Retired Member FAQ

I will be moving, how do I update my mailing address?

It is important to notify MEBP as soon as possible of any changes to your mailing address. This will ensure that you will receive, without delays, any benefit payments to which you may be entitled and important correspondence from MEBP.

To update your address, please contact our office:

  • By phone: you will be required to provide your MEBP Identification Number or Social Insurance Number, your new mailing address and the effective date of the change, or
  • By Mail, fax or email: you may send a letter that includes your MEBP Identification Number or Social Insurance Number, your new mailing address and the effective date of the change – or you may print and complete the INFORMATION CHANGE FORM PENSION – RETIRED MEMBER OR SURVIVOR:

My Direct Deposit Banking Information has changed, how do I update my Banking Information?

It is important to notify MEBP as soon as possible of any changes to your direct deposit banking information.  This will ensure that you will receive your monthly pension benefit without delays.  For your protection, MEBP will not accept changes to your banking information over the telephone.

To update your banking information, please contact our office:

  • By phone: to request that an Information Change Form be sent to you, or
  • By Mail, fax or email:  you may print and complete the the INFORMATION CHANGE FORM PENSION– RETIRED MEMBER OR SURVIVOR Please send or scan the completed signed form to our office.
  • Have your Financial Institution mail, fax or email a signed copy of their Direct Deposit Authorization form.

What happens to my Pension if I return to work after retirement?

If you are receiving an MEBP pension and you return to work for a MEBP employer, you can:

  • Continue to receive your MEBP pension payments and do not re-enrol in the MEBP Plan; or
  • Stop your pension payments for as long as you are employed and re-enrol in the MEBP Plan upon meeting the eligibility requirements. If you re-enrol in MEBP, you or your employer should contact MEBP immediately so we can suspend your pension payments while you are working.  Any pension payments received after re-enrolment must be repaid to the Plan, including any payment made in the month you re-enrol.  When you subsequently retire or reach the latest date you may start to receive a pension your pension will be redetermined to include your additional period of membership. If you work past age 71, your contributions to the Plan must stop by December 30 of the year in which you turn 71, and your MEBP pension will begin in December of that year, regardless of whether you continue working.

If you work for a non-MEBP employer while on pension, it will not affect your MEBP pension payments.

I’ve had a Spousal Relationship Breakdown. Does that affect my MEBP pension payments?

The Pension Benefits Act of Manitoba states that if a marriage/common-law relationship breakdown occurs on or after January 1, 1984, and there is a written agreement dividing family assets, the value of pension benefit credits earned during the period of marriage/common-law relationship must also be divided. You will need to contact MEBP to have the value determined.

MEBP requires a completed RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN DATA SHEET (Form 34) or a copy of your separation agreement to calculate the spousal entitlement.

When a spouse or common-law partner becomes entitled to receive a portion of a retired owner’s pension or pension-in-pay, if the parties do not opt out, the pension is divided and the spouse’s or partner’s share portion is paid from the income stream.

The division of the pension benefit credits may be waived. You and your spouse or former spouse or common-law partner may agree to waive the 50/50 division of benefits. The act states that if both parties agree to this, they must first:

  1. receive independent legal advice,
  2. receive a statement from the pension plan administrator providing information required under the act, such as the amount of entitlement and options, and
  3. sign a written agreement with the spouse or partner

How do I notify MEBP of power of attorney?

If you appoint a power of attorney for your financial affairs in the event you become incapacitated, send MEBP a copy of the power of attorney document. For pension-related purposes, your power of attorney must be a continuing power of attorney for property in order to administer your affairs after incapacity.

MEBP will respond to requests from your appointed power of attorney provided proof of their identity is received. If you have specified that proof of your incapacity is needed first, MEBP will require this proof as well.

What happens to my pension if I die?

If you are a retired MEBP member and your spouse or partner has died Or If you are the surviving spouse or partner, beneficiary, or the executor, executrix, or personal representative of a MEBP member's estate:

  • Please contact MEBP as soon as you can. We are here to help guide you through the process of applying for any money that might be paid out by the Plan,
  • Contact the Canada Pension Plan to discuss potential death and survivor benefits,
  • Contact your insurance company(ies), if applicable,
  • Consider consulting an estate lawyer to help you with this process

The benefits payable to your surviving spouse, partner or chosen beneficiaries in the event of your death depend on the pension option you chose at retirement.

Can I change the beneficiary of my retirement benefit?

After you retire, your ability to change your beneficiary or name multiple beneficiaries depends on whether you had a spouse at retirement and the pension option you chose. Not all pension options allow you to name or change a beneficiary, and in some cases you may not have a choice, since your spouse may already be your beneficiary.

If you elected a joint and survivor life pension, your spouse/partner named at retirement must remain as your beneficiary, they cannot waive this right nor can you name a new spouse/partner as the beneficiary of this pension.

If you elected a single life pension option with a guarantee period at retirement, you may be able to name a different beneficiary. You may either contact our office to request the CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY FOR A GUARANTEED PENSION form (Form 96) or you may print this form and return the signed original copy to our office. A legal will can also be used to appoint a new beneficiary, however the will must specify that the beneficiary is for either the MEBP pension benefit or your employment-based pension plans.

Why is my monthly pension payment deposit amount, or cheque, different from last month?

Certain events can affect the amount of your monthly pension payment. Some of these events are:

  • The Canada Revenue Agency has introduced new payroll tax deduction tables (this usually occurs in January or February of each year)
  • You requested a change to the additional amount of tax to be withheld from your benefit.
  • You have attained age 60. Any eligible bridging benefits that may have been payable to you stop at age 60.
  • You have attained age 65 and had elected to have your monthly pension benefits integrated with Old Age Security and or Canada Pension until age 65. The integration payments stop at age 65.
  • The previous month was your first pension payment and was either a partial month or included a retroactive payment.

Whenever there is a change to your monthly pension payment amount, you will receive a letter from MEBP explaining the change.