FAQ

You can participate in the IPF if you work for an employer who has been accepted as a contributing employer by the Trustees to contribute to the Plan and you are working in Covered Employment as:

• an employee working in a job classification covered by a local collective bargaining agreement, or
• an employee of a local union or local union fund which participates in the Plan.

You become a participant, when you work sufficient hours in covered employment after the date your employer begins making contributions to the IPF on your behalf. This date is known as the Contribution Date.
You become a participant in the IPF after you have met one of the following requirements:

• If your contribution date is on January 1, 1988 or later, you become a participant in the Plan, on the first of the calendar year following completion of:
• 1,200 hours of future service credit, or
• (b) 350 hours of covered employment over two consecutive calendar years if you are affected by the pension law of Alberta.

You may earn the 1,200 hours required in (a) above, over a period of years. If, however, you have two consecutive years in which you don't have contributions made on your behalf, all your previously earned hours of future service credit won't be counted towards becoming a participant in the Plan.

• If your contribution date is before January 1, 1988, you become a participant in the Plan on January 1, 1988 if you have earned at least 1,200 hours of future service credit in the six consecutive calendar years immediately preceding January 1, 1988.
• If your contribution date is between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 1987, and you have earned less than 1,200 hours of future service credit by January 1, 1988, you become a participant in the Plan on the earlier of: (a) the first calendar year following the calendar year in which you have earned 1,200 hours of future service credit provided this is within the six calendar years from the calendar year of your contribution date, or (b) the first of the calendar year after earning 1,200 hours of future service credit or, if you are affected by the pension law of Alberta, completion of 350 hours of covered employment over two consecutive calendar years

Five types of pensions are provided under this Plan.

1. Normal Pension
2. Unreduced Early Retirement Pension
3. Early Retirement Pension
4. Disability Pension
5. Deferred Vested Pension

In addition, the Plan provides for a lump sum Portability Option and Survivor benefits.

You are eligible to retire on a normal pension if you are at least age 65 and vested.

If you keep working for a contributing employer after age 65, you may continue in the Plan until you retire. However, you must commence your pension on or before your 71st birthday.

The Normal Pension is a monthly pension based on your local union's employer contribution rate.

The Rate/Benefit table illustrates the normal pension benefit amounts payable to you with 25 years of pension credits.

You are eligible to retire on an Early Retirement Pension if you are at least 55 while vested. An Unreduced Early Retirement at age 63 is available if you last worked prior to January 1, 2019 and is equal to a Normal Pension.

If you worked after January 1, 2019, you can receive an unreduced pension at age 65.

The Early Retirement Pension prior to age 63 is adjusted downward from the Normal Pension amount, based on your age. Then the normal amount calculated is reduced by:

• (i) 1/4 of 1% for each full month you are between the ages of 62 and 63 if you are younger than age 63 when your early retirement pension begins, plus;
• (ii) 1/2 of 1% for each full month that you are between the ages of 55 and 62, if you are younger than age 62 when your early retirement begins. The reduction is due to the longer period of time that you will receive pension payments.

If you are younger than 65 but, older than 63 and have earned pension credits after January 1, 2019, your benefit earned after January 1, 2019 would be reduced by approximately 14% (7% per year from age 63 to 65).

In general, your pension benefit will be based on the highest contribution rate under which you earned at least 1200 hours of future service in your Home Local.

Your Home Local is the participating Local in which you earned the greatest number of hours of future service credit. If you leave the jurisdiction of your Home local and work in another local with a higher contribution rate you must earn 3 years (3600 hours) of future service credit in the other local for the higher rate to be used as the basis of your benefit. If you leave your home local for a local with a lower contribution rate there is no effect on your pension. If you work for the same contributing employer in more than one participating local in the same geographic area, it is treated as though all your work has been performed in the same local.

If you have not earned at least 1200 hours of future service at your highest contribution rate, then your benefit will be based on the weighted average of your last 1200 hours of future service.

