Retiree Benefit Program FAQ

RBP is a negotiated entitlement available to qualified retired members covered by the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) collective agreement. It's a unique program that draws on a special Retiree Benefit Fund. BCNU and other NBA members negotiated the RBP which is available to qualified members who retire from the NBA collective agreement. BCNU is proud to provide this service to members to help provide nurses with better retirement benefits.

The Retiree Benefit Program (RBP) Committee is the delegated administrator of funds contributed to the Retiree Benefit Program Fund pursuant to the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) Provincial Collective Agreement. The Provincial Collective Agreement states that 1% of market adjustment is contributed to the fund to “provide funding for inflation protection and benefits for retirees”.

To date, RBP has distributed funds to eligible retirees as MSP premium subsidies until Dec. 31, 2019, and as a one-time payment of $500 to eligible retirees who retired on or before Dec. 31, 2022.

In recognition of the unforeseen delays as the RBP Committee works to determine long-term benefits to be offered to eligible retirees, the RBP Committee is providing RBP members with the following benefits attributable to the years 2020-2025.

An eligible RN/RPN retiree will receive the stated benefit for each of the years that the eligible retiree was eligible for the RBP. To participate in this benefit, RN/RPN members who retire on or before Dec. 31, 2025, must enroll and be accepted to the RBP by Sept. 30, 2026. Members who enrol after Sept. 30, 2026, regardless of eligibility between 2020-2025, will only participate in future RBP benefits.

Contributions to the RBP fund, on behalf of LPNs, commenced on April 1, 2024, in accordance with the negotiated provisions of the 2022-2025 NBA provincial collective agreement. The RBP Committee has now amended the RBP eligibility criteria such that LPN members who retire on or after April 1, 2024, and meet the criteria for an eligible retiree, are eligible to enroll in the RBP as of their date of retirement. For information on LPN eligibility, please see below.

Eligible LPN members who retire on or before Dec. 31, 2025, and enrol and are accepted to the RBP by Sept. 30, 2026, will be entitled to participate in the benefit payment described above for each year of eligibility from 2024-2025. Those who enroll after Sept. 30, 2026, regardless of whether eligible in the years 2024-2025, will only participate in future benefits. LPN members will be notified in spring 2026 with more information on the RBP enrolment process. Eligible LPNs are anticipated to start enrolment between March and April 2026 and scheduled to receive a payment in July or October.

Members who retire on or after Jan. 1, 2026, are encouraged to enroll in RBP to receive future benefits as determined by the RBP Committee.

The RBP Committee will actively attempt to communicate, via eNews, bulletins, and website updates, with retired members who are not yet enrolled in the RBP to provide them with awareness of the payment.

The RBP Committee’s primary goal is to provide retired members with complete information about the requirements and process in place to help ensure payments are received by those already enrolled in the RBP and to help ensure that those not yet enrolled are provided access to enrol in order to receive the RPB benefits.

The RBP Committee reviews applications based on the eligibility criteria stated on the RBP application form and on the RBP webpage at www.bcnu.org/RBP.

If you received MSP subsidies (50% of the costs of MSP) prior to 2020 or the $500 CAD payment in 2022, you are enrolled in RBP. You may also send an inquiry to RBP@bcnu.org to confirm your enrolment status.

Please read the Eligibility section on www.bcnu.org/RBP for full details on an “Eligible Retiree”.

An LPN that retires on or after April 1, 2024, is eligible for enrolment in the RBP as of their retirement date, provided the LPN meets the definition of Eligible Retiree on www.bcnu.org/RBP. LPN members who retired prior to April 1, 2024, do not qualify as Eligible Retirees. Please read the Eligibility section on www.bcnu.org/RBP for full details on an “Eligible Retiree”.

For RNs and RPNs - visit www.bcnu.org/RBP for the application form which is to be downloaded, completed, signed and then emailed to rbp@bcnu.org or mailed to RBP at the mailing address found on the form. If you are unable to access the BCNU website, call BCNU at 604-433-2268 or 1-800-663-9991 to request an application by mail. Ensure your application is signed by a witness of majority age.

