LAPP's administrator, Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS), will mail you a welcome package.

This package includes:

• a member handbook,
• forms for you to fill out,
• a satisfaction survey, and
• a self-addressed, postage paid envelope to return the completed forms and survey.

Further information:
LAPP At-a-Glance

The Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form tells us to whom your benefit is to be paid if you die before retirement. If you have a pension partner, that person is automatically your beneficiary, but you should complete the Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form and send it to LAPP's administrator, Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS), in case your pension partner dies before you and cannot be paid the benefit.

Further information:
Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form (LA2)
Multiple Beneficiaries Form (LA2L)
LAPP At-a-Glance
Death before Retirement

We need the information from this form to ensure a benefit is paid to your pension partner if you die before you retire. The information is also used to calculate pension estimates for you.

Your pension partner is automatically your beneficiary and has rights related to your pension. For example, you will be required to select a pension choice that provides your pension partner with a life time pension if you die after you retire. Your pension partner may waive this right at retirement time.

The Courts consider your pension to be matrimonial property. If your marriage ends, the Court may require the pension you earned while you were together be divided.

Further information:
Pension Partner Information Form (LA5)

Members and employers make contributions to the pension plan.
Your contributions are based on a percentage of your pensionable salary and are made through payroll deduction. Your employer contributes at a higher rate than you. The Local Authorities Pension Plan Board of Trustees reviews contributions rates at least every three years and may change them as necessary.

Contribution Rates
Member:
on pensionable salary up to the YMPE*   8.49%
on pensionable salary over the YMPE      12.13%

Employer:
on pensionable salary up to the YMPE     9.49%
on pensionable salary over the YMPE      13.13%

*YMPE - Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings under the Canada Pension Plan. (2011 YMPE = $48,300)

Further information:
Member Handbook - How Much do You Contribute?

Members and employers make contributions to the pension plan. Membership is usually a condition of employment and is not optional.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Your Membership

If you have re-joined the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP), your funds will automatically be added to your new pensionable service under LAPP.
 
Members of LAPP with pension contributions in a different pension plan may be eligible to transfer those entitlements to LAPP through a reciprocal transfer. LAPP currently has transfer agreements with the following pension plans:

Within the Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS) family of plans:

• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP)
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)

Further information:
Transfers into LAPP from PSPP or MEPP

If you have previous service with the Special Forces Pension Plan (SFPP), please contact Alberta Pension Services Corporation for more information on how to transfer your SFPP benefits into LAPP.

Under the Alberta Teachers Retirement Fund (ATRF) Agreement:
Transfers into LAPP from ATRF

Under the National Transfer Agreement:

• British Columbia College Pension Plan
• British Columbia Municipal Pension Plan
• British Columbia Public Service Pension Plan
• British Columbia Teachers' Pension Plan
• Manitoba Civil Service Superannuation Fund
• Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service Pension Plan
• Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan
• New Brunswick Public Service Superannuation Plan
• Ontario Pension Board 
• OPSEU Pension Trust
• Province of Quebec (La Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d'assurances)
• Régime de retraite des employés du gouvernement et des organismes publics (RREGOP) (Government and Public Employees)
• Régime de retraite du personnel d'encadrement (RRPE) (Management Personnel)
• Régime de retraite des enseignants (RRE) (Teachers Pension Plan)
• Régime de retraite des fonctionnaires (RRF) (Civil Service Superannuation Plan)
• Régime de retraite de certains enseignants (Certain Teachers)

Further information:
Transfers into LAPP from the National Transfer Agreement

Under the Federal Transfer Agreement (Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan):
Transfers into LAPP under the Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan

If your current pension plan does not appear on this list, please contact LAPP for more options for transferring service.
 

LAPP is an important part of your preparation for a secure retirement income. The value of your pension plan is one of your most important financial assets, for the following reasons:

• The pension is paid for your lifetime.
• LAPP assures you a specified income regardless of market conditions or how long you live.
• Every year after you begin to receive your pension, you will automatically get a cost-of-living adjustment of 60 per cent of the increase in the Alberta Consumer Price Index.

Several factors affect the pension you will receive at retirement, including:

• your pensionable salary,
• your years of pensionable service,
• whether or not you buy any optional service or leaves of absence, and
• your pension partner status.

