Apply for pension

Once you have read the information below, you may submit your pension application along with all required documents.

Ready to submit? Apply for pension now.

Completed forms contain personal information. To protect your privacy, TRAF does not recommend submitting completed forms by email. Forms containing personal information should be submitted online, by mail or hand delivery wherever possible.

Eligibility to apply for pension

You are eligible for your TRAF pension if you:

• Terminate your contract with your employer (including substitute teaching contracts) unless you are age 65 or older with at least 15 years of qualifying service and have not elected to continue to contribute beyond age 65
• Meet the minimum age and service requirements outlined in The Teachers’ Pensions Act
• Apply for your pension within the necessary deadlines

Refer to your recent pension estimate to confirm your eligibility.

Pension application deadlines

Submit your pension application and required documents at least three months prior to the date you want your pension to start and up to 12 months in advance. There is no need to wait until you have notified your school division of your intent as TRAF does not share information with other parties. It is best that you notify us of your intent well in advance of notifying your school division.

A late application will result in lost income since pensions are not paid retroactively.

Required documents

The following documents are required for your pension application to be considered complete:

• Pension Application
  
  Submit your pension application and the required documents at least three months prior to the date you want your pension to start, and up to 12 months in advance, except for Form 5A – Waiver of 60% Joint Survivor Pension, if applicable, which must be submitted within 60 days before your pension effective date.
  
  
• Proof of age for you
  
  We require a copy of your birth certificate, valid Canadian passport, baptismal certificate or citizenship papers.
  
  
• Proof of age for your partner, if choosing Plans C through G, or H, if applicable.
  
  We require a copy of their birth certificate, valid Canadian passport, baptismal certificate or citizenship papers.
  
  Original and certified copies are not required. However, TRAF reserves the right to request original or certified copies.
  
  
• Government-issued photo ID with signature for you and your partner, if applicable
  
  
• Banking information
  
  A personalized void cheque or a letter from your Canadian bank or credit union is required to deposit your TRAF pension directly into your account.
  
  
• TD1 federal and provincial personal tax credit forms
  
  Current versions are available on the CRA website.
  
  
• Form 5B – Consent for integration
  
  If you are married or common-law and you wish to integrate your pension with CPP and/or OAS, in addition to completing the waiver included on the Pension Application, The Pension Benefits Act requires that your partner provide consent by completing Form 5B – Consent for Integrated Pension.
  
  
• Authorization and waiver
  
  If you are married or common-law and you select a plan option other than Plan D – 2/3 to Last Survivor, or if you wish to integrate your TRAF pension with CPP and/or OAS, your partner will need to complete the Spouse/Common-law Partner section of the Pension Application.
  
  In addition, The Pension Benefits Act requires a minimum pension of 60% be paid to a spouse/common-law partner on the member’s death. If you select a plan option that provides less than 60% to your partner (i.e., Plan A, B, E, F or H, if applicable), your partner must waive the minimum requirement by completing and submitting to TRAF Form 5A – Waiver of 60% Joint Survivor Pension, within 60 days before your pension effective date. TRAF will provide this form directly to your partner by mail at that time.
  
  If the required waiver is not completed and submitted within the prescribed time limit, your pension will default to Plan D – 2/3 to Last Survivor without integration.
  
  Your partner may revoke the authorization and waiver at any time before your pension commences by providing written notice to our office.
  

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Once we have determined your documents are in order, you will receive confirmation outlining the details of your pension including the effective date, plan option and first payment date.

Your application is not valid until all required documents are submitted to TRAF. An incomplete application may delay processing so it is important that you provide all the information required. If we receive an incomplete application, we will contact you.

Changes to your application can only be made before you receive your first pension payment.

Discretionary deductions

Depending on the benefits you select at retirement, the deductions below may be taken off your gross pension amount.

• Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) fees
• Those retiring from positions with the Province of Manitoba may elect to have deductions made for the continuation of their group life insurance (CSSF)

Although TRAF accepts deductions for these organizations that are external to TRAF, we do not administer the benefits they provide. Therefore, it is essential that you contact each organization directly if you have any questions regarding their benefits.

Correspondence

During the first month, you will receive correspondence explaining:

• Your gross pension amount as well as your deductions
• Adjustments required to the first pension payment for any shortage or overpayment in required contributions, if applicable
• The calculation of your final pension includes a test to ensure that your contributions with interest do not exceed 50% of the value of your pension. If you have excess contributions, you will be notified and given options for the refund.

Welcome to Retirement outlines what you need to know about your TRAF pension throughout your retirement.