When you can retire

Learn how your age at retirement affects your pension.


If you have service in group 1 and service in group 2 or 5, a separate pension will be calculated for your public safety and non-public safety service.


The age at which you apply for your pension will affect your monthly lifetime pension payment.

As required by the Income Tax Act, you must begin receiving your pension no later than the end of the year in which you turn 71, even if you are still working.

Your normal retirement age and earliest retirement age depend on whether you work in public safety. If you work in public safety as a police officer or firefighter, your normal retirement age is 60 and your earliest retirement age is 50.

For all other members of BC's Municipal Pension Plan, your normal retirement age is 65 and your earliest retirement age is 55.

If you are an inactive member, you may apply to begin receiving your pension as early as:

  • Age 50 for police officer or firefighters in member group 2 or 5
  • Age 55 for all other members of the plan

Qualifying for an unreduced pension

If you retire before your normal retirement age, your age at retirement and years of contributory service will determine if you are eligible for an unreduced pension.

If you do not apply to start your unreduced pension when you are eligible, you will not be entitled to have your pension backdated to a previous date. You are responsible for choosing the date your pension will start and you must apply to start your pension.

You will receive an unreduced pension if, at the date of your retirement, you are:

Group 1 members (all members except police and firefighters)

  • 55 years old and your age plus years of contributory service equals 90 or more (this only applies to service before January 1, 2022)
  • 60 years old with two or more years of contributory service
  • 65 years old

Group 2 or 5 members

  • 50 years old and your age plus years of contributory service equals 80 or more
  • 55 years old with two or more years of contributory service
  • 60 years old

Qualifying for a reduced pension

You will receive a reduced pension if, at the date of your retirement the following apply.

Group 1 members (all members except police and firefighters)

For service before January 1, 2022:

  • You are at least 55 years old and your age plus years of contributory service is less than 90

For service on and after January 1, 2022:

  • You are at least 55 years old but under 60 with any amount of contributory service
  • You are at least 60 years old but under 65 with less than two years of contributory service

Group 2 or 5 members

  • You are at least 50 years old but less than 60 and your age plus years of contributory service is less than 80
  • You are at least 55 years old but less than 60 with less than two years of contributory service

To learn more about how the changes may affect your pension, sign in to My Account and use the personalized Pension Estimator to find out what your monthly pension might be based on your salary and years of service.

You may want to talk to an independent financial advisor about which start date is best for you and your situation.