Understanding your Pension

The British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters' Association (BCPFFA) is committed to ensuring its members have a secure retirement. Professional firefighters in BC are enrolled in the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP).

Within the MPP, BCPFFA members are primarily in Group 5. These groups are specifically for police officers and firefighters, and include Prevention, Maintenance and Communication Divisions, providing a higher benefit accrual rate and an earlier retirement age than the general member Group 1.

  • Group 5: This group is for police officers and firefighters and provides an enhanced retirement benefit. Members and employers in Group 5 contribute more than those in other groups. In return, members receive a higher benefit accrual rate, meaning their pension accumulates faster. This is a significant advantage, particularly for a profession with an earlier retirement age (age 60). As of January 1, 2025, participation in Group 5 is mandatory for new police officers and firefighters in a municipality unless the employer was already a "pre-2025 Group 2 employer.”

The BCPFFA plays a direct role in the MPP's governance, sharing the role with Police, ensuring its members' interests are represented. For detailed information, members can consult the BC Pension Corporation website.

 

Learning resources

Learn more about your pension—whether you're new to the plan, in the middle of your career, nearing retirement orLearning Centre retired.

MPP Webinars

  • Approaching Retirement

  • Making the Most of Your Pension

  • How Taking Leaves and Life Events Affect Your Pension

  • Understanding Your Pension

  • Choosing Your Pension Option

  • Planning for Retirement

Getting to know your pension

Are you new to the plan or thinking of joining? This 15-minute course will teach you the value and benefits of becoming a member.

Discover in this short course:

  • The benefits of having a pension

  • What a defined benefit pension plan is

  • Where your pension contributions go

  • The lifecycle of your pension

  • How to access online tools and resources in My Account

Understanding your pension options

Are you getting ready to retire and wondering which pension option is right for you? This 15-minute course will help you understand your choices so you can make confident decisions that support your financial future and your loved ones.

Main ideas covered in the course:

  • Why choosing the right pension option is one of the most important retirement decisions.

  • How your choices affect your monthly pension payments—what your spouse or beneficiaries may receive after your death.

  • Key factors to consider; whether you have a spouse, your expected expenses, and your life expectancy.

  • An overview of the pension options available to most members.

  • All options guarantee a monthly pension for life.

  • How making informed decisions regarding pension options helps support your financial security and your beneficiaries.

 

Have questions about your options?

Contact the Pension Corporation anytime using My Account Message Centre or call us toll-free in Canada and the U.S. from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday at 1-800-668-6335.

 

Book an appointment

Get personalized answers to your pension questions in a one-on-one phone appointment with a trained representative.

The Pension team of trained representatives are available to help answer your personalized pension planning questions. These 30-minute phone appointments give you an opportunity to ask questions specific to your individual circumstances that haven’t been addressed in our other retirement planning resources.

 

Eligibility

Appointments are available to plan members who:

  • Will be retiring within the next year, and

  • Have a pension estimate that was generated within the last year

 

Important: If you do not meet the above criteria, the representative will reschedule your appointment.

Before your appointment

To get the most value from your session, please review the following materials prior to your appointment so you come prepared with specific questions. The resources provide answers to the most common retirement planning questions.

  • Take the Approaching Retirement online course or attend the live webinar version (45 to 75 minutes).

  • Read the Planning for retirement section online (60 to 90 minutes).

  • Review the Retirement health coverage information online (60 to 90 minutes).

  • Register for My Account (5 to 10 minutes).

  • Take the Understanding your pension options course (15 minutes).