Pensions
Changes to the Teachers' Pension Plan
The Teachers’ Pension Board of Trustees and the plan partners—the BC Teachers’ Federation and the provincial government—have agreed to make changes that move the plan to a sustainable model for cost-of-living adjustments. More...
The Teachers' Pension Plan backgrounder 
provides an overview of the plan. For more information about the plan and its benefits, go to the Teachers' Pension Plan website.
Pension consultations 2009: The process leading to the above TPP changes
8,400 pension plan members participated in the 2009 pension consultations and provided input on the future of the Inflation Adjustment Account. Recommendations from the March 2010 BCTF Annual General Meeting were sent to the Teachers’ Pension Board of Trustees.
Teachers' Pension Plan (TPP)
Following is a summary of the Teachers’ Pension Plan Rules. In case of a conflict between the summary and the rules, the rules will take precedence. For income tax implications, you should contact a tax specialist.
Further information is available from the Teachers’ Pension Plan. The Personalized Pension Estimator,and the Purchase of Service Estimator are both available when you log on at “My Account.” As well, a general Purchase of Service Estimator will assist in estimating the cost of purchasing a leave of absence. The Teachers' Pension Plan web page provides contacts for pension inquiries.
The BCTF Income Security Division, 604-871-1921, toll-free 1-800-663-9163, does not have your personal pension information, but will answer questions and assist you if you provide the information. Your annual Members Benefit Statement from the Teachers’ Pension Plan provides you with your personal pension information.
Pension seminars
Two new Pension Seminars are presented jointly by the BCTF and the BC Pension Corporation.
- Seminar 1 - Your Pension, Your Future
Membership does have its privileges. Your contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Plan now will be your income down the road. Come and see what your future holds.
- Seminar 2 - Thinking About Retiring
You’ve worked hard. You’re moving into a new phase of your life, and ready for your years of membership in the Teachers’ Pension Plan to begin paying off. Come and check out your options.
- Retirement Planning Workshop: "There's More to it than Money"
Members should contact their local offices about the workshop.
Teachers' Pension Plan reports and announcements
The Special Report of the Pensions Committee to the 2004 BCTF AGM provides members with considerable pension information related to BCTF action, pension benefits, and agreed-to future improvements to the Teachers' Pension Plan.
The Teachers' Pension Plan may issue announcements, often to employers. These announcements are made when there are changes to pension plan rules or when there are administrative practice changes.
Note: the information listed below is in PDF format.
- Allowances and Pensionable Salary (Oct 11, 2006)
- Appeals Process re Application of the Pension Plan Rules (Jul 18, 2006)
- Employer Bulletin: Enrolment, Adult Educators (Sept 5, 2006)
- Employer Bulletin: Purchase of Compassionate Care Leaves (Feb 2007)
- Employer Bulletin: Remind your employees of purchase opportunities (Jun 24, 2008)
- Employer Bulletin: Reporting TOC service (Mar 9, 2005)
- Employer Bulletin: Re-employment of a Retired Member (Aug 27, 2007)
- Employer Bulletin: Updates to the Purchase of Service Procedures (Oct 5, 2005)
- Employer Bulletin: Year-end Reporting (Dec 1, 2008)
- Enrollment of Adult Educators (Apr 26, 2007)
- Member News: Receiving Your Pension as a Re-Employed Retired Member (Aug 13, 2007)
- Member News: Pension Options (Nov 6, 2007)
- Pension Bulletin: Notice to retirees (Oct 20, 2006)
- Pension Bulletin: Notice to actives
- Pensionable Salary Changes for Teachers' Pension Plan Members (Mar 27, 2007)
- Retirement Benefits: The Facts and the Challenge (Feb 21, 2008)
- TPP Board Communiqué re contribution increase effective July 1, 2007 (Nov 30, 2006)
- TPP Board Communiqué re post-retirement group benefits funding (Jan 26, 2009)
- TPP response to BC College Pension Plan benefits changes, Q&As (Jan 26, 2009)
- TPP Memo: Pensions safe in times of market volatility (Oct 1, 2008)
- TPP Memo: Pensions safe in times of market volatility (Oct 16, 2008)
- Voluntary Dental Plan effective August 1, 2007
Investments
Information related to investments and the Teachers’ Pension Plan can be found at the following links:
Note: the information listed below is in PDF format.
- 2005 Actuarial Valuation on Teachers' Pension Plan (Dec 2006)
- bcIMC Corporate Governance and Proxy Voting Guidelines (June 2007).
- bcIMC Inventory as at March 31, 2007
- bcIMC Memo: Financial Market Turmoil (Oct 1, 2008)
- bcIMC Proxy voting report
- bcIMC Quarterly Economic Report, April 1 – September 30, 2008
- bcIMC Responsible Investing Highlights, April 1 – September 30, 2008
- bcIMC Responsible Investing Report to the TPP Board of Trustees (Jun 2006)
- bcIMC Service Plan 2007/08 - 2009/10
- TPP 2007 Annual Report (for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007)
- TPP 2007 Report to Members (Mar 27, 2008)
- TPP Board Meeting Highlights, December 8 and 9, 2008
- TPP Performance Report, Period Ending September 30, 2008
- TPP Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures as of June 20, 2008
Financial Planning for Your Retirement Life
Updated February 17, 2009