The Benefits Centre is pleased to share information about new services available to Indigenous staff and ministry personnel. These services will provide culturally appropriate support and guidance, ensuring that Indigenous members of the church have access to resources that reflect their own needs and experiences.
Green Shield Canada is partnering with Noojimo Health, an Indigenous-owned organization, to offer culturally safe and timely virtual mental health services. Noojimo Health is the first all-Indigenous virtual mental wellness clinic for Indigenous people. The following services are delivered by Indigenous registered social workers through virtual sessions and phone calls:
The program can be accessed via GreenShield+, under Care Services > Mental Health > Indigenous Mental Health:
These services are available at no cost to members. Some individuals may be eligible to receive up to 22 hours of counselling each year through the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program.
You should have received your 2024 Pension Statement in the mail these last few weeks. If you have not received your statement and are paid through ADP, please contact them directly to ensure the address on file is correct, then contact pension@united-church.ca to request a duplicate statement.
You will notice that your beneficiaries are not shown on your Annual Pension Statement. Please read the insert provided with your statement that explains why your beneficiaries are not listed. You can also read it here.
This is a standard practice in a transition to a new system. As part of the portal launch process, we will require all members to update their beneficiary information for both the pension and benefit plans (as applicable). Rest assured, the beneficiary information that you have previously provided is in place until such time as the new tool is live and you have confirmed your existing designation(s) or have designated new beneficiaries.
If you have any further questions, please email pension@united-church.ca.
Whether it’s stepping away from your desk, reading a book, or setting healthy boundaries in your personal life, self-care is about showing up for yourself in meaningful ways—big and small. This July, we’re celebrating the importance of self-care and friendship, with two key dates to mark on your calendar:
Caring for your whole self is essential to living your healthiest life. This includes your mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical self-care. Here are some examples – with resources from the GreenShield+ Wellness Hub and WorkHealthLife* – on how you can prioritize you.
*Enter The United Church of Canada to gain access to the site.
Mental Self-Care
Physical Self-Care
Emotional Self-Care
Spiritual Self-Care
Practical Self-Care
This month, let’s commit to nurturing ourselves and those around us, because when we care for ourselves, we’re better equipped to care for others.
Annual member statements for the 2024 plan year will be issued to active, deferred, and retired members of the pension plan at the end of June 2025. If you have not received your statement by the first week of July, please contact pension@united-church.ca to ensure the address on file is correct.
Remember that if you have a spouse, they will automatically receive any pre-retirement death benefit as per pension legislation. However, you should also designate a beneficiary in case your spouse predeceases you. If you do not have a spouse and have not designated a beneficiary, your benefit will go to your estate.
If you have not begun receiving your pension, the statement will contain a box that looks something like this:
1THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE EARNED ALREADY – is calculated based on your pensionable earnings and years of credited service.
2YOUR PROJECTED ANNUAL PENSION TO AGE 65 – is an estimate based on the assumption that you continue working in the same job category until you reach age 65. If you stop working before then, or if your pensionable earnings change, this amount will also change.
3MAXIMUM C/QPP BENEFITS – The amount shown as an example on your pension statement is the maximum amount payable under the Canada Pension Plan. Not all Canadians receive the maximum possible payout from the Canada Pension Plan. Please note that the average annual amount of CPP paid to new recipients (at age 65) in 2025 is $10,796.
To determine your personal benefit under the Canada Pension Plan, you can request a Personal Access Code (PAC). You can use this code to register for My Service Canada Account, which will provide access to your personal record of contributions and benefits earned under the Canada Pension Plan.
4MAXIMUM OAS BENEFITS – Old Age Security is a pension you can receive if you are 65 years of age or older and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years. The amount you receive depends on your income and how long you lived in Canada or specific countries after the age of 18. If your net income exceeds an income threshold ($93,454, for 2025) you will have to repay some or all of your OAS pension.
When planning for retirement, all of these sources of income, as well as your personal savings and any pension from previous employers, should be considered. We recommend that you consult with a financial planner to help with the financial aspects of your retirement planning.
As we step into June, we embrace a month rich with meaning, reflection, and celebration. It’s a time to honor our differences, uplift voices that have been marginalized, and recommit to building a more equitable, and sustainable world.
This month is a reminder of the importance of diversity in all its forms. It’s a time to reflect on how we can create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Equity is not just a goal—it’s a practice we must embed in our everyday actions and decisions.
Pride 2025
June is also a celebration of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ community’s resilience, creativity, and contributions to society. It’s a time to honor the history of the Pride movement, recognize the ongoing struggles for equality, and stand in solidarity with those advocating for love, dignity, and justice.
World Environment Day
Don’t forget to mark your calendars on June 5 for World Environment Day – a global call to action to protect our planet. This year’s theme emphasizes the urgent need to restore ecosystems and combat climate change. As we celebrate our human diversity, let’s also remember our shared responsibility to care for the Earth, our common home.