If you leave the Plan before retirement, there are a number of options available to you.

Further information:
Member Handbook - What is Your Benefit?
How is Your Pension Calculated?
What are Your Pension Options?

The Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP) has served employees of local authorities in Alberta since 1962. These include health authorities, cities, towns, villages, municipal districts, colleges, school boards and many other public sector organizations.

LAPP is a defined benefit plan which means you will receive a pension based on your salary and years of service. This enables you to plan for your retirement because you can estimate your future pension income. The Plan is financed by employee and employer contributions and by investment earnings.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Welcome!
About LAPP
LAPP At-a-Glance

Yes, your pension contributions are tax deductible. As a member of a defined benefit plan, your taxable income is reduced by the amount of allowable pension contributions you make. Your employer will report your tax deductible pension contributions on your T4.

For information on how your pension might affect your RRSPs, see the following:
Member Handbook - How Much do You Contribute?

Further information:
Canada Revenue Agency

With two or more years of plan membership, you are eligible to receive a pension at retirement. You can retire any time after your reach age 55.

Leaving the Plan Under Age 55
If you are under age 55 and decide to leave the Plan with two years of Plan membership, see the following:
Member Handbook - Options if You Leave Before Retiring
Leaving Your Funds with the Pension Plan
Leaving the Plan (under age 55 with two or more years of plan membership)

Leaving the Plan Over Age 55
If you are 55 or older and decide to leave the Plan with two years of Plan membership, see the following:
Member Handbook - Options if You Leave Before Retiring
Leaving Your Funds with the Pension Plan
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with two or more years of LAPP membership but before 85 points)
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with 85 points or age 65)

Pension plans like LAPP are long-term investors. The contribution dollars of members and employers paid into the plan today will be invested and reinvested for many years into the future. The investments compound and grow over time before being paid out to members as pensions during their retirement years.

Your pension board sets funding and investment policies which are regularly monitored. The board, with the advice of an actuary, sets a funding policy to ensure member and employer contribution levels are sufficient. The contributions, together with expected investment returns, will pay all future pension liabilities.

Further information:
About LAPP: Financial/Investments

It is the pension partner's right to be paid a lifetime pension benefit if you die. However, pension rules allow your pension partner to waive his or her right to the death benefit that would be paid to him or her if you die before you retire. This provision may provide you with greater flexibility when planning for your family's needs. See the Pension Partner Waiver of Pre-retirement Death Benefit Information Sheet below for further details.

To waive their rights, your pension partner needs to complete the Pension Partner Waiver of Pre-pension Commencement of Death Benefit Statutory Declaration Form below.

Further information:
Pension Partner Waiver of Pre-pension Commencement of Death Benefit Form (LA40)
Pension Partner Waiver of Pre-retirement Death Benefit

You can update your address, phone number, e-mail address and beneficiary information online via mypensionplan, by completing the forms on the LAPP website or by contacting your employer.

Inform your employer of any changes you make through mypensionplan as we do not notify your employer of these changes.

If a LAPP employer no longer employs you (meaning you are a deferred member), you can still update your personal data online via mypensionplan, by completing the forms on the LAPP website or by contacting LAPP.

The normal retirement date is 65, but you can retire anytime after age 55, if you have two years of LAPP membership. Your pension may be reduced for early retirement.

You can contribute to LAPP for no more than 35 years. However, if you continue working beyond 35 years, your salary after that point may be taken into account when calculating your highest average salary.

You must start your pension by December 31 of the year you turn age 71.

Further information:
Member Handbook - When Can You Retire?
How is Your Pension Calculated?
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with two or more years of service but not 85 points)
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with at least 85 points or age 65)
Pension  Estimate Request Form (LA88) 
I need a pension estimate

The normal retirement date is 65, but you can retire anytime after age 55, if you have two years of LAPP membership. Your pension may be reduced for early retirement.

You can contribute to LAPP for no more than 35 years. However, if you continue working beyond 35 years, your salary after that point may be taken into account when calculating your highest average salary.

You must start your pension by December 31 of the year you turn age 71.

