 May 2022, each of the 3 portions of his pension will be indexed on 1 January 2023, as follows:

On 1 January 2023, Roger's annual pension is $58 183.89.

* In this example, 50% of the projected PI is used because it is higher than the projected PI, minus 3%.

Terminal illness

If I have a terminal illness, could I receive special benefits under the PPMP?

Yes. If you have a terminal illness, that is, an illness which, in the opinion of your physician, is such that your life expectancy is less than two years, you can receive the higher of the following two amounts:

• your total pension contributions, with accrued interest;
• the actuarial value of the accrued retirement pension.

The amount paid or transferred to obtain a pension credit, with interest, will be added to the amount you receive.

However, you do not have this option if, at the time of your application, you are eligible for an unreduced immediate pension.

Can I continue working after I receive those benefits?

Yes. However, you will cease to be a member of the PPMP.

In the event of the breakdown of your union

What types of union are recognized under public-sector pension plans?

Three types of union are recognized under public-sector pension plans:

• marriages;
• civil unions;
• de facto unions.

Those types of union could give the spouse of a member or beneficiary of a public-sector plan entitlement to:

• partition of the family patrimony in the event of:
  • divorce;
  • legal separation;
  • annulment of marriage;
  • dissolution or annulment of civil union;

  or

• partition of the benefits accrued under the pension plan in cases where de facto spouses stop living together.

Marriage

Marriage is the lawful union of two individuals under the conditions provided for by law for the purpose of living together.

There are two different types of marriages:

• Religious marriage:
  Marriage approved and celebrated in accordance with the beliefs of a religion recognized in a country or state. In Québec, religious marriage refers to a civil marriage that meets certain requirements under the Civil Code of Québec. It is celebrated during a religious ceremony.
• Civil marriage:
  Nonreligious marriage approved and celebrated by a civil authority. With a few exceptions, a marriage celebrated in Québec is recognized worldwide.

The recognition of a marriage is immediate. This type of union gives entitlement to partition of the family patrimony in the event of divorce or legal separation, as well as a survivors' benefit in the event of death.

Civil union

A civil union is a type of legal relationship between two individuals who decide to live together as a couple without entering into a civil or religious marriage. After the union is celebrated, an act of civil union, which is the official document confirming the union, is issued by the Directeur de l'état civil. On 24 June 2002, the Act instituting civil unions and establishing new rules of filiation came into force, allowing for the union of two persons of the same sex or different sex.

Civil unions are recognized only in Québec. In order for their union to be recognized by the federal government, the civilly united individuals must qualify as de facto spouses (or common-law partners) within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Therefore, they must meet at least one of the following conditions:

• They must have been living together in a conjugal relationship on a continuous basis for at least 12 months;
• They must be the parents of a child by birth or by adoption;
• They must have full custody and control of the other's children (or had custody and control immediately before the children turned 19). The children must be wholly dependent on both of the individuals.

If the civilly united individuals qualify as spouses, they are covered by the provisions of the plan relating to partition of the family patrimony and survivors' benefits.

De facto union

A de facto (common-law) union is when two persons have been living together for a certain time and are united by particular emotional and economic ties. In cases where de facto spouses who are recognized as such stop living together, they can have the benefits accrued under their public-sector pension plan partitioned. This type of union gives entitlement to survivors' benefits in the event of death.

A de facto union can be considered valid provided that certain conditions are met regarding:

• the legal definition of spouse;
• the spouses' civil status;
• the existence of a conjugal relationship;
• the length of the conjugal relationship.

To be recognized as de facto (common-law) spouses under the PPMP, the spouses must show that they lived together and were in fact in a conjugal relationship during:

• at least the three years preceding the breakdown of the union or the death of the member or retiree;

  or

• the year preceding the breakdown of the union or the death if:
  • a child was or is to be born of the union;
  • during the union, either spouse adopted a child of the other;
  • during the union, the spouses adopted a child together.

Whether they are married or in a civil or de facto (common-law) union, it is important for the individuals concerned to know how a breakdown of their union or death could affect their benefits under a public-sector pension plan. Visit the Retraite Québec website for further information regarding the situation that applies to you.

What is the partition of the benefits accrued under your public-sector pension plan following the breakdown of your union?

