Since April 1, 1994, all eligible persons aged 60 or over must file a retirement application with the Régie des rentes du Québec (RRQ) before they will be eligible for last resort financial assistance. Adults must make an application even if they are already receiving a surviving spouse's pension; they will then receive a combined retirement-survivor's pension.
However, where they already receive a disability pension from the RRQ, they are not required to apply for a retirement pension since the disability pension is usually more advantageous as long as the client is under 65 years of age.
Deliberately postponing the date of receipt of the pension is regarded as refusing to make an application: applicants must not indicate, as the date they wish to receive their pensions, one that is later than their eligibility date.
The following adults are not required to take this action:
- those who are already receiving a disability pension from the RRQ;
- those who have not worked since 1966 or cannot share in the earnings of a former spouse;
- who are not deemed to have stopped working within the meaning of the RRQ. Are deemed to have stopped working those whose work income, calculated over a twelve-month period, does not exceed $9,775; those on pre-retirement leave (not to be confused with an early retirement or a phased retirement); those whose remuneration is reduced by at least 20% as part of a phased retirement.
The pension is generally payable:
- the month after that in which the person turns 60;
OR
- the month after that in which the application is made, if this is done after the age of 60.
To be eligible for such a pension, it is sufficient for a person 60 years of age or over to have:
- worked and contributed to the pension plan for one year after January 1, 1966;
OR
- shared in the earnings of a former spouse following a divorce, legal separation or civil annulment of marriage or dissolution or cancellation of a civil union.
A PERSON 60 TO 65 YEARS OF AGE is not penalized if he or she refuses to apply for an early pension payable by a PRIVATE (supplementary) PENSION PLAN if this pension is reduced before the age of 65.