Fall 2022

2023 Member Contribution Rates and MQI

Every year the General Assembly approves a new Minimum Stipend and Allowance Schedule, found in the Acts and Proceedings. This includes a new Maximum Qualifying Income (MQI), which is the maximum amount that can be used for pension and group insurance contributions. For 2023, the MQI will be $79,680 (A & P 2022, p.98).

The MQI is calculated for clergy as stipend + 60%. For non-clergy, the MQI is calculated as salary + Health and Dental Premium, if applicable. For 2023 the Health and Dental Premium is $4,918.

If the figure calculated exceeds the 2023 MQI, then the maximum is used to determine payroll deductions.

Member Pension Contributions
The Pension and Benefits Board is happy to report that beginning January 2023, the member pension contribution rates will be reduced from 8% to 7.5%. Members of the pension plan contribute monthly based on a percentage of their MQI.

Group Insurance Rate
For 2023, the group insurance rate will increase from 2.2% to 2.5%. The group insurance rate is based on the premium cost for plan member usage. Factors that increase rates include long-term disability (LTD) claims and life insurance claims. For the benefits to remain tax free when claimed, the premium must be fully paid by the member.

Member pension and group insurance contributions are made by payroll deductions by your treasurer or payroll administrator.

FAQ’s About Your Sun Life Benefits

What is a Pre-Determination and when should I submit one?

A pre-determination is a written estimate of the cost of a procedure, product or expense submitted to Sun Life in advance of treatment to determine what they will pay.

For dental work, we suggest that you send Sun Life a pre-determination before proceeding with any treatment or procedure that will cost more than $500. This way you will know how much of the cost you are responsible for before the work is done.

We also suggest that you submit a pre-determination to Sun Life for any medical expenses above $500 to determine if the expense is eligible for reimbursement under the plan. This could be for prescriptions, medical services or equipment, or treatment prescribed by your doctor. For more information on pre-determinations, please contact Liane Maki at lmaki [at] presbyterian [dot] ca

When does coverage end for my dependent child?

Your children or your spouse’s children (other than foster children) are eligible dependents if they are not married or in any other formal union recognized by law and are under the age 22.

At age 22, a child who is a full-time student attending an accredited school is also considered an eligible dependent until age 25 (age 26 for Quebec residences and prescription drugs only) as long as the child is entirely dependent on you for financial support. Proof of full-time enrollment must be submitted to the Pension and Benefits office each semester, starting at age 22.

Children with disabilities, Sun Life may continue coverage beyond the age limits for children who are disabled if you provide proof of disability within 6 months of the date they reach the age limit.

For more information about dependent coverage, please contact Liane Maki at lmaki [at] presbyterian [dot] ca

Can I submit coordination of benefits claims through the MySunLife mobile app?

Yes! You can now submit Coordination of Benefits claims (medical category) through the MySunLife mobile app. Coordination of Benefits (COB) is used when an employee has coverage through more than one benefits plan (eg. their employer and a spouse/partners plan). COB lets the plans work together so that members can submit their claims and any remaining amounts to another plan. This allows you to get the maximum payment possible.

Learn more about Coordination of Benefits by signing in to mysunlife.ca > Benefits centre > Coordination of Benefits.

What is the out-of-country coverage with Sun Life, and how does it apply to COVID-19?

  1. Sun Life does not cover the cost of COVID-19 tests under Out-of-Country Travel or EHC.
  2. Sun Life standard contracts don’t exclude or limit coverage for epidemics or pandemics. Sun Life will cover COVID-19 medical emergencies the same way they cover other medical emergencies outside of Canada. A medical emergency is an acute illness or accidental injury that requires immediate, medically necessary treatment prescribed by a doctor.
  1. Sun Life won’t cover you if you’re required to quarantine unless you require immediate emergency medical treatment. This includes: if you test positive for COVID-19 but are asymptomatic or are experiencing mild symptoms that do not require immediate medical treatment; or if you test negative for COVID-19 but are still required to quarantine.
  2. Your plan doesn’t cover the cost of flight cancellations, delays, or other expenses caused by border closures, difficulties meeting Canada’s border entry requirements, or other trip disruptions due to COVID-19.