If you were married or in a civil union

Benefits accrued under a public-sector pension plan during a marriage or civil union are part of the family patrimony. The value of those benefits can therefore be partitioned in the event of a divorce, separation from bed and board, annulment of marriage, payment of a compensatory allowance, or a dissolution or annulment of a civil union, provided that they have not renounced partition and they are covered by the provisions of the plan relating to partition of the family patrimony.

The court generally awards the member's former spouse 50% of the value of the benefits accrued under the pension plan during the marriage or civil union. However, under the Act, the spouse could be awarded up to a maximum of 50% of the value of the benefits accrued over the total period of membership in the plan.

Upon request, Retraite Québec can determine the value of your benefits once you have instituted proceedings (filed an application with the civil division of the clerk's office and had it stamped by the court), or earlier if an accredited mediator confirms that you are attending family mediation. To find out the value of the benefits accrued under your plan, you must file an Application for a Statement of Benefits – Married or Civilly United Spouses (form RSP-388A) with Retraite Québec.

If the court decides that the value of the benefits must be partitioned, you must file an Application for Payment of the Value of Accrued Benefits Under a Public-Sector Pension Plan – Married, Civilly United and De Facto Spouses (form RSP-389A) with Retraite Québec.

Retraite Québec will transfer on request the amount allocated to your former spouse to a financial instrument authorized in his or her name at the financial institution of his or her choice.

In order to take into account the amount transferred, we will calculate what is called a reduction due to partition. When you retire, or if you have already retired, your retirement pension will be permanently reduced accordingly.

If you were de facto (common-law) spouses

Since January 2019, it has been possible for de facto spouses who are recognized as such to have the benefits accrued under their public-sector pension plan partitioned in the event of a breakdown of their union, provided that they have signed a written agreement to that effect.

The agreement must:

• be reached before a notary or an attorney, or through a joint sworn statement;
• be signed by both spouses:
  • within 12 months following the date on which they stop living together,
    or
  • within 12 months following 1 January 2019, if the they stopped living together before that date.

Partition of benefits accrued under a public-sector pension plan is carried out on a voluntary basis and your former spouse cannot be awarded more than 50% of the value of the benefits accrued over your total period of membership. If the value of the benefits accrued under the plan is partitioned between you and your former spouse, your retirement pension will be reduced permanently.

To find out the value of the benefits accrued under your plan, you must file an Application for a Statement of Benefits – De Facto Spouses (form RSP-387A) with Retraite Québec.

If a partition agreement is carried out, you must file an Application for Payment of the Value of Accrued Benefits Under a Public-Sector Pension Plan – Married, Civilly United and De Facto Spouses (form RSP-389A) with Retraite Québec. You must enclose with your application all the required documents, including the written agreement.

Retraite Québec will transfer the amount agreed upon to your former spouse to a financial instrument authorized in his or her name, at the financial institution of his or her choice. In order to take into account the amount transferred, we will calculate the reduction due to partition. It means that, when you retire, or if you have already retired, your retirement pension will be permanently reduced based on that amount.

For more information on partition of the benefits accrued under a public-sector pension plan, consult our Pension plans and partition page.

In the event of death

What benefits are provided for under the PPMP in the event of death?

Benefits can be paid depending on whether or not you are eligible for a retirement pension or you have retired at the time of your death.

What will happen if I am not eligible for a retirement pension?

At the time of your death, if you have less than two years of service credited for eligibility purposes (without taking into account the added service), your spouse will receive the total of your contributions to your pension plan, with accrued interest. If you do not have a spouse, the amount will be paid to your heirs.

However, if you have at least two years of service credited for eligibility purposes, your spouse will receive the higher of the following two amounts:

• the total of your contributions to your pension plan, plus accrued interest;
• the actuarial value of the deferred pension you accrued.

If you do not have a spouse, the higher of those amounts will be paid to your heirs.

Your spouse or, if you do not have a spouse, your heirs, will also receive a refund for any amounts you paid to obtain your pension credits, with accrued interest.

What if I am eligible for an immediate retirement pension?

Your spouse will receive, until his or her death, a surviving spouse's pension corresponding to 50% of the pension that would have been payable to you at that time (including 50% of your SPP pension credits, transfer agreement pension credits and life annuity for pension credit service, but excluding any buy-back pension credits or temporary annuity for pension credit service). That pension will be integrated with the Québec Pension Plan as of the month following your death.

