Living or moving outside of Canada; Survivor/dependant: Royal Canadian Mounted Police pension
The following information is for survivors who live or move outside of Canada and want to know how their place of residence affects Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pension Plan benefits and group insurance benefits plan coverage.
You may want to know…
What do you do if you live or move outside of Canada?
Contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre without delay to:
- Provide your new address
- Find out whether your move will impact your survivor benefit, your insurance benefits plan coverage or your income tax
Can you receive your survivor benefit payment at an address outside of Canada?
Yes. The payment will be issued in the currency of the country where you live.
Can the direct deposit of your survivor benefit be sent to a bank outside of Canada?
Yes. If you live in one of the countries accepting foreign direct deposits, your survivor benefit can be deposited directly into your account. The deposit is made in the currency of the country in which you live.
Go to the Public Works and Government Services Canada Direct Deposit site to view the list of countries accepting foreign direct deposit and to download the enrolment form.
Is your survivor benefit paid in Canadian dollars or foreign currency?
If your survivor benefit is deposited directly in your bank account in Canada, it is paid in Canadian dollars. If it is deposited in an account with a bank abroad or if you receive it by cheque, the amount is converted into the currency of the country where you live.
Is your survivor benefit indexed according to the increase in the cost of living in the country where you live?
No. Survivor benefits are indexed according to the cost of living in Canada.
Do you have to pay income tax on the survivor benefit that you receive abroad?
Yes. Tax is usually withheld at source unless you have obtained a tax exemption.
How is the amount of income tax to be withheld from your survivor benefit determined if you live outside of Canada?
The amount of income tax to be withheld from your survivor benefit is determined by your country of residence, in accordance with the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) directives on income tax and non-residents. We recommend visiting the CRA website and using the "non-resident tax calculator".
Do you have to file a tax return in Canada for survivor benefits received abroad?
You may have to file a Canadian tax return even if you no longer live in Canada. For further details on the tax rules applicable to non-residents, please consult the Canada Revenue Agency's guide entitled Non-Residents and Income Tax.
Can you get a tax exemption or reduction in the amount of non-resident tax that is withheld from your survivor benefit?
The Government of Canada Pension Centre is required to withhold tax according to your country of residence. Any exemption or reduction must be authorized in writing by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Please contact the CRA's International Tax Services Office to obtain an exemption or reduction.
What type of tax slip will you receive for your survivor benefit if you live outside of the country?
As a non-resident, you will receive an NR4 slip indicating your survivor benefit income.
If part of your survivor benefit income is paid under the terms of the Retirement Compensation Arrangements (RCA), you will also receive an NR4-RCA slip.
However, the total amount of income tax withheld from all pension benefits under the RCMP Pension Plan and the RCA will be reported only on the NR4 slip.
For the year that you move outside Canada, you will receive both a T4A and an NR4 slip for that year.
Does your Public Service Health Care Plan coverage continue if you live or move outside of Canada?
Yes. Public Service Health Care Plan coverage can continue but you have to apply for Comprehensive coverage.
Contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre to discuss your coverage abroad.
Is Public Service Health Care Plan coverage the same for Canadian residents and non-residents?
Not necessarily. For example, hospital insurance coverage may be different. The cost of coverage for those living abroad is higher than it is for Canadian residents. For information concerning rates and coverage, please consult the Public Service Health Care Plan Directive.
Are you covered by the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan if you live outside of Canada?
Yes. You are covered by the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan provided you continue to pay your contributions. Reimbursement is based on reasonable dental charges in the area where the services were performed. Eligible expenses are reimbursed in Canadian dollars.
Can reimbursements for expenses covered by the Public Service Health Care Plan or the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan be deposited directly into your non-Canadian bank account?
If you live outside of Canada, eligible Public Service Health Care Plan and Pensioners' Dental Services Plan expenses will be reimbursed by cheque. Payment can be made by direct deposit into Canadian bank accounts only.