McGill.CA / Human Resources / Pensions / Retiring

Steps to retire

PDF icon Steps to retire

If you're considering retiring, the following checklist will help walk you through the process, and ensure that no important steps are missed:

  1. The employee provides notice of retirement.
    • For administrative and support staff or trades: inform your immediate supervisor as soon as possible (minimum 2 weeks before retirement date)
    • For academic staff: Refer to regulations or the Academic Personnel Office.
  2. Area processes retirement in Workday (refer to Termination & End Additional Job - Job Aid - Under Staffing, Termination - reason = retirement). Any outstanding or accrued vacation will be calculated and payment arranged.
  3. Remember that an employee's retirement date (termination date - reason:  retirement) is his/her last working day (not the day after).  The employee is a retiree as of the following day.
  4. The employee may wish to attend the pertinent information sessions, watch a video capsule or attend one of PDF icon Sun Life's Financial Wellness Webinars on topics such as retirement, settlement, decumulation, etc., to learn more.
  5. The employee may wish to read the PDF icon Retirement Planning Guide prepared with Sun Life Financial. This guide will provide the employee with additional information on the steps to retire, the settlement options available, a retirement income roadmap as well as other useful information to assist them.
  6. If the employee is a member of Part A (hybrid segment) of the McGill University Pension Plan who is 55-65 years old, within 6 months of retirement, the employee needs to provide Sun Life with their marital information before a settlement package can be issued.
  7. The employee consults pension information on the Sun Life Financial website including the PDF icon Retirement Planner. Then, following receipt of a settlement package from Sun Life, he/she chooses a settlement option(s) or defers settlement.
  8. The employee should familiarize themselves with the post-retirement benefits for which they may be eligible, and the services available to them (below).
  9. If eligible, the employee then elects post-retirement benefits coverage.
  10. You can sign up for courses in the McGill Community Lifelong Learning program within the McGill School of Continuing Studies. This program is a community of mature learners emphasizing peer learning through active participation.
  11. You may join the McGill University Retiree Association (MURA), which will help you remain connected to a community of McGill retirees. All retired McGill academics and librarians are invited to join MAUT-Retirees who offer, among other activities, scholarly lectures and academic events.

Programs and services available to retirees

As a McGill University retiree, you remain eligible for certain university programs and benefits. For example:

  • You keep your McGill ID card, which allows you to continue accessing McGill libraries and other campus facilities.
  • You are eligible for staff rates when purchasing a membership to the Athletics and Recreation Centre.
  • You continue to enjoy unlimited access to your McGill email account (firstname.lastname [at] mcgill.ca) and to the Personal and Employee menus in the Minerva information system.
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