Transfers into LAPP

If you were a member of another pension plan before joining us, we have good news for you! The service you earned in that plan may be transferrable into LAPP. We have transfer agreements with a number of public sector pension plans throughout Canada. A list of those plans is below.

We have the information and pension tools you need to get your transfer started. That includes a Pension Estimator where you can see how transferring and buying service might affect your pension.

Why Would I Want to Transfer Service from My Previous Pension Plan into LAPP?

You could become vested sooner, making you eligible for a lifetime pension.
Adding service can make your monthly pension amount bigger.
You may be able to retire at an earlier age with an unreduced pension.

These Rules are Common to All Transfers:

You cannot still be active in your former plan, but your funds must still be held in that plan.
You must be a current member of LAPP when you apply for a transfer into LAPP.
Some plans will not allow you to transfer out if you are entitled to an unreduced pension in that plan, so be sure to check with your former employer or plan administrator.

Where Can I Transfer From and What Timelines Apply?

In Alberta

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

After you join LAPP, we will send you mail to let you know if you can transfer any service from PSPP or MEPP into LAPP.
If you have and questions or did not receive your transfer information after joining LAPP, contact us

Special Forces Pension Plan (SFPP)

You must have stopped participating in SFPP on or after Jan 1, 1994.
Would you like the form to start this transfer?
- You will need the Application to Transfer Pension Entitlements Between SFPP and LAPP

Alberta Teachers’ Pension Plan and Private School Teachers’ Pension Plan

You must have stopped participating in your former plan on or after Jan 1, 1995.
Your transfer application must be received within one year of the date you join LAPP.
Would you like the form to start this transfer?
- You will need the Application to Transfer Pension Entitlements between LAPP and Alberta Teachers' Pension Plans

Under the National Transfer Agreement (Pension Plans of Other Provinces Listed Below)

Your request to transfer must be received within one year of the date you join LAPP.
Would you like the form to start this transfer?
- You will need the Appendix A: Transfer Information Request and Authorization Form under the National Transfer Agreement

The National Transfer Agreement covers the following pension plans:

Your request to transfer must be received within one year of the date you join LAPP.
Would you like the form to start this transfer?
- You will need the Appendix A2: Request for Transfer Estimate — Federal public sector transfer into LAPP

The Federal Transfer Agreement covers:

Public Service Superannuation Act

Will it Cost Me Money to Transfer My Service?

Possibly, but not necessarily.

Pension plans use different rules to figure out the relative worth of their members' contributions and benefits. We will calculate the cost of bringing the service you earned in the other plan over to LAPP. Then we will send you a package with the details before you decide whether or not you want to proceed.

All pension plans are "priced" differently. The benefit you earned in your previous plan might not match the cost of buying the same amount of service in LAPP. If your previous plan benefit cost at least as much the LAPP benefit, you will not have to pay anything else, and the full amount of service will be credited to LAPP.

On the other hand, If the cost of buying LAPP service is more than the benefit from your previous plan, this is called a shortfall. You will receive a portion of the service credit you had originally earned, but you will have the option of buying back the difference. Paying for this buyback means you could retire earlier with a larger LAPP pension than if you did not buy the service.

What if I Have Service in a Plan that is Not on the List?

If your former plan is not on the list, you may still be able to buy the service that you earned with them through a process called a buyback.
I'd like more information on Buying Prior Service.

How Do I Get Started with a Transfer?

If you don't see the transfer application form you need above, you can contact us or request assistance via the Secure Mailbox on mypensionplan.ca.