Further information:
Member Handbook - When Can You Retire?
How is Your Pension Calculated?
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with two or more years of service but not 85 points) 
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with at least 85 points or age 65)
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
I need a pension estimate

The normal retirement date is 65, but you can retire anytime after age 55, if you have two years of LAPP membership. Your pension may be reduced for early retirement.

You can contribute to LAPP for no more than 35 years. However, if you continue working beyond 35 years, your salary after that point may be taken into account when calculating your highest average salary.

You must start your pension by December 31 of the year you turn age 71.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Retirement Benefits - When Can You Retire?
How is Your Pension Calculated?
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with two or more years of service but not 85 points)
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with at least 85 points or age 65)
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
I need a pension estimate

Once you are age 55 or older, and are vested, you are eligible to be paid a pension. If you begin working in a job where there is another registered pension plan, you may be eligible to transfer your funds to that plan.

To be paid a pension for life:
You need to have at least two years of LAPP membership. If your age plus pensionable service don't add up to 85, the pension would be reduced because you are retiring early.

To take payout instead of a pension:
Do you have at least two years of LAPP membership and are under age 55, and your age and service do not add up to 85?

You could be paid a one-time payout of the commuted value of your pension.

Once the payout has been made, you will have no rights to any benefits from the Plan.

Note: taking a payout instead of a pension could have serious financial implications for you and your family. It is important to make sure you understand the pension you would be giving up before choosing a payout.

Further information:
Member Handbook - When Can You Retire?
How is Your Pension Calculated?
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with two or more years of service but not 85 points)
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with at least 85 points or age 65)
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
I need a pension estimate

Your pension plan is a defined benefit plan. Your pension will be based on your years of pensionable service, the average of your highest average five years' salary and your age at the time you retire.

mypensionplan is an online pension information service for members where you can calculate pension estimates based on your personal information. You can also view your length of service, salary, contributions and beneficiaries. To login or begin registration, visit mypensionplan.

Further information:
Member Handbook - When Can You Retire?
Member Handbook - How is Your Pension Calculated?
How is Your Pension Calculated?
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
I need a pension estimate

Your pension will be paid to you for as long as you live.

When you retire, you will be asked to make a pension choice and that choice will determine how your pension will be paid after you die. If you have a pension partner when you retire, you will be asked to make a pension choice that ensures your pension partner is paid a pension for their lifetime if you die. Your pension partner can waive this right at the time the pension choice is made.

If you don't have a pension partner, or your pension partner has waived her or his right, you can select a pension that will pay you for your life, but includes a feature that ensures the pension is paid to your beneficiary(ies) for a set period.

While your pension is being paid, it will be increased by cost-of-living adjustments each year.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Retirement Benefits - Pension Options
What are Your Pension Options?
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
Pension Partner Information Form (LA5)
Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form (LA2)
Multiple Beneficiaries Form (LA2L)
I need a pension estimate

After you apply to retire, you will receive a pension options package explaining your options and the estimated amounts you would receive under each option. If you have any questions, you can call the Member Services Centre or register for a One-on-One Information Session.

Further information:
Member Handbook - What are Your Pension Options?
What are Your Pension Options? 
Coordinating Your Pension
Information Sessions

Pension coordination is a way of increasing the pension paid to you before you turn 65. However, the pension will be reduced after you turn 65.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Coordinating Your Pension With CPP and OAS
Coordinating Your Pension
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
Information sessions

If you would like a pension estimate, you have three options:

1. An Estimate Based on your Actual Information:

Sign in to mypensionplan (requires registration) to create a pension estimate using your actual pension information on file with LAPP.

2. A Rough Estimate Based on Data you Provide:

Using hypothetical pension information, create an estimate with the pension estimator. This can be helpful if you would like to understand how your pension may be affected by different retirement scenarios.

3. A Formal Estimate:

Complete the Pension Estimate Request Form and send it to LAPP's administrator, Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS).

Further information:
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
How is my Pension Calculated?

If you are currently employed, talk to your employer for more information. If you left employment and left your funds with the pension plan, contact APS for more information.

Can I go to work after I retire and still collect my pension? Will my pension be adjusted for COLA?

