Overview

If an adult is having difficulty managing their financial affairs, federal law allows a person or organization to be appointed as a pension trustee to collect and manage the following types of benefits:

• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

This service is an option for adults who have no other sources of income or assets that need to be managed. While a pension trustee has limited authority, it may be all that is needed to assist with routine daily financial matters. 

An adult may appoint another person to be their pension trustee. If the adult is not capable of appointing a trustee, a third party may ask Service Canada to appoint them directly. Service Canada requires a signed certificate from one qualified medical doctor in order to appoint a pension trustee. The certificate verifies that the adult needs help to manage their pension income. Service Canada provides forms for the doctor and trustee to sign.

The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) may apply to become an adult’s pension trustee when:

• A medical professional has determined the adult to be incapable of managing their pensions
• The adult’s only source of income is federal pensions (OAS, GIS, CPP)
• The adult does not have any other financial or legal matters that need managing
• The adult resides in a supported living environment such as a care home or assisted living site
• There are no other family, friends or supportive others who are willing and able to apply for pension trustee authority on behalf of the adult
• The adult consents to the PGT filing their tax returns on their behalf

How to ask the PGT to act as pension trustee

To request the PGT to become pension trustee, the following information must be submitted to us by mail:

• Completed Pension trustee management request form (PDF, 177KB) 
• Description of the efforts made to locate and consult with family, friends and supportive others
• Confirmation that the adult’s sole source of income is federal pensions
• Original version of the Certificate of Incapability-ISP3505 (PDF, 111KB) determining the adult is incapable of managing their pensions. This form must be completed by a doctor
• Original version of the completed Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Authorize a Representative for Offline Access – AUT-01 form
• The adult’s Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Important note: Service Canada does not accept scanned or faxed submissions or applications. For this reason, the PGT requires original documents to process pension trustee requests.

Please send your complete request package to 700 – 808 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3, attention: Assessment and Investigation Services.

The PGT will apply for pension trustee authority solely based on the information provided in the request package. As such, the PGT is unable to review or process incomplete request packages. If we receive an incomplete request, we will return the entire package to the person who made the request.

If you have questions about the PGT’s pension trustee services, please contact us at 1-877-511-4111 or ais-pds@trustee.bc.ca