For LPNs – The application forms and processes are currently being amended. LPNs who retired on or after April 1, 2024, will be notified next spring with more information on the RBP enrolment process. Eligible LPNs are anticipated to start enrolment between March and April 2026 and scheduled to receive a payment in July or October.

You will receive confirmation of approval status by email or letter up to six weeks from the date your application is submitted.

Eligible retirees will receive the following benefits for each year of eligibility:

• The maximum amount you could receive, if you retired and enrolled prior to Dec. 31, 2020, is $5500 CAD.
• The total amount for each eligible retiree will depend on the year you retired, became eligible, and enrolled in the program.
• RN/RPN retirees, who have not previously enrolled, will have until Sept. 30, 2026, to enrol. An eligible RN/RPN retiree will receive the stated benefit for each year that the eligible retiree was eligible for the RBP.
• LPN members, who retired on or after April 1, 2024, will have until Sept. 30, 2026, to enrol. An eligible LPN retiree will receive the stated benefit for each of year, 2024 and 2025 that the eligible retiree was eligible for the RBP.

• The current payout is only attributable to the years 2020-2025. An individual who retires on or after Jan. 1, 2026, is not eligible to receive this benefit payment.
• Please apply to RBP after you retire, as eligible retirees will receive future benefits as determined by the RBP committee.

• Please read “Eligibility” section at bcnu.org/RBP. Following are examples of former union members who are not eligible for the retiree benefit if you:
  • Did not retire as a member of one of the NBA unions. For example, if you terminated employment as a Registered Nurse and member of BCNU at a hospital in BC and went to work at a doctor's office prior to retirement.
  • Were a union member but were employed at a site covered by the Nurses Master and Component Agreement with the provincial government or independent agreement when you retired.
  • Retired as an employee in health care but your union was not under the Nurses' Bargaining Association such as the Hospital Employees Union (HEU).
  • Have moved into the NBA as an LPN and the transfer of 1% of payroll to the fund is not yet negotiated for your employment category.
  • Were not a member of one of the NBA’s constituent unions for at least two (2) consecutive years at your date of retirement.
  • Did not work the required number of hours within the last two (2) consecutive prior to retirement – 400 (four hundred) hours.
  • Retired from a non-union position, such as an excluded nurse manager; or
  • Are an LPN who retired before April 1, 2024, when contributions to the RBP on behalf of LPNs commenced, as negotiated into the NBA provincial collective agreement.

Applicants who wish to provide additional information may email the RBP committee at RBP@bcnu.org.

The Retiree Benefit Program (RBP) has been administering contributed funds in accordance with a provision in the collective agreement negotiated by the NBA in 2006. To date, the RBP distributed funds to retired members in the form of MSP premium subsidies and a one-time payment of $500 CAD in 2022. The RBP Committee has been working to determine the long-term benefit design of the program which has taken longer than initially anticipated. In recognition of the length of time needed for the review, the RBP Committee has passed a motion to provide for the benefit payment described above. The RBP Committee will continue to work to establish the long-term program.

On Nov. 8, 2022, the RBP Committee passed a motion ”that the Nurses’ Bargaining Association Retiree Benefit Program (RBP) Committee will commence and prioritize a RBP plan design review project, which will consider funding and benefit issues and options for the future use of the Fund.” The work to establish the future benefit for eligible retirees remains ongoing.

• Enrolled members will have until Jan. 31, 2026, to opt out of the payment.
• Any enrolled member not opted out by Jan. 31, 2026, will receive the total payment for which they are eligible.
• There is no deferral or splitting of the benefit payment.
• Please see the last item in this FAQ, "How income sources may be affected by the RBP 2025/2026 benefit payment", for additional information on Retiree Benefits and Income Thresholds which may assist you in determining if you should opt out.
• If you wish to opt-out of the current benefit payment, please go to www.bcnu.org/RBP to download and complete the one-time Benefit Opt-out and Release form and submit it to the RBP Committee (contact information is on the form).