In the event of an emergency, you can contact Allianz toll free at 1-800-511-4610, available 24/7.

Timeless Traditions

Christmas is a very special time to spend with your family and friends, and traditions are a big part of bringing everyone together. Some traditions have been passed down for generations, celebrated by many over the years. It’s never too late to incorporate new traditions to pass down and be adored by future generations, so here are a few classic ideas to add to your celebrations over the holidays.

A Festive Christmas Eve Stroll
Christmas Eve brings family and friends together indoors, sharing food, gifts and laughs. Make a tradition to all bundle up, grab some hot chocolate and go out for a short walk on Christmas eve, where you can adore all the Christmas lights and if you’re lucky, some snow!

Design an Advent Calendar
Advent calendars have been popularized over the past century, bringing excitement to the days leading up to Christmas. Try DIY-ing your own advent calendar by visiting the dollar store, get some paint to decorate and candy or stationary to fill the calendar, and turn it into a tradition.

Design Your Own Wrapping Paper
Skip the store this year and make your own wrapping paper instead! Decorate newspaper or use scraps of fabric to wrap your gifts in a unique way. You will save money and your friends and family will all love the creative touch.

Donate
Check with your local library, community organizations, or see if a local school is hosting a toy or clothing drive to find out how you can get involved. You can also start one in your neighbourhood, making your house the collection point.

A Christmas Movie Marathon
There’s no better way to spend a cold night in December than marathoning everyone’s favourite Christmas movies. Put everyone’s movie choices in a hat and draw which movie to watch next at random.

A Prayer for Christmas Eve
God of light and life, open our hearts to hear your promise of new life in the familiar stories of Christmas. Surprise us with new insights and refresh us with deep wisdom. Enfold us in the light of your Holy Spirit as we attend to the baby in the manger. Amen.

About the Pension and Benefits Board

The Pension and Benefits Board is made up of Presbyterians with professional experience and expertise in disciplines relevant to the field of pension and benefits. For example, the board requires financial advisers and accountants, actuaries, human resource professionals and group benefits and insurance consultants. Just as vital to the membership of the board are the active and retired members of the pension plan and benefits plans, representative of the clergy, congregations, and staff employees.

The Pension and Benefits Board meets each March and October, as well as throughout the year as needed. At each meeting the board receives detailed financial, investment, and actuarial reports, along with reports from its various sub-committees.

The Technical Committee reviews issues specific to the pension plan, its regulatory requirements and member queries.

The Group Benefits Committee reviews coverage under the group benefits plan and its related church policies.

The Communications Committee reviews and ensures members, beneficiaries, and congregations receive appropriate and timely information about the pension and benefit plans.

 

You Should Contact Us If…

Life moves fast and making changes to your information can often slip your mind. Our main points of contact used to communicate with our members are through email communications and updates to our webpages.

To help make sure you are always informed and to keep your records updated, we ask that you contact us with any updates or changes to your information. This includes:

  • Changes to your address, phone number or email
  • Life events that include marital status changes, birth, adoption or death
  • A second contact or Power of Attorney
  • Any changes that may include your Beneficiaries
  • Plans to retire (a minimum of 4 months notice is required for processing)


Presbyterian Church – Pension and Benefits Department

50 Wynford Drive
Toronto, ON M3C 1J7
Phone: 1-800-619-7301
www.presbyterian.ca
pension [at] presbyterian [dot] ca

Sun Life Customer Care Centre
Phone: 1-800-361-6212
www.mysunlife.ca
App: MySunLife

ComPsych Guidance Resources Program
Phone: 1-866-641-3847
TDD: 1-877-373-4763
www.guidanceresources.com
App: GuidanceResources Now

About this newsletter

This newsletter provides summary information about the Presbyterian Church in Canada pension and benefits plans. It is not intended to be complete or comprehensive, or to provide legal or medical advice. If there are any discrepancies between this newsletter and the wording in the legal documents that govern the plans, the legal documents will apply in all cases. Our Pension Plan registration number is 0368902.