The Pension and Benefits Board administers the Pension Plan and other Benefit Plans as approved by the General Assembly on behalf of its members and employing bodies. The benefit plans include extended health and dental, group life insurance, long term disability, pulpit supply insurance, and maternity and parental leave top-ups.

The Board, including its various sub-committees meets in October and February and at other times if required.

The Pension and Benefits office staff are here to assist members, active and retired, Congregational Treasurers and Presbyteries with their questions or concerns.

Please feel free to contact the Pension & Benefits staff at pension@presbyterian.ca for all general questions.

Newsletters
Pension Plan
Group Benefits
Health & Dental Premiums
Congregational Treasurer Information
Congregational Assessment
Pulpit Insurance
Sick Leave
Maternity & Parental Leave

Newsletters

Window on your Pension and Benefits is a newsletter for active members of the Pension and Benefits Plan published two times a year.

Contact a newsletter for retirees of the Presbyterian Church in Canada is published yearly.

Current and past issues of these newsletters can be found by clicking the links above.

Pension Plan

Membership in the PCC pension plan is made up of ordained Presbyterian Church ministers, members of the Order of Diaconal Ministries, employees of the National Office, the Colleges and Evangel Hall. The plan is also available to other Church workers, whose employers agree to participate in the plan.

Your Pension Plan booklet (2010) provides information about The Presbyterian Church in Canada's Pension Plan.

Group Benefits

Coverage under the Group Benefits Plan includes Employee Life insurance, Dependant Life insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, Long Term Disability, and Extended Health and Dental care. Our carrier is Sun Life Financial.

There are 4 categories of coverage. Your Group Benefits Plan booklet describes the coverage for each category.

• Professional church workers, ordained ministers, diaconal ministers, lay directors, professors and national office executive staff — Download Booklet
• Support staff at 50 Wynford Drive — Download Booklet
• Congregational Employees, including lay ministers, Christian Education Directors, church secretaries, custodians — Download Booklet
• Retired Employees — Download Booklet

Claim Forms

Medical Claims
English | French

Dental Claims
English | French

Emergency Travel Card

Congregational Treasurer Information

Each year, the General Assembly approves the Minimum Stipend and Allowance Schedule and sets the annual Maximum Qualifying Income (MQI). Member pension and group life insurance contributions are calculated according to the annual MQI as described in the following work sheet and information memos.

2012 Maximum Qualifying Income and 2011 Health and Dental Premiums

2011 Pension Adjustment

2012 Calculation Worksheet

Health & Dental Premiums

Health and Dental premiums are invoiced quarterly on a per position basis.

Health and dental premiums will continue for an additional 6 months after a position becomes vacant. A vacant position means that no further compensation or benefits is being paid to the member. The congregation may contact their Clerk of Presbytery to notify the Pension and Benefits office to stop the premium billing after the vacancy period.

Congregational Assessment

Congregational Assessment notices are mailed to congregations in October/November each year.

Congregations will continue to pay the assessment for an additional 48 months after a vacancy. For pension purposes, a congregation is vacant when no further compensation or benefits are being paid to a minister. The congregation may contact their Clerk of Presbytery to notify the Pension and Benefits office that their vacancy period is complete.

Pulpit Supply Insurance

Pulpit Supply insurance is available to congregations where a full-time professional church worker position has been established by its Presbytery. The congregation may claim up to $150.00 plus travel ($25.00 maximum) per Sunday for a maximum of 17 weeks.

Pulpit Supply Claim Form

Sick Leave

The PCC sick leave provision for professional church workers is that:

1. During the first three months of disability, the congregation is responsible for continuing all regular payments to their professional church worker as well as paying for pulpit supply.
2. Starting with the fourth month and continuing to the end of the seventh month, the congregation is responsible for payment of utilities and housing allowance or manse accommodation and the professional church worker will apply to receive federal Employment Insurance sick leave benefits.
3. If it seems that the professional church worker will not be able to return to their duties by the end of the seventh month, he/she should contact the Pension and Benefits office to discuss a claim for long term disability benefits.

The above requirements for the sick leave policy are the minimum requirements. Presbyteries and congregations are free to provide beyond the policy to give compassionate consideration to the minister and the minister’s family.

Maternity & Parental Leave

If you are a member of the Church’s Group Benefit Plan and are planning to take a maternity or parental leave of absence, the Maternity/Parental Leave Policy booklet will assist you with what you need to know before and during your leave.

In addition, effective July 1, 2007, congregations providing either a housing allowance or manse accommodation to the professional church worker will receive a $2000 lump sum amount for 27 weeks of leave, or a prorated amount for a shorter leave.

Treasurers should complete the Reporting Form for Employers to apply for costs reimbursement.