Deadlines for buying service

If you’re planning to buy service to increase your pension benefit when you retire, make sure you meet our deadlines.

You can buy service for:

• Approved leaves, such as maternity or general leaves
• Reinstating service from a previous period of employment at WorkSafeBC

You have five years from the end of an approved leave of absence, or until you end your employment at WorkSafeBC (whichever comes first), to purchase the service from that leave.

If you are applying to reinstate service after taking a refund of your pension contributions from a previous period of employment with WorkSafeBC, you have five years to buy back a refund from when you became an active member or before you end your employment at WorkSafeBC, whichever comes first. If you join the plan on or after January 1, 2017, you are not eligible to buy back a refund and reinstate service.

If you buy service, your pensionable service will increase, which may also increase your pension benefit when you retire.