6.1 Twelve-month waiting period

If you are a Plan member and you stop working for any employer, a waiting period of up to 12 months begins. The purpose of this mandatory period is to allow you to maintain your active membership in the Plan between two employments. If, at the end of this waiting period, you have not worked again for an employer, your active membership ends and decisions must be made regarding your benefits under the Plan.

No credited service accrues during the waiting period, which can last up to 12 months. Since you maintain your active membership during this period, the value of your pension may not be transferred out of the Plan. However, the value of your pension continues to grow, with interest.

The waiting period ends before 12 months have elapsed if you request a pension, die, or resume employment for an employer. In this last case, you will begin to make contributions and accumulate credited service again on your first day back to work.

At the end of the 12-month waiting period, if you are still not working for an employer, your active membership ceases. If you return to work for an employer after your active membership ceases, you will have to meet the eligibility criteria again and accumulate 550 paid hours in a single calendar year before joining the Plan again.

If you work for more than one employer

If you work for more than one employer, the waiting period only begins once you no longer work for any of them.