Note that if the actuarial value of your spouse's pension is lower than the total of your contributions with interest, the amount of his or her pension will be increased until its actuarial value is equal to the contributions you paid, with accrued interest.

If you do not have a spouse, your heirs will receive the total of your contributions to your pension plan, with accrued interest.

Your spouse or, if you do not have a spouse, your heirs, will also receive a refund for any amounts you paid to obtain your buy-back pension credits, with accrued interest.

And if I'm already receiving my retirement pension?

If you are already receiving a retirement pension at the time of your death and you have a spouse, your spouse will receive, until his or her death, a surviving spouse's pension corresponding to 50% or 60% of your pension (including 50% or 60% of your SPP pension credits, transfer agreement pension credits and life annuity for pension credit service), depending on the option you choose when you retire. You can choose to reduce your pension by 2% so that your spouse receives 60% of your reduced pension.

If your pension is not already integrated with the QPP, integration will apply to the surviving spouse's pension as of the month following your death.

Your spouse's pension will not include any buy-back pension credits or temporary annuity linked to pension credit service. However, if applicable, your spouse will also receive an amount calculated as follows:

• the total amount you paid to obtain your buy-back pension credits; plus
• the interest accrued up to the date of your retirement; minus
• the buy-back pension credit payments you received.

If you are receiving a retirement pension and do not have a spouse at the time of your death, your heirs will receive an amount calculated as follows:

• the total of your contributions to your pension plan; plus
• the interest accrued up to the date of your retirement; minus
• the pension payments you received; plus, if applicable
• the total amount you paid to obtain your pension credits (of any type); plus
• the interest accrued up to the date of your retirement; minus
• the buy-back pension credit payments you received.

When I die, who will be recognized as my de facto spouse under the PPMP?

Under the PPMP, your spouse is the person to whom you are married, with whom you are in a civil union, or the person of the opposite sex or the same sex that you present as your de facto spouse, and who, at the time of your death, has been living with you in a conjugal relationship for at least three years. That period is one year if a child was born or is to be born of your union or if, during your union, you and your spouse adopted a child together or the child of the other.

To be recognized as spouses, neither individual can be married to or in a civil union ^{SeeNote 5} with a third party.

Can I bequeath by will the benefits accrued under my pension plan to the person of my choice?

No. The Act respecting the Pension Plan of Management Personnel contains provisions regarding the beneficiary of the benefits accrued under your pension plan, depending on whether or not you have a spouse at the time of your death.

You have a spouse

Regardless of your will, the Act provides that your spouse is entitled to the benefits accrued under your pension plan following your death. The same applies if you did not make a will.

You do not have spouse

The benefits accrued under your pension plan are part of your estate. Therefore, the heirs you designated will be entitled to those benefits under your will. If you did not make a will, your estate, including the benefits accrued under your pension plan, will be transferred to your heirs in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code of Québec.

Can my spouse renounce his or her rights?

Yes. Your spouse can waive his or her spousal benefits in favour of your heirs. Your spouse could also revoke that waiver at a later time by informing us in writing. In both cases, we must receive that information before your death.

Deciding to retire

What factors should I consider before deciding to retire?

It is important that you be ready to enter this new stage of your life.

Retirement Planning Information Session (RPIS)

If you plan to retire within the next five years, you can sign up for a Retirement Planning Information Session (RPIS) to help you make an informed decision. The sessions provide a wealth of useful information concerning public-sector pension plans and the Québec Pension Plan, addressing legal, psychosocial, financial and other aspects of retirement. The information sessions are offered according to a flexible schedule or online.

It is also important to evaluate the total income you will have, depending on your age upon retiring, for example, your pension under the PPMP, your pension under the Québec Pension Plan, your Old Age Security pension (payable at age 65) and any income from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or from other sources, and to compare it with your expenses.

How can I obtain an estimate of my pension under the PPMP?

If you wish to do some long-term planning of your retirement, you can use the Pension Estimator tool , available on our website. The estimator tool will quickly and easily provide you with an estimate of the amount of the pension to which you could be entitled on the date you plan to retire.

