RCMP Dependants Pension Benefit Increases

Summary#

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Dependants) Pension Fund Increase in Benefits Order raises certain survivor payments from a small pension fund that has a surplus. The Order applies increases retroactively from April 1, 2023 and adds further increases on April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025, and it came into force when registered on May 31, 2024.

What it does#

• Increases pensions paid to widows by 5% on April 1, 2023, and by 1.2% on April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025.
• Increases lump-sum payments (paid when a former contributing member dies with no surviving widow) by the same schedule: 5% on April 1, 2023 and 1.2% on April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025.
• Changes how residual amounts are calculated when a widow dies in the 2024, 2025 or 2026 plan year: the deceased member’s deemed contributions as of April 1, 2022 are bumped by 5% (on April 1, 2023) and by 1.2% (on April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025) before calculating the residual.
• The increases are paid from the plan’s surplus of $494,000. The next actuarial check is as of March 31, 2025, which could change future adjustments.

Who's affected#

• Widows receiving pensions from this small RCMP dependants plan — there were 55 widows as of March 31, 2022 (average age 92.2).
• The small group of former contributors to the plan — 11 living former RCMP members as of March 31, 2022 (average age 97.2) — and their estates in cases where no widow survives.
• The Government of Canada Pension Centre will notify each affected widow by letter. This Order only affects people already in the plan; it does not create new beneficiaries.

Why it matters#

• It gives a modest, guaranteed boost to already‑retired, elderly survivors — an immediate 5% increase followed by two small annual increases — which can matter for day-to-day living costs.
• It distributes a small fund surplus ($494,000) across current and prospective beneficiaries instead of risking that one last recipient would receive a disproportionate share.
• The change affects a very small, specific group and creates only minor administrative work for the government to calculate and notify payments.