Disability: Royal Canadian Mounted Police pension
The following questions and answers will help you understand your options in the event that you become disabled or suffer from a long-term illness.
You may want to know…
What type of leave can you take if you become disabled or suffer from a long-term illness?
As an active member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), you are entitled to unlimited sick leave. For more information, please contact your regional RCMP Occupational Health and Safety Office. Contact information is available on the RCMP Intranet; HR website.
If you are away on sick leave, can this time be counted as pensionable?
Yes. Active RCMP members on leave due to illness or injury continue to receive active pay. The time spent on sick leave is counted as pensionable and you are required to pay pension contributions.
What pension options do you have if you retire on grounds of disability?
If you retire because of a disability and you have two or more years of pensionable service, you will receive an Immediate Annuity, regardless of your age. If you have less than two years, you will receive the larger of a return of contributions plus interest or a Cash Termination Allowance.
Who determines if you qualify for retirement on grounds of disability?
In order to qualify, your RCMP Occupational Health and Safety Branch must certify that your situation meets the following definition:
Disability, under the RCMP Pension Plan, is a physical or mental impairment that prevents you from performing your duties as a member of the force and that can reasonably be expected to last for the rest of your life.
What if you regain your health?
If you discharge for disability and subsequently regain your health, your pension benefit does not change.
What if you discharge with a deferred annuity and then become disabled?
In this case, the Deferred Annuity is changed to an Immediate Annuity. Should you subsequently regain your health before age 60, then the immediate annuity ceases and you have the choice of a Deferred Annuity payable at 60; an Annual Allowance payable at 50; or (if under 50) a Transfer value. For more information please see the Becoming Disabled After Retirement life event in the Retired Member section of this website.