Buying service for a leave

Learn more about leave types, purchase options, the value of purchasing service, costs, and deadlines.

Eligibility for buying service for a leave

You can buy service for an approved leave if you meet the following requirements:

• You were an active plan member before you took the leave
• You apply while you are an active member or within 30 days of ending your employment with all plan employers
• You apply within five years of the end of the leave
• Buying the leave does not cause you to exceed the limits described below

Limits on buying service for a leave

You can buy service for leaves up to the following maximums:

• The equivalent of 10 months of pensionable service in any calendar year (or 12 months if you are a 12-month employee).
• Three years of maternity or parental/adoption leave over your career. If you take off more than three years total for maternity or parental/adoption leaves, you can purchase the portion above the three-year maximum as a general leave.
• Five years of general leaves over your career.
• 35 years of total pensionable service before January 1, 2018 (this limit does not apply for pensionable service on and after January 1, 2018).

Restrictions apply if you want to buy a leave of absence for a period when you contributed to a registered pension plan with any other employer. Contact us for more information.