Entitlement to a retirement pension
As of age 65, it is not necessary to stop working in order to be eligible for a retirement pension. At least one year of contribution to the Québec Pension Plan is the only requirement.
As of age 60, a worker can receive a retirement pension if he or she contributed to the Québec Pension Plan for at least one year
and
- has stopped working or is considered to have stopped working
or
- is not self-employed and has signed an agreement with the employer to take a pay reduction of at least 20% in view of retirement. If a worker has more than one employer, he or she must reach an agreement with all of them to reduce his or her total earnings by at least 20%.
A worker is considered to have stopped working if:
- his or her estimated employment earnings for the twelve months after the one in which pension payments begin are not greater than 25% of the maximum pensionable earnings, that is, the maximum amount on which a worker can make contributions to the Québec Pension Plan. In 2013, the maximum is 51 100 $. If a worker expects to earn no more than 25% of that amount (12 775 $ or less), we consider that he or she has stopped working
or
- he or she is on pre-retirement leave, even if he or she is still on the employer's payroll. A worker is on pre-retirement leave if, for example, he or she uses up all accumulated sick leave before officially retiring
or
- he or she is on sick leave with salary insurance and insurance payments are less than 12 775 $ in 2013.
On or after 1 January 2014, your employees will be able to receive a retirement pension as of age 60 while continuing to work, since the cessation of work requirements will no longer be in effect. As a result, persons age 60 and over who contributed to the Plan for at least one year will be able to receive a retirement pension, even if they continue to work on a part-time or full-time basis.
In the event of disability
- If a worker stops working for health reasons and has not yet reached age 65, he or she can apply for a disability pension, which is higher than a retirement pension.
- If a worker between the ages of 60 and 65 has been receiving a retirement pension for less than eighteen months, he or she can apply for a disability pension. Proof will have to be given that the worker became disabled no later than six months after the first payment of the retirement pension. If a disability pension is granted, it will automatically be replaced by a retirement pension in the month following the beneficiary's 65th birthday.
Reasons for refusing a retirement pension
A person cannot receive a retirement pension under the Québec Pension Plan between ages 60 and 65 if:
- he or she is receiving an unreduced income replacement indemnity from the CSST
- he or she is receiving an indemnity from the SAAQ , and the Régie has deemed him or her to be disabled for the same disability
Statement of Participation in the Québec Pension Plan
Every 4 years, the Régie mails a Statement of Participation in the Québec Pension Plan to all contributors. It can also be consulted at any time online.
Filing an application...
Application for a Retirement Pension