However, if you intend to retire within the next four to 24 months, we advise you to apply for a pension estimate using the Application for Pension Estimate from (RSP-009A), available on our website.

What do I have to do once I have decided to retire?

In order to receive your retirement pension under the PPMP, the date on which you stop working must be decided with your employer and then, you must file your Application for Retirement Pension Under a Public-Sector Pension Plan (RSP-079A) and send it online to Retraite Québec.

We recommend that you send it to us at least 90 days before the starting date of your retirement. That period includes a 30-day time limit to inform us of your choices using the Your Options reply form you will receive. This reply form is uploaded automatically to My Account. You can file it and track your application in your digital file.

If you do not meet the deadline, the default option indicated on the Your Options document will apply to determine your pension.

If I am eligible for a reduced immediate pension, can I stop working and wait until I am eligible for an unreduced pension before I apply for my retirement pension?

Yes. However, before you make that decision, it is important to consider the consequences. You could receive a slightly higher pension at a later date by postponing the starting date of your payments. We recommend that you consult a financial planner to obtain a clear picture of your situation.

If I am eligible for a reduced immediate  pension when I resign but I do not apply for it immediately, can I apply later even if, at that time, I am not yet eligible for an unreduced pension?

Yes. However, if you file your retirement pension application more than 60 days after you stop working but are not yet eligible for an unreduced pension, we will not pay your pension retroactively to the date on which you stopped working, but rather retroactively to the date on which we received your application or any later date specified on your reply form. We will take that date into account to calculate the reduction due to your early retirement.

If I am eligible for a reduced immediate pension when I resign, but I do not apply for it and forget to apply for an unreduced pension when I become eligible, what will happen when I apply for my pension?

If you file your retirement pension application once you are eligible for an unreduced immediate pension, we will pay your pension retroactively to the date on which you became eligible for an unreduced pension, and not retroactively to the date on which we received your application.

If I am eligible for a pension under the PPMP and I resign to work in the private sector, but prefer not to apply for my pension immediately because I wish to return to the public or parapublic sector at the end of that employment, will that affect my pension under the PPMP?

It depends on the number of days between the date on which you cease your employment under the PPMP and the date on which you return to work in the public or parapublic sector.

If there are no more than 180 days between the two dates, you will resume your membership in the PPMP, whether your new position is unionized or non-unionized. When you retire, your pension under the PPMP will be calculated taking into account the total of your periods of membership.

However, if there are more than 180 days between the two dates, you will not necessarily contribute to the PPMP. Depending on whether your new position is unionized or non-unionized, you will be in one of the following situations:

• If you hold a unionized position, you will no longer be a member of the PPMP and you will have to contribute to RREGOP. As a result, you will no longer be entitled to a pension under the PPMP. You will be entitled to a pension under RREGOP, but only once you have met one of the eligibility requirements under that plan.
• If you hold a non-unionized position, you will resume your membership in the PPMP. When you retire, your pension under the PPMP will be calculated taking into account the total of your periods of membership.

Payment of your pension

How often will my pension be paid?

If you chose direct deposit, your pension will be paid for life on the 15th of each month or, if the 15th is not a working day, on the preceding working day. If your pension is paid by cheque, it will be issued no later than 48 hours before that date.

Will income tax be deducted from my pension?

As a general rule, yes. Amounts will be deducted from your retirement pension for federal and provincial income tax purposes. The deductions are determined as though your pension were your sole income. If the amounts are not high enough or are too high, you can ask to have them increased or decreased.

Return to work of a retiree

Will my pension be affected if I return to work after I have retired?

If you are a retired PPMP beneficiary and you are once again a position covered by the PPMP, RREGOP or the PPPOCS, you will automatically participate in the PPMP. Your contributions will be deducted from your salary in accordance with the provisions of the pension plan, and payment of your retirement pension will be totally suspended.

When you no longer have any employment ties, or, at the latest, on 30 December of the year of your 71st birthday, your retirement pension will become payable again and you will receive the higher of the following amounts:

• the retirement pension to which you were entitled to before your return to work, indexed;
or
• the recalculated retirement pension, taking into account the additional service that you accrued.

If the highest amount is the indexed retirement pension amount, the contributions you have made since your return to work will be repaid to you with interest.