Whether it’s attending a Pride event, participating in a sustainability initiative, or learning more about the United Church’s practices (Disability, Accessibility and Inclusion, Gender, Sexuality, and Orientation, and Equity, Accessibility and Privacy) there’s a place for everyone in this journey. Let’s celebrate love in all its forms and continue to push for a world where everyone can live authentically and safely.
Here are a few articles you can check out on GreenShield+:
Feeling stressed about finances? You're not alone. Economic hardships can make managing money feel overwhelming. But there's good news! By assessing your finances and creating a plan to achieve your goals, you can reduce stress and boost your financial wellbeing.
Our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides numerous resources on the WorkHealthLife website. Search "The United Church of Canada" to gain access to articles and resources, such as:
Money and your mind: taking care of your finances and mental health
Financial health: how your finances affect your mind
Millennials: Your financial future is now
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, a perfect time to focus on your overall wellbeing. Here are some important dates to keep in mind:
Let's make May a month of empowerment and positive change!
Pension Awareness Day 2025 is on Thursday, February 20, and we are encouraging you to discover the value of a pension. This day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on your retirement planning, stay informed, and take the necessary steps to achieve a more secure financial future for you and your family.
What is Pension Awareness Day?
Pension Awareness Day is a time to raise awareness about the value of pension savings, the many benefits your pension plan offers, and the need to develop a retirement plan as early as possible.
The value of a pension
A pension plan is designed to provide income after retirement, so you won’t have to rely solely on government benefits like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS), which may not be enough to cover all your expenses.
Employees of The United Church of Canada (UCC) who work an average of 14 or more hours per week, contribute to a Defined Benefit plan.
With the rising cost of living and longer life expectancies, government pensions may not be enough to cover all your retirement expenses. In 2024, the average Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefit at 65 was $805 per month (with a maximum of $1,364.60), and the maximum Old Age Security (OAS) benefit was $725 per month, rising at age 75 to $800 per month.
Tools and Resources
Check out our pension tools and resources to learn more about:
From the Government of Canada:
Join our webinars on ChurchX to delve deep into retirement planning and your pension plan benefits:
Boundaries Refresher: Retiring with Grace (for ministry personnel only)
Monday, February 3, 2025 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET / 10:00 – 11:30pm PT
Click here for the start times in each of Canada’s Time Zones
The United Church of Canada provides a Defined Benefit Pension Plan for all employees who work more than 14 hours a week. Register here for this 90 minute program to learn about how the plan works, what it costs, what it provides, and how to apply for your pension when you're are ready. In this program we'll describe:
If you have any questions, please contact Shenagh Rosa, Manager, Pension Compliance and Communications, at srosa@united-church.ca
Connex is your newsletter that provides information about your pension, benefits, and payroll. If you were previously receiving an email about Connex and didn’t see it in your inbox, check your spam folder! If it’s still not there and you would like to receive Connex, please sign up for the latest news and updates by filling out the form below.
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Good news! Pension plan members will receive a pension increase effective January 1, 2025. Due to the Canada Post strike, you will receive the letter from Pension Board Chair, Anne Soh, once the strike has been resolved. You can access the letter electronically here:
Pensioners and Deferred Members
Current pensioners and deferred members will receive a 2.7 percent* increase to their pension amount effective January 1, 2025.
* The Income Tax Act and regulations and the Plan, limit pension increases to the cumulative growth in Consumer Price Index since the pension commenced. For this reason, recently retired pensioners and deferred members who terminated active membership recently may see a lesser increase.
Active Members
For active members, the accrual rate will stay at 1.85 percent in 2025, up from the base rate of 1.4 percent. In 2026 the accrual rate is scheduled to return to 1.4 percent.
What Does “Accrual Rate” Mean?
The accrual rate is the rate at which you earn your pension. In 2025, you earn your pension at the rate of 1.85 percent of your pensionable earnings.
How Does This Work?
You earn a piece of pension every year that you work and contribute to the plan—like building blocks.
For example, let’s assume that a member’s pensionable earnings stayed constant at $60,000 every year, (for easy figuring). From 2019, that member would earn
|
Year |
Accrual Rate | Formula |
Pension Credit Earned |
|
2019 |
1.4% | 1.4% of $60,000 | $ 840 |
|
2020 |
1.85% | 1.85% of $60,000 | $ 1,110 |
|
2021 |
1.625% | 1.625% of $60,000 |
$ 975 |
| 2022 | 1.85% | 1.85% of $60,000 |
$ 1,110 |
| 2023 | 1.85% | 1.85% of $60,000 |
$ 1,110 |
| 2024 | 1.85% | 1.85% of $60,000 |
$ 1,110 |
| 2025 | 1.85% | 1.85% of $60,000 |
$ 1,110 |
| 2026 | 1.4% | 1.4% of $60,000 |
$ 840 |
At the end of your career, the annual pension amounts earned each year will add up to the total annual pension you will receive every year for the rest of your life. So, the higher amount earned in 2025 will continue to benefit you for the rest of your retired life.
What about Future Increases?
There is no automatic indexing in our plan. The Pension Board and Pension Plan Advisory Committee annually assess the resources available and determine whether there are surplus funds that can be used to increase benefits.
