Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation – Halifax, NS

Organization Overview

The Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation (NS Pension) is a non-profit statutory corporation responsible for the administration of major public sector pension plans in the province. Established in 2013, it replaced the former Nova Scotia Pension Agency, transitioning from a government branch to an operationally independent entity. This evolution was designed to provide more dedicated, specialized management of pension assets and benefits. NS Pension is jointly owned by the relevant trustee bodies: the Public Service Superannuation Plan Trustee Inc. (PSSPTI) and the Teachers’ Pension Plan Trustee Inc. (TPPTI).

Mandate and Governance

The corporation’s primary mandate is to administer pension benefits and investment assets, which exceed $13 billion combined. It operates under the direction of a Board of Directors appointed by the joint trustees. Its key responsibilities cover:

• Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP): Managing pensions for provincial government employees and employees of participating municipalities and universities.
• Teachers’ Pension Plan (TPP): Administering retirement benefits for public school teachers in Nova Scotia.
• Other Plans: Managing the Members’ Retiring Allowances (for MLAs) and the pension plans of the former Sydney Steel Corporation.

Services for Members

Located at Purdy’s Wharf in downtown Halifax, NS Pension provides direct services to over 75,000 active members, retirees, and survivors. Services include:

• Benefit Calculations: Processing retirement applications, termination benefits, and commuted value transfers.
• Member Education: Offering retirement planning seminars and online tools like the ‘My Retirement Plan’ portal.
• Pension Payments: Ensuring the timely and accurate disbursement of monthly pension payments to retirees.