*This bulletin applies to those who retire on or after June 11, 2020.
Now that Arbitrator MacPherson has come down with her decision on the Urban and RSMC contracts, many members are thinking of retiring. We want to explain what members are entitled to when it comes to benefits when they retire and what their obligations are when they want to retire*. Coverage for post-retirement benefits are for eligible retirees, their eligible dependents or surviving dependents. Life Insurance coverage only applies to eligible retirees and not their dependents.
How to Qualify for Post-Retirement Health Care Benefits
To qualify, you must have 15 years or more of continuous service. For Urban members, continuous service is defined in clause 11.01. For RSMCs, continuous service/employment is defined in clause 8.01.
If you defer your pension when you retire, in order to qualify for Post-Retirement Health Care benefits, you must receive your pension within 5 years of retiring.
You can qualify for Post-Retirement Health Care benefits if you have less than 15 years of continuous service if you retire due to being “totally disabled”.