Retirement Ready
Retirement Ready
The retirement process can be broken down into three phases:
- Before you retire (five years out)
- Ready to apply (six months out)
- After you apply (final steps)
IMPORTANT
- You must apply to start your pension before your retirement date.
- You must also notify your employer.
Before you retire (five years out)
- Ask your employer if you can bank vacation time (max. 50 days within two years of retirement).
- Choose your retirement date.
- Look into buying missed service. If you took a leave of absence (e.g., education or parental leave) and didn’t make pension contributions at that time, you can buy that service to boost your pension. You’ll need to pay this off before you retire.
- Attend a pre-retirement seminar or webinar. You are welcome to attend more than once. You can bring anyone you like, such as a spouse or financial advisor.
- Run a pension estimate in Online Services or ask CSSB.
- Run an insurance estimate in Online Services or ask CSSB.
- Understand and decide on your pension payment option.
- Understand and decide on whether you will integrate your pension with CPP and/or OAS.
- Decide if you will continue or convert your life insurance.
- Look into retiree extended health insurance options.
- Consider getting professional advice from a financial planner.
Ready to retire (six months out)
NOTE: You must inform both your employer and CSSB of your retirement plans. We don’t communicate with your employer before your retirement date.
Contact your employer
- Let your employer know when you are retiring
- Confirm your beneficiary designation for life insurance
- Ask your employer about other benefits they may provide
Contact CSSB
Complete your retirement forms in Online Services or request them from our office. The earliest you can fill out the forms is six months before you turn 55. The latest you should do this is two months before your retirement date.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Retirement date
- Spouse/partner information
- Pension payment option selected
- Integration option selected, if applicable
- Insurance decision
- Bank deposit details
- Federal TD1 forms
- Proof of age
Depending on your choices and marital status, we may also need:
- Proof of age for your spouse/partner
- Spouse’s SIN
- Pension beneficiary, if choosing a minimum guarantee option
- Form 5B Consent for Integrated Pension, if applicable
- Form 5A Waiver of 60% Joint Survivor Pension, if applicable
Submit forms to CSSB TWO months before your retirement date:
Online Services
Email: askus@cssb.mb.ca
Phone: 204.946.3200
Fax: 204.945.0237
Drop-off: 1200-444 St. Mary Avenue
Mail:
CSSB
1200-444 St. Mary Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3T1
If you need help, call our office or book a private meeting to discuss your questions. We are available by phone, virtual meeting, or in person.
Contact Service Canada
Understand what you can expect to receive and how to apply for CPP and OAS.
1.800.277.9914
www.servicecanada.gc.ca
Contact Canada Life
If you want to convert your life insurance and/or dependent insurance contact Deborah Capek.
deborah@capekfinancial.ca
204.297.6227
Contact Retiree Health Insurance Carriers
Information provided as a courtesy only.
MARGE (c/o Johnson Inc.)
Manitoba Association of Retired Government Employees
11120 178th St NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T5S 1P2
Toll free: 1.877.989.2600
Fax: 1.780.420.6082
Email: pbservicewest@johnson.ca
www.johnson.ca/marge
Manitoba Blue Cross
599 Empress St
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 2X7
Toll free: 1.800.873.2583
Phone: 204.775.0151
Email: info@mb.bluecross.ca
www.mb.bluecross.ca
IMPORTANT: If you don’t apply for your pension before you retire:
- Your pension payment option will default
- If married – two-thirds to spouse
- If single – minimum ten-year guarantee
- Your pension won’t be paid retroactively (you will lose pension payments)
- You will lose your life insurance
After you apply
Acknowledgement letter
The acknowledgement letter confirms your pension details and start date. If you don’t receive this before your retirement date, contact CSSB.
To learn more about what happens after you apply, visit our After Retirement (what to expect) page.
Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Retirement Ready
The retirement process can be broken down into three phases:
- Before you retire (five years out)
- Ready to apply (six months out)
- After you apply (final steps)
IMPORTANT
- You must apply to start your pension before your retirement date.
- You must also notify your employer.
Before you retire (five years out)
- Ask your employer if you can bank vacation time (max. 50 days within two years of retirement).
- Choose your retirement date.
- Look into buying missed service. If you took a leave of absence (e.g., education or parental leave) and didn’t make pension contributions at that time, you can buy that service to boost your pension. You’ll need to pay this off before you retire.
- Attend a pre-retirement seminar or webinar. You are welcome to attend more than once. You can bring anyone you like, such as a spouse or financial advisor.
- Run a pension estimate in Online Services or ask CSSB.
- Run an insurance estimate in Online Services or ask CSSB.
- Understand and decide on your pension payment option.
- Understand and decide on whether you will integrate your pension with CPP and/or OAS.
- Decide if you will continue or convert your life insurance.
- Look into retiree extended health insurance options.
- Consider getting professional advice from a financial planner.
Ready to retire (six months out)
NOTE: You must inform both your employer and CSSB of your retirement plans. We don’t communicate with your employer before your retirement date.
Contact your employer
- Let your employer know when you are retiring
- Confirm your beneficiary designation for life insurance
- Ask your employer about other benefits they may provide
Contact CSSB
Complete your retirement forms in Online Services or request them from our office. The earliest you can fill out the forms is six months before you turn 55. The latest you should do this is two months before your retirement date.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Retirement date
- Spouse/partner information
- Pension payment option selected
- Integration option selected, if applicable
- Insurance decision
- Bank deposit details
- Federal TD1 forms
- Proof of age
Depending on your choices and marital status, we may also need:
- Proof of age for your spouse/partner
- Spouse’s SIN
- Pension beneficiary, if choosing a minimum guarantee option
- Form 5B Consent for Integrated Pension, if applicable
- Form 5A Waiver of 60% Joint Survivor Pension, if applicable
Submit forms to CSSB TWO months before your retirement date:
Online Services
Email: askus@cssb.mb.ca
Phone: 204.946.3200
Fax: 204.945.0237
Drop-off: 1200-444 St. Mary Avenue
Mail:
CSSB
1200-444 St. Mary Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3T1
If you need help, call our office or book a private meeting to discuss your questions. We are available by phone, virtual meeting, or in person.
Contact Service Canada
Understand what you can expect to receive and how to apply for CPP and OAS.
1.800.277.9914
www.servicecanada.gc.ca
Contact Canada Life
If you want to convert your life insurance and/or dependent insurance contact Deborah Capek.
deborah@capekfinancial.ca
204.297.6227
Contact Retiree Health Insurance Carriers
Information provided as a courtesy only.
MARGE (c/o Johnson Inc.)
Manitoba Association of Retired Government Employees
11120 178th St NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T5S 1P2
Toll free: 1.877.989.2600
Fax: 1.780.420.6082
Email: pbservicewest@johnson.ca
www.johnson.ca/marge
Manitoba Blue Cross
599 Empress St
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 2X7
Toll free: 1.800.873.2583
Phone: 204.775.0151
Email: info@mb.bluecross.ca
www.mb.bluecross.ca
IMPORTANT: If you don’t apply for your pension before you retire:
- Your pension payment option will default
- If married – two-thirds to spouse
- If single – minimum ten-year guarantee
- Your pension won’t be paid retroactively (you will lose pension payments)
- You will lose your life insurance
After you apply
Acknowledgement letter
The acknowledgement letter confirms your pension details and start date. If you don’t receive this before your retirement date, contact CSSB.
To learn more about what happens after you apply, visit our After Retirement (what to expect) page.