• The first group of benefit payments will be paid to eligible retirees in Feb. 2026, for any eligible retiree who has applied for and been accepted into the RBP by Jan. 31, 2026.
• If you retire on or prior to Dec. 31, 2025, you will have up until Sept. 30, 2026, to enrol to be eligible for the benefit payment attributable to the years 2020-2025.
• If you apply and are accepted into RBP between Jan. 31, 2026, and July 31, 2026, you will receive the payment for which you are eligible in Aug. 2026.
• If you apply and are accepted into RBP between Aug. 1, 2026, and Sept. 30, 2026, you will receive the payment for which you are eligible in Oct. 2026.
• If you do not enrol prior to Sept. 30, 2026, you will not be eligible for the benefit payment attributable to the years 2020-2025 but may be eligible for future benefits provided by the program.

• LPN members who retired before April 1, 2024, are not eligible to enrol in the RBP.
• LPN enrolment is scheduled to commence between March-April of 2026 for LPN members who retired on or after April 1, 2024.
• If you retire on or prior to Dec. 31, 2025, you will have until Sept. 30, 2026, to enrol to be eligible for the benefit payment attributable to the years 2024-2025.
• If you apply and are accepted into the RBP between March 2026, and June 30, 2026, you will receive the payment for which you are eligible in July 2026.
• If you apply and are accepted into RBP between July 1, 2026, and Sept. 30, 2026, you will receive the payment for which you are eligible in Oct. 2026.
• If you do not apply prior to Sept. 30, 2026, you will not be eligible for the benefit payment attributable to the years 2024-2025 but may be eligible for future benefits provided by the program.

If you retired within the last eight years, your employer will be one of the current health authorities and your worksite will be the location where you worked. If you do not know your health authority, fill in your worksite only. If you worked in the community or mental health, please provide the city in which you worked so we can identify the appropriate health authority. For example, if you worked in mental health in Victoria, the worksite is Victoria mental health.

Confirm you are enrolled in the program and ensure you provide the program with any changes to your personal contact information (e.g., email, mailing address, phone number), by emailing rbp@bcnu.org. Update your banking information using the Direct Deposit Authorization form on www.bcnu.org/RBP.

Yes! You are encouraged to sign up to receive Retired Member eNews, a periodic e-newsletter from BCNU sent to retired members to help keep you informed of issues and initiatives you may find important in retirement. To receive it, please provide your contact details to the BCNU Membership team at membership@bcnu.org.

Retiree Benefits and Income Thresholds

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Retirees should review their personal circumstances and seek advice from their professional advisors as needed. Not a complete list of retiree programs.

1. Old Age Security (OAS)
   • Age 60–64: n/a
   • Age 65–74:
     • Annual net world income < $93,454
     • Clawback: $93,455 – $152,062
   • Age 75+:
     • Annual net world income < $93,454
     • Clawback: $93,455 – $157,923
   • The Canada OAS clawback (Old Age Security recovery tax) reduces your monthly OAS pension if your net world income exceeds a threshold, noted above, with 15 cents repaid for every dollar over the limit.
   • The clawback is a progressive tax, meaning higher income leads to a greater ‘clawback’, with Old Age Security benefits fully eliminated at the higher income levels, as noted above for each age range.
2. Allowance (OAS Low-Income Benefit, Age 60–64)
   • Age 60–64:
     • Spouse/common-law partner receiving GIS + full OAS: Combined net income < $41,472
     • Surviving spouse/common-law partner: Net income < $30,216
   • Age 65–74: n/a
   • Age 75+: n/a
3. Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
   • Age 60–64: n/a
   • Age 65–74:
     • Single, widowed, divorced: < $22,440
     • Spouse/CLP with full OAS: Combined < $29,616
     • Spouse/CLP with Allowance: Combined < $41,472
     • Spouse/CLP with NO OAS/Allowance: Combined < $53,808
   • Age 75+: Same as 65–74
4. Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
   • All ages: No income test; payment based on earned income during working life
5. Canadian Dental Care Plan (if no other coverage)
   • 100% coverage: Adjusted family net income < $70,000
   • 60% coverage: $70,000 – $79,999
   • 40% coverage: $80,000 – $89,999
   • No coverage: > $90,000
6. BC Senior's Supplement
   • Monthly payment: $1 – $99.98 depending on OAS + GIS received
7. Fair PharmaCare (BC)
   • Deductible and family maximum are based on income levels
8. BC Renter's Tax Credit
   • Maximum tax credit: $400
   • Reduced by 2% of the amount by which income exceeds $64,764
   • Fully phased out when income > $84,764