Example: John is age 65, vested, and has 25 years of pension credits at the time of his retirement. During his last 1,200 hours of work prior to his retirement, John's local collective bargaining agreement called for contributions of $.60 per hour and $.75 per hour. John worked under the $.60 rate for 400 hours and under the $.75 rate for 800 hours. The weighted average contribution rate upon which John's pension is based is calculated as follows:

400 hours X .60 = $240
800 hours X .75 = $600
1200 hours = $840
$840 divided by 1200 = $ .70

John's weighted average contribution rate = $.70

Since John is age 65 and has earned 25 years of pension credits, he is entitled to a normal pension equal to $295.00 a month (see Rate/Benefit Table) John's monthly pension will be less depending on the form of payment.

If you have less than 25 years of pension credit at retirement, your monthly pension will be based on the monthly pension with 25 years of pension credit multiplied by your years of pension credit divided by 25.

You may be eligible for a disability pension if you satisfy all of the following conditions:

• you are totally permanently disabled,
• you are younger than age 63,
• you have at least 10 years of pension credit, you have accumulated at least 1,200 hours of future service credit.

A disability pension is calculated the same way as a normal pension. Regardless of your age at disability, your pension will be calculated as though you were normal retirement age. The disability pension will be less if you choose the joint and survivor form of payment. The amount is based on the years of pension credit you have earned to your disability date. Your disability pension will commence on the first day of the fourth month of disability and will continue for as long as you live, provided you remain totally and permanently disabled.

You are considered totally and permanently disabled if, on the basis of a written medical report satisfactory to the Trustees:

• You are found to be suffering from a physical or mental impairment that prevents you from working in any employment, and there is no reasonable expectation that you will recover from the disability, and
• You have been awarded a Canada/Quebec Pension Plan disability benefit, or other comparable governmental disability benefit acceptable to the Trustees.

If you apply for a disability pension, you are also required to provide a medical statement from a physician which indicates the nature of your disability and states that you are totally and permanently disabled from the trade. You may also be re-examined at periodic intervals as the Trustees deem appropriate.

If you lose your Canada Pension Disability Benefit before age 63 your Disability Pension will cease starting with the first month following loss of the paid benefit. If you lose your Disability Benefit after you reach 63 payments will continue even if you recover, but subject to the rules governing work after retirement.

The Plan rules also require that retroactive pension payments not be made for more than 12 months prior to the date the disability applications received by the Fund office. Participants experiencing delays in receiving benefits from the Canada Pension Plan should apply to the Fund office while waiting for the Canada Plan Award to comply with the 12-month rule. Disability applicants over age 55 may apply for early retirement benefits prior to disability approval.
 

You are eligible to receive a deferred vested pension if you are vested and terminate your participation in the Plan before you retire. Normally, this benefit starts at age 65; however, you may choose to start receiving it any time after age 55 on a reduced amount.

Your monthly deferred vested pension is calculated one of two ways, depending on how old you are when you retire.

• Age 63 or Older - If your deferred vested pension begins after you have reached age 63, the monthly amount you are eligible to receive is calculated the same way as a normal pension.
• Before Age 63 - If your deferred vested pension begins before you reach age 63, the monthly amount is calculated the same way as an unreduced early retirement pension.
• The reduction is due to the longer period of time you will receive pension payments.

Your deferred vested pension will be based on the rate that would have been applicable, if you could have commenced your pension when you left the Plan.

Example: Suppose you are age 40 with 8 years of vesting service and you have always been working under a contribution rate of $.45 per hour. When you apply, your pension will be based on the $.45 rate.

You will receive your pension in the form of equal monthly payments. Your pension will be paid one way if you have a spouse, and another way if you do not have a spouse on the date your pension begins. Generally, you will be considered to have a spouse if you are married or in a common-law relationship for a period of time. Each Province in Canada has a specific legal requirement defining marriage and common-law relationships. Contact the Fund Office for additional information regarding definition of a spouse.

Regular Form - If I do not have a spouse

Your normal, unreduced early retirement, early retirement, disability or deferred vested pension will be paid in equal monthly payments for as long as you live with a minimum guarantee of 60 months. If you die before receiving 60 monthly payments, your beneficiary or estate will continue to receive pension payments until the balance of the guaranteed payments has been paid. If you die after receiving 60 monthly payments, your pension payments will cease with the benefit payable in the month after your death.