However, you can decide not to participate in the pension plan. Depending on your employment when you return to work, the consequences on the retirement pension will be different.

Please note that working for an employer not subject to a pension plan that we administer will not affect your retirement pension.

Choosing not to participate
If you are returning to work in a position covered by RREGOP and that you decide not to participate in the plan, you will continue receiving your retirement pension in full, as well as your salary.
If you are once again working in a position covered by the PPMP and you decide not to participate in the plan, you will receive your retirement pension in full provided your salary is not greater than your limit for the current calendar year. The day following the one on which you reach your limit, the retirement pension that is paid to you will be reduced in proportion to the number of days of service that would have been credited to you had you participated in the retirement plan during your return to work.
The amount of the limit is specific to each participant and applies to the calendar year. It is determined on 1 January of each year, and it corresponds to the difference between the reference salary for the period and the amount of retirement pension that is or would be payable if no integration was applied.
If your return to work is still in progress on 1 January of the following year, you will start receiving again your retirement in full on that date, and, as long as the salary that is paid to you upon returning to work is not greater than your limit for a given year.
If you return to work in employment covered by the PPPOCS and your position is a manager position in a correctional facility or it belongs to the category of intermediate middle managers of the Institut Philippe-Pinel and you decide not to participate in the pension plan, the provisions regarding the return to work to be applied will be the same as those applicable to a person returning to work in a position covered by the PPMP. However, if you return to work in a position covered other than the ones mentioned above, the provisions regarding the return to work of a person returning to a position covered by RREGOP will apply.
Conditions upon returning to work in a position covered by the RPSO
If you are a PPMP beneficiary and you return to work in a position covered by the RPSO, you will have the choice to participate or not in the plan. Therefore:

• should you chose to participate in the plan, contributions will be deducted from your salary in accordance with the provisions of the pension plan, and your retirement pension will be cancelled;
• should you chose not to participate in the plan, you will receive your retirement pension as well as your salary.

When you no longer have any employment ties, or, at the latest, on 30 December of the year of your 71st birthday, if your participated in the plan, the additional service accrued during your return to work will be added to your years of service credited under your previous pension plan, and your retirement pension will be recalculated based on this total. Only one retirement pension will be payable to you, under the provisions of the RPSO.

To serve you better

Retraite Québec is committed to:

• offering high-quality services that meet your expectations. To find out more about our commitments, consult our Service Statement online.
• handling complaints and comments with complete independence and confidentiality. The Bureau du commissaire aux plaintes et à l'amélioration des services can make recommendations to improve our services and programs. You can phone us to leave a comment or file a complaint with the Bureau. For more information, refer to our website.

Protection of personal information

We obtain personal information from citizens, government departments and public agencies.

We protect that information and make sure that it is used by duly authorized personnel in carrying out their duties.

However, we can release the information to certain government departments and public agencies in accordance with written agreements approved by the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec.

Appendix

List of non-unionized positions

Public service, education, and healthcare and social services sectors, as well as organizations whose employees are appointed and paid in accordance with the Public Service Act:

• Managerial and senior executive positions determined according to managerial classification plans established by designated officials in the public or parapublic sectors.
• The following positions in the public service sector:
• Human resources advisors;
• Crown prosecutors;
• Mediators and conciliators;
• Justices of the peace from 30 June 2004 to 31 December 2016;
• Public servant justices of the peace appointed prior to 30 June 2004 who were members of RREGOP or PPM and who decided, before 1 January 2005, to contribute to the PPMP.

Crown corporations and government agencies whose working conditions, standards and salary scales are set by the government or approved by the Conseil du trésor:

• Positions specified in managerial classification plans approved by the Conseil du trésor and which comply with any managerial terms of employment.
• Human resources advisors who comply with the organization's terms of employment for its management staff.
• Investigation coordinator, investigation supervisors and investigators from the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes.
• Chief inspectors, inspectors, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, corporals and anti‑corruption commissioner's agents.

Offices of ministers, members of the National Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor:

• Cabinet director and assistant cabinet director positions whose terms of employment provide for the same benefits as for other senior public service positions.

Private schools and all other employers subject to the PPMP:

• Positions similar to managerial or senior executive positions in the public or parapublic sectors, determined according to managerial classification plans established by the designated authority in the sector in question.