Enrolling in DBplus

Do you work part time or on contract?

Deciding to enrol in DBplus

As a part-time or contract employee of an employer that participates in the CAAT Pension Plan, you may have the option to join the DBplus plan design at any point during your employment.

What happens when you join DBplus?

If you choose to join DBplus, you will begin contributing and building valuable, secure retirement income. Your employer also contributes to your pension on your behalf. When you retire, you will start collecting a lifetime pension which includes additional features, such as:

  • Conditional inflation protection
  • Survivor benefits
  • Flexible retirement dates
  • Options if you leave your job before retirement

How do DBplus contributions work?

You will contribute for as long as you are employed by a participating employer, on every pay. Your employer will also make contributions to the Plan on your behalf, increasing your overall pension.

Is membership right for you?

While it’s never too early to start saving for retirement, it is important to consider if membership in DBplus fits into your budget and career plans. In deciding to join, you should think carefully about your own situation. Different factors will be relevant for each individual and only you can determine the action that is best for you.

It's important to note that, once you have joined the Plan, you remain a member. While you are employed by a participating employer you cannot opt out and stop contributing.

How to join DBplus

Once you've reviewed the resources and have decided to join DBplus, all you have to do is complete the Enrolment form.

If you work in the Ontario College system

If you work for an employer that joined DBplus since 2019 or required a voting process

  • Contact your employer directly if you have the option to join DBplus, and have decided to do so.

Get answers to your DBplus questions

We've answered some of the most-asked questions about joining DBplus, below. If your question isn't answered here, contact our member services team.

What if I work more than one contract or at more than one participating employer?

If you enrol in the CAAT Plan with one participating employer, you must contact any other participating employer you work for, and ensure that the HR department is aware that you are a member of the Plan. In this way, contributions can be deducted for all employers on a timely basis, which avoids missed contributions requiring catch-up. You will make contributions on every contract, at every participating employer, and earn a pension with each employer.

What happens if my contract ends or if I leave my job before retirement?

If you are no longer employed by a participating employer, and you are not yet eligible to retire, you remain a Plan member for 24 months. If you take a job at a new employer that participates in the CAAT Plan during those 24 months, you will resume contributing to the Plan and you will earn additional benefits.

Your benefit is locked-in, which means even if you leave the Plan before retirement, it must be used for retirement income, and cannot be taken as a cash payout.

Can I estimate my DBplus pension before joining?

If you work in the Ontario College system, you can try the DBplus Evaluation Tool. It will give you an estimate of the contributions you would make, and the pension you could earn, starting from the date you join DBplus.

Can I leave the Plan after I’ve joined?

Once you have joined the CAAT Pension Plan, you remain a member. While you are employed by a participating employer you cannot opt out and stop contributing.

What happens if I move to full-time employment for a participating employer that offers DBprime?

In that case, you will join DBprime and start making contributions and earning a pension at the DBprime rates. Every year you contribute to DBplus, you will get a full year of early retirement eligibility service recognized under DBprime. This will help you reach your earliest unreduced retirement date under DBprime sooner.

When you retire, your total pension would be the combined pension earned under both Plan designs.

If you begin working at an employer that only participates in DBplus, you would remain in DBplus.

How soon can I join DBplus?

All employees who work part-time or on contract at a participating employer may be able to join DBplus at any time during their employment with a participating employer.

Can I purchase additional pension under DBplus?

Yes. Visit the Increasing your pension page for details.
Only you can decide if joining the CAAT Pension Plan is right for you. Once you’ve reviewed all the information you should be ready to decide if you want to join now and start building your retirement income in DBplus. You may have the option to join at any time during your part-time employment, and begin building a pension from that point forward, but the sooner you join, the sooner you start building your future pension. Once you join, you can’t opt out.