For an overview of what to expect and things to consider after you retire, see the following:
Retirees
Working as a Retiree
Designation of Beneficiary for Retirees Form (LA2P)
Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)

For information on what to expect if you've chosen coordination and are now 65, see the following:
Coordinating Your Pension

For assistance with retirement, view the steps to retirement avatar on the right hand side of this webpage.

Step one. Find out what your pension will be. You can estimate your own pension at mypensionplan, our secure website for members. Do you know what date you want to retire? If not, getting some estimates will help you make that decision.

Step two is the retirement application. Three months before your retirement date, fill out the Retirement Application Form and give it to your employer. Your employer will complete their portion of the form and send it to our administrator, Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS). If you left your funds from an earlier period of employment in the plan, fill out the same application form and send it directly to APS.

Step three is your pension choice. APS will calculate your pension and send you a Pension Options Package. Please review that package carefully as you can only make your pension choice once. Fill out the forms noted in the package and provide documentation where requested. For example, you'll need to send documents to prove your age and the age of your pension partner, if you have one.

Finally, APS will audit the pension calculations and all the information you and your employer have provided. If APS receives all necessary information from you and your employer prior to your retirement date, you should receive your first pension payment 30 days after your retirement date or at minimum, a partial payment until the audit is complete.

LAPP's administrator, Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS), will mail you your statement after your employer finishes their year-end pension processes. The statement gives you details on your contributions, pensionable service and beneficiary information. It will also show you an estimate of your benefits and, if applicable, provide you with an estimate of your pension.

You can also sign up to go green by registering on mypensionplan. By going green, you will receive e-mail notification when your Member Annual Statement is available online.

You can contribute until you have 35 years of pensionable service, or until you reach age 71, whatever is earliest.

If you remain employed after you have 35 years of service, you won't pay contributions. If those years were in your highest five years of salary (highest average salary), the salary earned then will be used to calculate your pension even though you didn't make contributions.

If you reach age 71, a benefit will be paid to you even if you don't have two years of service or if you continue to work. Once you reach age 71, you must begin to receive your benefits from the Plan even if you continue to work.

Further information:
Member Handbook - How Much do you Contribute

Once you have two years of membership in LAPP, you are vested. This means you are entitled to a pension at retirement.

If you leave LAPP with two years of plan membership, you have a number of choices.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Options if You Leave Before Retiring
LAPP At-a-Glance
Leaving the Plan (under age 55 with two or more years of service) 
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with two or more years service, not 85 points)
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older at least 85 points or age 65)
Leaving the Plan (at any age with fewer than two years of service)

You may increase your future pension by purchasing a period of previous employment (optional service) if eligible.

When you apply, you will receive notification of the cost to buy the optional service. You can decide whether you want to buy the optional service at that time.

If you would like to apply to purchase optional service, you can:

• use the online buying back service estimator for an immediate estimate of the cost of your service.
• contact your employer. They will help you apply to purchase optional service through LAPP's administrator, Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS). When you apply, you will receive notification of the cost to buy the service. You can decide whether you want to buy the service at that time.

Further information:
Member Handbook - How Can You Increase Your Benefit?

If you take a leave without salary (including parental leave), you may add that period of time to your pensionable service and thereby increase your future pension. You may continue to make pension contributions through your employer while you are on leave. If you don't do this, you may apply to purchase the period of leave once you return to work.

Time limits apply for purchasing a leave. If you want to buy your period of leave, you must let your employer know in writing before April 30 in the year following the year your leave ended. For example, if you had a leave from February 1, 2010 to June 15, 2010, you would need to apply to buy the leave period by April 30, 2011.

When you apply, you will receive notification of the cost to buy the leave. You can decide whether you want to buy the leave at that time. If you would like to make these contributions through your employer while you are on leave, please confrim this with your employer's participation policy prior to starting the leave.

Parental leave and maternity leave are the same thing. Men or women can apply to purchase up to three years of parental leave, in addition to the five years of leave allowed for any other member. For parental leave, the leave begins at the time of the birth of a natural child or adoption of a child, and ends 12 months after that. Parental leave is only available if the period of leave was after June 30, 2002.

Further information:
Member Handbook - How Can You Increase Your Benefit?
Leave of Absence

There are many things to consider before this question can be answered. When you receive your notice of cost for the leave, you will be provided with information that may help you understand the pros and cons of buying service.

