Federal PSPP – Public Service Pension Plan
Federal · 2 versions
Federal public service has 2 versions, each with its own rules.
Group 1: joined before 2013
You get a full pension, with no reduction, at the first of these:
- Age 60 with 2 years of service
- Age 55 with 30 years of service
- Earliest retirement
- Age 50
- Retiring earlier
- Reduction set by age and service
- Pension formula
- 1.375% of your average pay up to the CPP earnings limit (YMPE) and 2% above it, for each year of service
- Most service counted
- 35 years
- Bridge benefit
- Until age 65, not reduced if you retire early
- Increases after you retire
- 100% of inflation
What retiring early costs: an example
Someone joins at 35, is paid $85,000 a year and works until each age below, so their years of service are their age less 35. Amounts are a year, before tax, in today's dollars.
| Retire at | Years of service | Reduction | Pension | Bridge to 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 15 | 50% | $9,500 | $6,500 |
| 51 | 16 | 45% | $11,200 | $6,900 |
| 52 | 17 | 40% | $12,900 | $7,400 |
| 53 | 18 | 35% | $14,800 | $7,800 |
| 54 | 19 | 30% | $16,900 | $8,200 |
| 55 | 20 | 25% | $19,000 | $8,600 |
| 56 | 21 | 20% | $21,300 | $9,100 |
| 57 | 22 | 15% | $23,700 | $9,500 |
| 58 | 23 | 10% | $26,200 | $9,900 |
| 59 | 24 | 5% | $28,900 | $10,400 |
| 60 | 25 | None | $31,700 | $10,800 |
Retiring at 50 instead of 60 costs twice: 10 fewer years of service, and the reduction on what is left. Early retirement reduction explains both.
Group 2: joined 2013 or later
You get a full pension, with no reduction, at the first of these:
- Age 65 with 2 years of service
- Age 60 with 30 years of service
- Earliest retirement
- Age 55
- Retiring earlier
- Reduction set by age and service
- Pension formula
- 1.375% of your average pay up to the CPP earnings limit (YMPE) and 2% above it, for each year of service
- Most service counted
- 35 years
- Bridge benefit
- Until age 65, not reduced if you retire early
- Increases after you retire
- 100% of inflation
What retiring early costs: an example
Someone joins at 35, is paid $85,000 a year and works until each age below, so their years of service are their age less 35. Amounts are a year, before tax, in today's dollars.
| Retire at | Years of service | Reduction | Pension | Bridge to 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 20 | 50% | $12,700 | $8,600 |
| 56 | 21 | 45% | $14,600 | $9,100 |
| 57 | 22 | 40% | $16,700 | $9,500 |
| 58 | 23 | 35% | $19,000 | $9,900 |
| 59 | 24 | 30% | $21,300 | $10,400 |
| 60 | 25 | 25% | $23,800 | $10,800 |
| 61 | 26 | 20% | $26,400 | $11,200 |
| 62 | 27 | 15% | $29,100 | $11,700 |
| 63 | 28 | 10% | $31,900 | $12,100 |
| 64 | 29 | 5% | $34,900 | $12,500 |
| 65 | 30 | None | $38,000 | $13,000 |
Retiring at 55 instead of 65 costs twice: 10 fewer years of service, and the reduction on what is left. Early retirement reduction explains both.
What to copy from your paperwork
To use your own numbers in the income timeline:
There have been no annual statements since 2015. The Basic Pension Calculator gives a yearly and monthly pension from your date of birth, the date you joined, the date or age you leave and your best five years' average salary: run it for your first date with no reduction and enter that pension here. It counts full-time service only, so it is high if you worked part-time. A quick estimate uses the plan's own rules and rates.
Federal public service's own estimator: the Basic Pension Calculator.
Where these rules come from
Group 1: joined before 2013
- Annual allowance · Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
- Member on or before December 31, 2012 · Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Public Service Superannuation Act
- Last reviewed October 20, 2026.
Group 2: joined 2013 or later
- Annual allowance · Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
- Member on or after January 1, 2013 · Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Public Service Superannuation Act
- Last reviewed October 20, 2026.
These rules are simplified. Your plan's own estimate is the one to rely on; see the disclaimer.