Retiree Benefit Program FAQ

The Retiree Benefit Program (RBP) is a negotiated entitlement available to qualified retired members covered by the Nurses' Bargaining Association (NBA) collective agreement. It is a unique program that draws on a special Retiree Benefit Fund set up to help provide nurses with better retirement benefits and better inflation protection for their pension.

The RBP fund is funded exclusively from the one (1) percent market adjustment of payroll collected from employers by the HEABC and subsequently transferred to BCNU on behalf of the NBA.

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

Here is an example: you are enrolled in RBP if you are retired and had previously received Medical Services Plan (MSP) premium subsidies (50% of premiums) until Jan. 1, 2020, when the BC government cancelled MSP premiums. You may also send an inquiry to rbp@bcnu.org to confirm enrolment.

Please visit bcnu.org/RBP and read the eligibility section for full details on what is an "Eligible Retiree".

The RBP committee reviews applications based on the eligibility criteria stated on the RBP application form and on the RBP main webpage (bcnu.org/RBP).

Please apply after you retire, as eligible retirees will receive future benefits as determined by the RBP committee.

Visit bcnu.org/RBP for a link to the RBP application form. The form is to be downloaded, completed, printed and signed by a witness of majority age before it is emailed or mailed to the RBP administrator as per the contact information found on the application form. If you cannot access the form on bcnu.org/RBP, you may phone BCNU at 604-433-2268 or 1-800-663-9991 to request an application form by mail.

RBP requires enrolled members to arrange direct deposit to their bank account to facilitate delivery of program benefits. Please complete and sign the Direct Deposit Authorization form (it is part of the RBP application form) with formal bank stamp OR attach a VOID cheque with your application form.

Social Insurance Number is required to provide you with your T4A for taxation purposes.

You will be sent a confirmation of approval status by email or mail up to six weeks from the date your application is submitted.

Please contact the Canada Revenue Agency to request a copy of your T4 slip. If you retired less than seven years ago, please go ahead and submit your RBP application.

Yes, you are eligible for RBP when you transition from LTD to retirement. To support your application, you will be required to provide your letter from Canada Life and your pension plan acceptance letter.

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, fill in the worksite as Victoria mental health.

Please refer to the Eligibility section at bcnu.org/RBP. Following are examples of former union members who are not eligible for the retiree benefit:

• LPN participation in the program is negotiated to commence on April 1, 2024.
• 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.
• If you 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.
• 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 (2) consecutive years at your date of retirement.
• If you did not work the required number of hours within the last two (2) consecutive prior to retirement – 400 (four hundred) hours.
• If you retired from a non-union position, such as an excluded nurse manager.

 

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

The benefit subsidy will be reviewed yearly and posted on the BCNU website. Any changes to the program will automatically apply to registered and qualified members. The nature and amount of benefits paid from the RBP are at the discretion of the RBP Committee and are subject to change: future RBP benefits are not guaranteed.

On November 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.”

Yes, the payment is taxable and will be reported on a T4A slip which will be sent to you.

No, retro payments are not available.

Please visit BCNU’s Your Pension webpage.

Retired members are encouraged to sign up to receive Retired Member eNews, a periodic e-newsletter to help keep you informed of issues and initiatives you may find important in retirement. To sign up, please email your contact information to the BCNU Membership team at membership@bcnu.org..