Buying leave within the leave time limits
If you are buying leave within the time limits, the cost of the leave is based on what you would have contributed had you been working. If the period you are looking at is the first year of leave you have ever bought under the Plan, you only pay your contributions and interest. If you are buying more than one year of leave, you also pay what your employer would have contributed on your behalf had you remained at work.

Time limits apply for purchasing a leave. Contact your employer if you would like to apply to purchase a leave of absence.

Further information:
Member Handbook - How Can You Increase Your Benefit?
Leave of Absence

You can increase your future benefits by buying optional service. Some examples of optional service include:

• previous employment with your current employer;
• previous employment with another employer who participates in LAPP; or
• contributory service under another pension plan in some circumstances.

To be eligible, you must not be entitled to a benefit from another registered pension plan for the same period of service.  Contact LAPP's administrator, Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS), to get more information on paying for optional service with a transfer from another pension plan.

Get an estimate of the cost
You can calculate an estimate of the cost to buy optional service by using the buying back service estimator. Just follow the steps to estimate the cost of the period you want to buy.

If you decide you want to consider buying some optional service, talk to your employer's human resources staff. They will provide you with the forms you need to get a Notice of Cost. The Notice of Cost information contains important information about how the service will affect your benefits and things you need to consider before you make a decision.

Further information:
Member Handbook - How Can You Increase Your Benefit?
Leave of Absence

You can update your address and phone number online via mypensionplan, completing the forms on the LAPP website or by contacting your employer.

Be sure to inform your employer of any changes you make through mypensionplan as we do not notify your employer of these changes.

If you are no longer employed by a LAPP employer (meaning you are a deferred member), you can update your personal data online via mypensionplan or by contacting LAPP.

If you get married, make sure to update your employer with your new name and address (if applicable). To make changes to your name and address information, please contact your employer. If you are no longer contributing to the pension plan and need to update your name and address, please contact the Member Services Centre.

Once you are married, your partner becomes your pension partner. If you die, your pension partner is automatically your beneficiary; however, if your pension partner dies before you, your benefits will go to your beneficiary(ies). You may want to update your Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form.

For more information on how having a pension partner will affect your pension options, see the following: 

Update your information on mypensionplan? 
Member Handbook - What are Your Pension Options? 
What are Your Pension Options?
Pension Partner Information Form (LA5) 
Date of Birth Verification Form (LA1A)
Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form (LA2)
Multiple Beneficiaries Form (LA2L)

If there has been a change in your family (for example, you had a baby or adopted a child), you may want to change your Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form.

Talk to your employer about any leave of absence you may have taken as a result of the change in your family.

Further information:
Member Handbook - How Can You Increase Your Benefit?
Leave of Absence
Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form (LA2)
Multiple Beneficiaries Form (LA2L)

When a marriage breaks down, pension benefits are viewed as matrimonial property. You may want to obtain legal advice to make sure you understand your options.

Visit the Alberta Pension Services Corporation (APS) website, or call the Member Services Centre at 1-877-649-LAPP (5277) to discuss this in further detail.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Marital Breakdown
Pension Partner Information Form (LA5)
Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form (LA2) 
Multiple Beneficiaries Form (LA2L) 
Martial Breakdown Information for your lawyer

To change or add a beneficiary for your pension benefits, complete the Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form, make a copy for your records, and mail it to the address listed on the Form.

Further information:
Member Handbook - What are Your Pension Options?
Death Before Retirement
Leaving Your Funds with the Pension Plan
What are Your Pension Options?
Designation of Beneficiary(ies) Form (LA2)
Multiple Beneficiaries Form (LA2L)

If the marital status on your pension file is not correct and you are currently contributing to the pension plan, please contact the Member Services Centre to update your information.

If you are no longer employed by a LAPP employer (meaning you are a deferred member), please contact the Member Services Centre to update your information.

Ask your bank to send a cheque to the pension plan, care of APS. The banker will be able to give you the proper tax form for this transaction.

You can pay all or part of the cost of your service by RRSP transfer. If you owe less than $500, and you are not sending the full amount by RRSP, you'll need to give your employer a cheque for the balance by the payment due date on your Notice of Cost.

