Receive credit for child-rearing

Earn credit for contributory service for the time you were off work to raise children.


Eligibility for child-rearing credit

Are you eligible?

You can apply for child-rearing credit if you:

  • Were an active plan member (or had existing service in the plan) before you took time off to raise a child
  • Quit work or took an employer-approved (full-time, unpaid) leave of absence specifically to raise a child under age seven
  • Did not contribute to the Canada Pension Plan or any registered pension plan during the child-rearing time
  • Returned to work and began contributing to the plan again after the child-rearing period
  • Paid back any refund of contributions you might have taken before the child-rearing period

Child-rearing time while you were a teacher in a different province

Did you take time off work to raise a child while you were a member of another province's teachers’ pension plan? You may be able to receive child-rearing credit under BC's Teachers' Pension Plan for that time if you:

  • Quit work or took an employer-approved full-time unpaid leave of absence specifically to raise a child under age seven
  • Did not contribute to the Canada Pension Plan or any registered pension plan during the child-rearing time
  • Left your contributions on deposit in the other plan, reinstated service in the previous plan or transferred service to BC’s Teachers’ Pension Plan
  • Are vested in the other plan if your service remains in it