Short-term disability benefits and your pension

Learn how a short-term disability leave might affect your pension.

If you are unable to work due to illness or injury, you may be entitled to receive benefits under a short-term disability plan.

Benefits under a short-term disability plan are full or partial pay that you receive from your union or employer when your illness or injury:

• Is not work related (and therefore not covered by WorkSafeBC)
• Does not yet qualify as a long-term disability

These benefits are sometimes called “paid sick leave.”

How benefits under a short-term disability plan affect your pension

When you receive benefits under a short-term disability plan for time away from work, your pension may be affected. How it is affected depends on who pays the benefits: your union or employer.

Disability benefits paid by union or employer

If your union or employer pays your disability benefits directly to you, you will not make pension contributions, but you will continue to accumulate pensionable and contributory service as though you were working. Your pension will continue to increase while you are receiving short-term disability benefits.

Sign in to My Account to confirm your service and salary. If you still have questions, contact your employer to ensure the contributions (on your behalf) have been made.

Disability benefits not paid by union or employer

If your union or employer doesn’t pay your disability benefits directly to you (for example, if your benefits are paid by a group life insurance carrier), you and your employer will not make pension contributions while you are off work.