If you choose to pay part of the cost of your service by RRSP transfer, this needs to be received before the balance is sent in. Because the transfer takes time to process, make sure you talk to your bank as early in the process as you can so you don't miss the final payment due date on your Notice of Cost.

Your cheque should be made payable to your employer. It is a good idea to ask what their official name is so there are no delays in processing your cheque. Your employer will cash your cheque and include the amount of payment with their next remittance of contributions.

Give your employer time for all their processes. Your employer may need up to a month to cash your cheque and remit the funds. If you don't talk to your employer early enough, you might miss the payment due date.

Talk to your employer. Your employer will set you up for payroll deductions and make sure your payments reach our administrator, APS. Interest will be charged on the outstanding balance.

You cannot pay less than the minimum payment shown in your leave of absence cost information and the cost of your service must be more than $500, or you would have to pay the full amount owing.

You will need to provide your employer with a cheque for one year's worth of payments by the payment due date. If you are paid monthly, your cheque would need to add up to not less than 12 minimum payments. If you are paid bi-weekly, your cheque would have to be for not less than 26 minimum payments.

After your first payment, you will be charged interest on the outstanding balance. Your next payment will be due on the anniversary date of your first payment.

A cheque will be sent to your financial institution, or you if applicable, within a month of receiving your benefit choice and all the required documents.

If you choose to transfer your funds to another pension plan, it will take more time for both plans to exchange information and calculate the transfer details. Once those calculations are done, you will be sent information about the transfer and an authorization form.

Pension contributions can be refunded to you if you are not vested when you terminate or if you have excess contributions.

When you don't work full-time hours, your accumulated service only based on the time you worked. For example, if you are working half-time, your service for one full calendar year would only be 0.5000. This means it will take you longer to qualify for an unreduced pension.

And, although your service each year is affected by not working full-time, when you retire, your pension will be calculated to produce benefits that are proportionate to full-time employees. This means your salary information would be calculated based on what you would have earned if you worked one full year.  For example, if your salary for working half-time is $25,000 per year, the pension you will earn would be based on an annualized salary of $50,000, but it would take two years of working half-time for you to earn that one full-year of service.

Former members of LAPP currently contributing to a different pension plan may be eligible to transfer their LAPP entitlements through a reciprocal transfer. LAPP currently has transfer agreements with the following pension plans:

Within the Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS) family of Plans

• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP)
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)

For more information on transfers from LAPP into either PSPP or MEPP, please contact your current pension plan administrator.

If you have previous service with the Special Forces Pension Plan (SFPP), please contact Alberta Pension Services Corporation for more information on how to transfer your SFPP benefits into LAPP.

Under the Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund (ATRF)
For more information on transfers from LAPP to ATRF, please contact your current pension plan administrator:

Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund Board
600 Barnett House 11010 - 142 Street NW
Edmonton, AB  T5N 2R1
Toll Free:  1-800-661-9582
Fax:         780-452-3547
E-mail:      member@atrf.com
Website:   www.atrf.com

Under the National Transfer Agreement

• British Columbia College Pension Plan
• British Columbia Municipal Pension Plan
• British Columbia Public Service Pension Plan
• British Columbia Superannuation Plan
• British Columbia Teachers' Pension Plan
• Manitoba Civil Service Superannuation Fund
• Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service Pension Plan
• Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan
• New Brunswick Public Service Superannuation Plan
• Ontario Pension Board
• OPSEU Pension Trust
• Province of Quebec (La Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d'assurances)
• Régime de retraite des employés du gouvernement et des organismes publics (RREGOP) (Government and Public Employees)
• Régime de retraite du personnel d'encadrement (RRPE) (Management Personnel)
• Régime de retraite des enseignants (RRE) (Teachers Pension Plan)
• Régime de retraite des fonctionnaires (RRF) (Civil Service Superannuation Plan)
• Régime de retraite de certains enseignants (Certain Teachers)

For more information on transfers from LAPP to another plan under the National Transfer Agreement, please contact your current pension plan administrator.

