Retiree Benefit Program

The Retiree Benefit Program (RBP) has been administering funds contributed to the Retiree Benefit Program Fund in accordance with a provision in the collective agreement negotiated by the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) in 2006. The contract language remains effective and states that 1 percent of market adjustment is contributed to the fund to “provide funding for inflation protection and benefits for retirees”.

Prior to Jan. 1, 2020, the RBP distributed funds to retired members in the form of MSP premium subsidies; that is one reason why the NBA negotiated the creation of the Pension Review Committee (PRC) which is separate from the RBP. The PRC mandate was to review potential changes to the governance of nurses’ pensions that would allow for the Retiree Benefit Fund to be integrated into the existing pension plan to provide inflation protection and group benefits superior to what was available through the pension plan. The Pension Governance Review was delayed from March 2020 to September 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the review concluded, and in consideration of the length of time needed to complete it, the RBP committee passed a motion to direct a one-time $500 payment to eligible retirees who retired on or before Dec. 31, 2022. Applications for this one-time payment were accepted until Nov. 30, 2023.

Members who retired on or after Jan. 1, 2023, are welcome to submit an RBP application form to be eligible for future benefits as determined by the RBP committee.

To qualify for RBP benefits, nurses who are members of the NBA Provincial Collective Agreement at the time of retirement may be eligible. An “Eligible Retiree” meets all the following criteria:

(a) has been a member of one of the NBA’s constituent unions for at least two consecutive years as at the member’s date of retirement and retired under the Provincial Collective Agreement. For purposes of determining whether a person is an Eligible Retiree, “retirement” shall mean the date at which the Eligible Retiree is in receipt of a pension payment from the MPP (Municipal Pension Plan), PSPP (Public Service Pension Plan), or CBSPP (Canadian Blood Services Pension Plan);

(b) is in receipt of a pension from either the MPP, the PSPP or the CBSPP; and

(c) at the date of retirement, the member worked a minimum of four hundred (400) hours in an approved status under the Provincial Collective Agreement (ie. regular or casual status) in each of the two years prior to date of retirement, or in each of the two calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which the member retired.

Examples of Ineligibility

Some members may not be eligible to receive RBP benefits. Former members under the NBA are not eligible in the following examples:

• If you terminated employment prior to retirement and retired when you were not a member of one of the NBA unions. For example, if you terminated employment as a Registered Nurse and member under the Nurses' Bargaining Association at a hospital in BC and went to work at a doctor's office or private health care setting prior to retirement.

• If you were a BC Nurses’ Union/Health Sciences Association member but were employed at a site covered by the Nurses Master and Component Agreement with the provincial government when you retired.

• If you retired as an employee in health care but your union was not under the Nurses' Bargaining Association such as the Hospital Employees Union (HEU).

• If you were not a member of one of the NBA’s constituent unions for at least two consecutive years at your date of retirement.

• If you did not work the required number of hours in an approved status under the Provincial Collective Agreement (i.e., regular, or casual status) in each of the two years prior to the date of retirement or in each of the two calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which you retired.

• If you retired from a non-union position, such as an excluded nurse manager.

• Use the Application Form button on this page to download the form. You must download the application form before you complete it because if you attempt to complete the form in your web browser - without downloading it first – you will not be able to save the content entered in the fillable fields and you will submit an empty form.

• Print a hard copy of your completed form and have it physically signed by a witness of majority age.

• Send completed application by mail or email to the RBP Administrator at BCNU (see addresses on application form).

• Call BCNU at 604-433-2268 or 1-800-663-9991 to request an application form.

• Registered RBP members will automatically receive approved program benefits.

• Any changes to the program will automatically apply to registered and qualified members – there is no need to reapply.

• Benefit subsidy will be reviewed yearly and posted on the BCNU website.