Standard Form - If I do have a spouse

By law, if you have a spouse on the date your pension begins, your normal, unreduced early retirement, early retirement, disability or deferred vested pension must be paid as a 60% joint and survivor benefit. This gives you a reduced monthly pension during your lifetime. Then, your surviving spouse will receive 60% of the pension you were receiving. The amount of the reduction depends on your age and your spouse's age when payments begin and is determined taking into account the payments expected to be made to your surviving spouse.

You and your spouse may waive the payment of the joint and survivor benefit by submitting a Spousal Waiver Form to the Fund Office. It must be signed by you and your spouse. This waiver must be filed before payment of your benefit commences. Once you file a Waiver Form, you will be eligible to receive your pension benefit as though you did not have a spouse. This includes being able to select one of the other optional forms of payment listed below. Disability applicants may only choose either the 60% joint and survivor option or normal option with the 60-payment guarantee.

Optional Form (1) - Life Guarantee

This option gives you a monthly pension payment for as long as you live. Upon your death, your pension will stop regardless of the number of monthly payments you have received.

Optional Form (2) - Life Guarantee with a 10 or 15 Year Guarantee

This option gives you a monthly pension payment for as long as you live, with either 120 or 180 monthly payments guaranteed, depending on the option you choose. For example, if you choose the 180 payments (15 year guarantee) and you die before receiving 180 payments, your beneficiary will continue to receive the monthly pension until a total of 180 monthly payments, before and after your death, have been made. If you die after receiving 180 monthly payments, your pension payments will cease with the last payment payable in the month of your death. If you choose the 120 payments (10 year guarantee) the same payment rules apply as demonstrated in the 15-year guarantee example.

Optional Form (3) - Joint and Survivor Option

You may also choose to receive payments in the form of a 50%, 75% or 100% joint and survivor pension. This means you will receive a reduced monthly pension for as long as you live, and your surviving spouse will receive a percentage of that pension upon your death. For example, if you choose the 100% joint and survivor option, upon your death your spouse will receive 100% of the amount you were receiving before your death for the rest of his or her lifetime.

Optional Form (4) - Lump Sum - Small Pension

If your monthly pension at age 65 is less than one-twelfth of two percent of the yearly maximum pensionable earnings ($59.67 for 1997) on which your Canada/Quebec Pension Plan contributions are based, the Trustees will pay you a single cash payment which is equal to the value of your monthly pension entitlement. This value changes every year. Your eligibility for this lump sum will be determined at the time you retire.

Optional Form (5) - Level Income Option

If you retire between ages 55 and 65, you will not yet be eligible to receive benefits under the Old Age Security Act. Option 5 allows you to have a more or less level income over the entire period of your retirement, instead of a lower income before age 65 and a higher income once you begin receiving Old Age Security (OAS) benefits.

If you elect this option, your monthly benefit amount from the Plan will be higher during the period before you are eligible for OAS benefits. Once you reach age 65 and are eligible to receive OAS benefits, your monthly pension amount from the Plan will be reduced. When the lower Plan amount is added to your full OAS benefits, the total will be approximately the same as the earlier, higher benefit from the plan.

Even though the full OAS benefits are taken into account in calculating the benefits payable under this option, you should be aware that the benefits payable from the Plan are independent of benefits provided under the Old Age Security Act. If you elect this option and you are not eligible for or do not apply for the OAS benefits, or if the OAS benefits are reduced or cancelled, the Trustees, the Fund or your employer will not be responsible for the payment of the OAS benefits.
 

Your spouse is entitled to a pre-retirement spouse's benefit if you are vested and die before you retire.

The benefit is payable as an immediate monthly pension and is equal to the lump-sum value of the monthly benefit you have earned at the date of your death.

If your spouse is affected by the pension law of Ontario or Nova Scotia, instead of a monthly pension, your spouse may choose a lump-sum payment payable immediately, or a deferred pension, payable no later than age 65. If your spouse is affected by the pension law of Alberta, the benefit is payable as either an immediate monthly pension or the portability option, as described earlier.

Your spouse or beneficiary should contact the Fund Office in writing and submit a copy of your death certificate. Your spouse or beneficiary will be asked to submit proof of age, and will be advised if additional information is required. The Fund Office will help in every way possible with the application.

