The Union of Psychiatric Nurses and other members of the Nurses' Bargaining Association negotiated the conversion of one (1) percent of the 2008 market adjustment to provide funding for inflation protection and benefits for retirees. The current program offers a subsidy for the Medical Services Plan premium to eligible retirees.

Retiree Benefit Application Form
Online Form:
Complete information including the eligibility rules, and the form are available online. The areas of the online application form that can be completed are highlighted.

Please Note: If you choose to email the form:

• use the email button on your browser
• select "Send Copy" if you want to retain your input information.
• If you select "send link" all data you input will be lost.

Requesting an Application:
If you prefer to receive a copy of the application, including a complete set of instructions, the eligibility rules and the application form please:

• call 604 433-2268, or toll free 1 800 663-9991 and ask for Local 2247 or
• send an email to retireebenefit@bcnu.org
• please insure you spell your name and leave your address
• or, download/print the online application form

To be able to benefit from the year 2011 payout, your application must be received by the BCNU office before the below cut-off dates. Deadline is firm. There will not be payment for that period if the application is received after the cut-off date.

Payout Dates	Plan Member to be Paid	Application Cut-off Date
June 03-06, 2011	Municipal Pension Members Canadian Blood Services Members Public Service Pension Plan Members	May 09, 2011
November 04 - 07, 2011	Municipal Pension Members Canadian Blood Services Members Public Service Pension Plan Members	Oct. 08, 2011

Note:

• Benefit applies only if eligible.
• Payout dates are subject to change.
• This year only, the second payout will be on November 4 instead of December, covering MSP funds paid from June to October 2011 (5 months). The reason for the change involves how the information received from the Pension Corporation is provided to the NBA. This fall, the Pension Corporation is undergoing an internal systems change which requires an adjustment in providing the required information to us. Consequently, they would be able to provide information only until October 2011. To compensate for this, we will be reimbursing you for 7 months (November 2011 to May 2012) on the first payout in 2012.
  

Frequently Asked Questions
I am a former member of the BCNU, HSA or UPN (NBA) but have been told that I am not eligible for the Benefit. Why am I not eligible?
Below are a few examples of former union members who are not eligible for the retiree benefit. You are NOT eligible:

• If you terminated employment prior to retirement and retired when you were not 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 Riverview or Oak Bay Lodge or any other site covered by the Nurses Master and Component Agreement with the provincial government when you retired; If you retired in a non-union position such as a nurse manager;
• 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).

Why is the amount for members of the Public Service Pension Plan less than the amount given to members of the Municipal Pension Plan and Canadian Blood Services Pension Plan?
The intent of the Benefit program is to ensure that plan members do not have to pay any of the cost of the MSP premium. The subsidy provided by the PSPP and MPP are different. The MPP subsidizes 50% of the MSP premium while the PSPP subsidizes 66.66%. If the amounts of the subsidies change, the amount of the Benefit will be reviewed.

My spouse pays the MSP premiums under his plan. Should I send in the application form?
Yes. Firstly, you may at some time in the future begin to pay MSP premiums from your pension. Secondly, the Benefit could in the future top up the other benefit premiums: Extended Health and/or Dental. By sending in the application form now and when you begin to pay MSP premiums through your pension plan, you simply have to let us know this and your reimbursement will begin.

Why do members of the CBS plans have to send in their MSP statements and MPP and PSPP members do not?
We have an agreement with the Municipal Pension and Public Service Pension Board of Trustees allowing BCNU to work with the Pension Corporation to verify Plan membership and enrolment in MSP. We do not have the same agreement with the CBS. As CBS does not have a benefit program for its members, they have no information on enrolment in MSP.

What is the difference between "Employer at Retirement" and "Worksite at Retirement"?
If you retired within the last eight years, your employer will be one of the current Health Authorities and your worksite will be where you actually 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.

When will I receive my reimbursement?
You will receive two lump sum reimbursements each year. You will receive a pay slip at the time of any reimbursement being made. MSP is a taxable benefit and this amount must be reported on your T4A at the beginning of each year.