Under the Federal Transfer Agreement (Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan)
For more information on transfers from LAPP to the federal Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan, please contact your current pension plan administrator:

Public Works and Government Services Canada
Pension Service Pension Centre Mail Facility
PO Box 8000  
Matane, QC G4W 4T6
Toll Free:  1-800-561-7930
E-mail:     pensioncentre.centredespensions@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Website:   www.pensionandbenefits.gc.ca

LAPP has reciprocal transfer agreements with almost all the provincial public sector pension plans in Canada.

Within Alberta:

• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP)
• Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund

If you have previous service with the Special Forces Pension Plan (SFPP), please contact Alberta Pension Services Corporation for more information on how to transfer your SFPP benefits into LAPP.

Federally:

• Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan (federal public sector)

Nationally:

• British Columbia College Pension Plan
• British Columbia Municipal Pension Plan
• British Columbia Public Service Pension Plan
• British Columbia Superannuation Plan
• British Columbia Teachers' Pension Plan
• Manitoba Civil Service Superannuation Fund
• New Brunswick Public Service Superannuation Plan
• Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service Pension Plan
• Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan
• Ontario Pension Board
• OPSEU Pension Trust
• Prince Edward Island Civil Service Superannuation Plan
• Province of Quebec (La Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d'assurance)

(This list cannot be considered exhaustive, as new plans will join the National Transfer Agreement in the future).

You have many options if you leave the plan before you are age 55, including leaving your funds with the Plan for a lifetime pension to be paid once you turn 55.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Options if You Leave Before Retiring
How is Your Pension Calculated?
Leaving the Plan (at any age before age 65 with fewer than 2 years of membership)
Leaving the Plan (under age 55 with 2 or more years of membership)
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
I need a pension estimate

After you apply to retire, you will receive a pension options package explaining your options and the estimated amounts you would receive under each option.

Further information:
Member Handbook - Options if You Leave before Retiring
Leaving the plan (age 55 or older with two or more years of membership but before 85 points or age 65) 
Leaving the Plan (age 55 or older with at least 85 points or age 65) 
What are Your Pension Options?
Coordinating Your Pension
Information Sessions

Funds are locked into the Plan when you are vested.

When your funds are locked-in, it means you can only

• use the funds for a lifetime pension, or
• transfer your benefit into another type of account that will be used to provide a lifetime retirement benefit. For example, if you are entitled to the commuted value of your benefit, your funds can only be transferred to a Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA) or another pension plan.

Further information:
Leaving the Plan at any age before age 65 with fewer than 2 years of membership
Leaving the Plan (under age 55 with 2 or more years of membership)
Pension Estimate Request Form (LA88)
I need a pension estimate

Plan rules state that when the commuted value of a benefit is paid, it must be paid on a locked-in basis. Plan rules are based on provincial pension standards law. Locking-in the funds ensures those funds are there for your future.

If you were vested but still eligible to have your funds paid out of the Plan, the commuted value paid is locked-in to ensure a pension is eventually paid.

Plan rules state that a member's contributions and interest can make up only half of the commuted value. The rest of the commuted value is made up of the employer's contributions and interest, and plan funds. The amount paid is representative of the value of the benefit you earned and not just a refund of what you paid.

Yes. Plan rules state a member's contributions and interest can make up only half of the commuted value. The employer's contributions and interest, and plan funds, provide no less than half the commuted value. If member contribution and interest are less than half the commuted value, the shortage is made up by employer contributions and interest, and plan funds.

If the member contributions and interest in your account are more than half the commuted value, you will be paid the difference. This is called "excess contributions". The payment of excess contributions won't be transferred to your Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA).

Excess contributions are paid to you by cheque, less income tax, or it can be transferred to your RRSP (no tax is deducted).

No. Transfers to RRSP's or Locked-In Retirement Accounts (LIRA) are subject to special income tax reporting. So when there is a direct transfer of your benefit from your pension plan to one of these types of accounts, you are not charged income tax on the transfer out of your pension benefit, but you also cannot claim it as a contribution to an RRSP or LIRA.

If you are considered by Canada Revenue Agency to no longer be a resident of Canada you may be eligible to have the commuted value of your pension paid to you instead of it being transferred to a Locked-in Retirement Account. See the Payment of a Benefit to a Non-resident of Canada Information Sheet for further details.

If you have a pension partner they need to complete a Pension Partner Waiver to Permit Commutation due to Taking Non-residency Status Statutory Declaration.