General Information
Pension Plan Registration Numbers with the Regulatory Authorities
- Retraite Québec Registration Number: 25299
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Registration Number: 351106
Member, retired
- An employee becomes a retiree when he or she receives a pension (from the General Account and/or Complementary Account).
- An employee who is not receiving a pension is a member.
Annual pension Statements
Each year, active members, retirees and surviving spouses receive a pension statement that provides information on the plan and their personal file. These statements are sent to the last known address. It is therefore important to inform the CCQ of any change of address by accessing the online services or by contacting the CCQ Customer Services.
Application for Pension or Benefit upon Termination of Plan Membership
Employees who wish to obtain a pension or a benefit upon Termination of Plan Membership must contact the CCQ Customer Services to apply for the benefit.
Note that benefits received from a pension plan like that of the construction industry pension plan may affect Employment Insurance benefits. Employees should contact Service Canada for more information.
Designation of beneficiaries
The designation of beneficiary enables you to choose the person or people who will benefit from your life insurance and the credits accumulated in your pension plan when you die. By expressing your wishes, you can avoid conflicts and accelerate the payment of this money when your succession is settled.
You may designate beneficiaries at any time in a will, by written notice sent to the CCQ, or by using designation of beneficiary forms for the insurance and pension plans produced by the CCQ. A designation of beneficiary remains in force as long as it is not modified or revoked.
However, it is preferable to consult a professional – notary or lawyer – for advice regarding your succession, as a designation of beneficiary has legal effect and could conflict with the terms of your will. In addition, the Act provides that the eligible surviving spouse is automatically the beneficiary of the credits accumulated in your pension plan, and the designation of beneficiary is used, if it has not been revoked, if such a spouse does not exist.
Designation of beneficiaries forms
As a plan member or retiree, you can notify the CCQ of your pension beneficiary(ies) by filling out the Beneficiary Designation and Revocation (Pension Plan Only) form.
In addition, as an insured individual, you can notify the CCQ of your life insurance beneficiary(ies) by filling out the Beneficiary Designation and Revocation (Life Insurance Only) form.
The original versions of the designation of beneficiary forms, duly filled out and signed by hand, must be sent to the following address:
Pension and Life Insurance Section
Direction des avantages sociaux
P.O. Box 2500
Chabanel Station
Montréal, Québec
H2N 0A9
Notice of Death
The CCQ Customer Services must be notified of the death of a member, a retiree, or a spouse in order to determine if a benefit is payable.
A life insurance benefit may be payable if an insured person or a dependent dies.
Request for Review
A person who disagrees with a CCQ decision about a pension benefit may contest it by using the Application for review form.
MÉDIC Construction
The number of hours worked recorded for pension plan purposes is used to determine an insured’s eligibility for certain types of insurance coverage and disability benefits from the MÉDIC Construction insurance plan.
To be eligible for the insurance for retirees, an employee must have accumulated a certain number of hours worked before retirement.
Maximum pensionable earnings under the Act Respecting the Québec Pension Plan
In 2024, the maximum pensionable earnings (MPE) under the Act Respecting the Québec Pension Plan is $68,500; 20% of the MPE is thus $13,700. The MPE is normally indexed each year.
The 2002 Deficit
Amounts in the construction industry’s pension fund are invested in different types of vehicles (such as Canadian, American and foreign equities, bonds, real estate). The years 2001 and 2002 were very difficult for financial markets, which affected the pension plan. By late 2002, the pension fund had a major deficit.
Given this situation, measures were taken to correct the plan’s financial situation.
One of the key modifications involved the structure of the pension plan. Since 2005:
- Employees no longer accumulate pension benefits in the defined benefits account.
- All contributions that will be used to form a pension guaranteed by the plan are paid into the defined contribution account.
Given these changes, the pension calculation is different for members who began contributing to the plan before 2005 and those who began contributing to the plan after 2004.
Particular conditions, limitations, or exclusions other than those mentioned above may apply to the payment of certain benefits; only the Règlement sur les régimes complémentaires d'avantages sociaux dans l'industrie de la construction, published by the Éditeur officiel du Québec, has official and legal force.Nevertheless, the provisions that apply to a specific event are those in force at the time of this event.