If you do not have an eligible spouse, or your spouse has waived this right to a benefit, you may designate a beneficiary to receive this benefit. If you die and you are vested, your beneficiary will receive the lump-sum value of the benefit you have earned to the date of your death. If you haven't designated a beneficiary, the benefit will be paid to your estate.

Effective May 1, 2000, if a pensioner or beneficiary dies at a time when the participant's natural or legally adopted dependant children are under age 19 benefits which were being paid to the pensioner or beneficiary will continue to be paid the children until age 19. Such benefits will be paid to the legal guardian. If there is more than one such child, each will receive a proportionate share of the monthly benefit.

The portability option permits you to transfer the lump-sum value of your deferred vested pension to:

• a "locked-in" Registered Retirement Savings Plan or Life Income Fund
• the pension plan of a different employer if that plan permits, or
• purchase an immediate or deferred annuity from an insurance company.

You may apply for the Portability Option prior to age 55 after a 24 consecutive month period without any employer contributions. Any funds transferred under the portability option will not be available to you until at least age 55 and must be used to purchase a monthly annuity. Provincial law does not permit you to take these funds as a lump-sum cash payment. You should be aware that if you choose the portability option, you will not be entitled to any further benefits from this plan. If you later return to employment, you will be treated as a new employee, and you must again satisfy the rules to become a vested participant in the Plan. When you terminate your participation in the Plan, the rules of the Plan as they exist on the date you terminate your employment with your last contributing employer will be used to determine your entitlement.

To be considered retired, an IPF Canada pensioner must separate from covered employment for the entire month their pension starts. Afterwards a participant may be employed in retirement in any capacity without the suspension of his benefit but with no further pension accrual.

If the participant returns to Covered Employment he is required to notify the Fund office in writing within 15 days about any such employment undertaken so that appropriate tax reporting can be prepared as it could reduce the amount he is able to contribute to other retirement arrangements.

Disability Pensioners must notify the Fund office if they recover from their disability. A Disability Pensioner must notify the Fund office in writing within 15 days after the end of the month in which they have any employment. Failure to timely notify the Fund Office may result in the suspension of subsequent benefits. A Disability Pensioner may also return to Covered Employment and resume accrual of Pension Credit and be entitled to a Normal, Early Retirement, or Deferred Vested Pension, unaffected by the prior receipt of a Disability Pension.

These rules are governed by Plan documents. If you are not sure of your status, you may request a ruling from the Board of Trustees.
 

The Bricklayers and Trowel Trades International Pension Fund - Canada has signed the pro-rata portion of the International Reciprocal Agreement for Bricklayers Pension Funds. As a result, the Fund will recognize the pension credits that you earn under other pension funds maintained by local unions of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen in Canada that have also signed the International Reciprocal Agreement. If you qualify, you will receive your benefit from two or more signatory Funds. You could benefit from this Agreement if you years of service have been divided between the International Pension Fund - Canada and one or more other funds that have signed the Agreement.

To qualify for a pro-rata monthly benefit you must:

1. Be eligible for some type of pension from this Plan and one or more other funds that have signed the Reciprocal Agreement based on your combined pension credit, and
2. You must have at least one year of future service credit based on a minimum of 1,200 hours of employment under each of the funds from which you will receive a pro-rata pension.
3. You are eligible to receive a pro-rata pension from this Plan and the other plan.

Employment in the United States—If a Participant works for an Employer who is obligated to contribute to the Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Pension Fund - United States, his hours of Covered Employment for which contributions have been made to IPF - U.S. shall be treated as hours of Covered Employment for which contributions have been made to this Plan, provided, however, that the most recent period of Covered Employment preceding the Effective Date of his Pension occurred under the coverage of this Plan.

For further reciprocity questions: reciprocityclearinghouse@ipfweb.org
 

If a participant is divorced, the courts often consider the participant’s pension benefit an appropriate issue for the couple’s divorce.

If you get a divorce, annulment or separation from you spouse, the allocation of your pension benefit will be subject to the applicable provincial family law.

If your ex-spouse is entitled to any portion of your benefit in accordance with the applicable provincial family law, the benefit to which you or your current spouse or beneficiary is entitled will be adjusted accordingly.