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Leaves and disability
- Members
- How your plan works
- Leaves and disability
Time away from work
There may be times when changes to your personal or professional life alter your earnings or hours worked, which could affect your pension benefits. UPP offers many ways to ensure you maximize your pension along the way.
Leaves of absence
Whether you’re having a baby or tending to a personal emergency, in many cases you can continue making contributions and earning pensionable service while on an employer-approved leave. Whether or not you opt to contribute while on leave, you’ll remain a UPP member and continue to earn eligibility service.
The table below outlines the most common types of leaves and how contributions can be maintained.
| Type of Leave | Your Contributions | Your Employer’s Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory (Ex: parental leave) | Optional – you decide if you want to continue your contributions or not | Your contributions are matched by your employer (as applicable) |
| Unpaid | Optional – you decide if you want to cover your and your employer’s contribution amounts | Your employer does not contribute |
| Paid | Required – contributions continue without interruption | Your contributions are matched by your employer |
| Research & Study | Required – contributions continue without interruption | Your contributions are matched by your employer |
Please contact Member Services to learn about other leaves of absence and how they might impact your pension.
Disability
If you are eligible for long-term disability benefits, under the terms of the Plan, your employer will fund your contributions until the earliest any of the following occurs, you:
- are no longer disabled,
- reach your normal retirement date,
- retire, or
- pass away.
Shortened life expectancy
If you become terminally ill with a life expectancy of less than two years, you can request to withdraw the commuted value of your UPP pension as a single taxable lump sum payment, or transfer it to a registered retirement vehicle, subject to Income Tax Act limits.
Conditions apply and medical evidence is required. You must have either a deferred pension or a pension in pay to qualify for this benefit. If you have a spouse, they must also give their written consent to withdraw the funds. This consent is important because your spouse is entitled to death benefits that they will give up if you make this withdrawal. You and your spouse should seek independent legal and professional financial advice before making this decision.
Questions?
We’re here for you every step of the way. If you have a question about other types of leaves and how they impact your pension, or require further information regarding long-term disability or shortened life expectancy, please contact us via secure message through the myUPP Member Portal or by phone at 1-833-627-7877.
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