Life events

​​​Taking a leave

If life changes leave you in need of time off or unable to work, you have options to continue building your pension with the CSS Pension Plan. Keep in mind your pension benefits may be affected differently depending on the type of leave.​​

Leaves of absence

​You can choose whether to contribute to the CSS Pension Plan while you're on:

  • ​Maternity leave

  • Paternity leave

  • Adoption leave

If you decide you want to contribute, you must make your contributions through your employer.

Depending on your province's​ pension laws and your employer's policy, you may be responsible for both the employee and employer contribution amounts. ​

Other options

While it may be difficult to make both the employee and employer contribution amounts while on leave, the following options can help you build your pension either after or in advance of your time away:​

Check with your employer for more information.​​

Disability​

In the event that you are unable to work due to disability, you can choose whether to make contributions to the Plan.

If you decide you want to contribute during a period of disability, you must make your contributions through your employer. Your contributions would be treated as required matched contributions​.

Depending on your employer's policy, your employer or workplace disability insurer may make pension contributions on your behalf, but they are not required to do so.

Check with your employer for more information.​

Disability pension

If you've terminated your employment because of disability, illness or injury, you may be able to use your pension funds to provide a retirement income before you reach your early retirement age.

We require physicians to certify in writing that your medical condition prevents you from working. If you qualify, the amount of your retirement income will be based on the amount of pension funds you have accumulated.

Please contact us​ for more information.​

 

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Returning to work​

Depending on the length of your leave – and whether you stopped pension contributions – your contributions may or may not begin immediately when you return to work.​

Leaves less than one year* 

If your leave of absence is less than one year and you do not contribute to the Plan while on leave, your contributions must begin immediately when you return to work for any employer member of the CSS Pension Plan. Your original service date will continue to apply. 

*Also includes maternity, paternity and adoption leaves 

Leaves more than o​ne year 

If your leave of absence is more than one year and you do not contribute to the Plan while on leave, your contributions may or may not begin immediately when you return to work for any employer member of the CSS Pension Plan. 

This depends on whether your employer agrees to waive the waiting period and match the contributions. If they do not, you must complete the employer’s waiting period before you can make contributions.