In this edition
New Contributors Episode – Listen Now!
Renowned economist Stephen Poloz discusses the outlook for business in Canada with our hosts, taking a close look at technology and the aging demographic. Look out for a new episode on December 15th!
Listen now
Announcements
Member education sessions: Thank you for making 2021 another record year!
In 2021, over 4,600 members attended 115 education sessions. Thank you for booking member sessions for your employees to help expand their knowledge of the CAAT plan and what they can expect to receive when they retire.
We have already started booking member education sessions for 2022. Please reach out to presentations@caatpension.ca or your Employer Pension Analyst to book your webinars today.
Holiday office closure
Please note that the CAAT offices will be closed starting at 1:00 pm EST on Friday, December 24, 2021 and will re-open on Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
Upcoming events
Read this if: You are an employer working directly with CAAT
Block your calendar for these upcoming events:
- Payroll-based reporting (PBR) training (for employers that participate in DBplus only): December 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm EST
- Employer Education Sessions (for employers that participate in both DBplus and DBprime)
- Data Collection Tool refresher training: January 18, 2022
- Data Collection Tool Training for new users: January 19, 2022
Updates & reminders
Inflation protection increase notifications
Inflation protection increases will be applied on January 1. CAAT will mail notifications about these increases to retired members or their survivors in the first few weeks of January.
Complete your 2021 employer attestation
Employers that are required to complete an attestation regarding their 2021 administration obligations will receive the form between January 10-14, 2022. Please note that you must send us the completed attestations by March 31, 2022.
Employers working directly with CAAT, please review and update your training attendance reports and send them back to your Employer PA by December 17, 2021. This will be attached to the Employer Attestation of Administrative Compliance, which will be sent to Presidents or CEOs.
Member forms deadline for January off-cycle pension payment
Read this if: You are an employer working directly with CAAT
There will be an additional pension payment cycle for members who missed submitting their documents by the December 2, 2021 deadline to start their pensions on January 1, 2022. Members will need to submit their completed forms by 12:00 pm EST on December 16 to receive their pension payment on January 5, 2022.
Submit your 2021 annual data
Read this if: You are an employer working directly with CAAT
Employers who participate in DBplus only are required to submit their 2021 annual data through payroll-based reporting (PBR).
- Data submission due date: February 15, 2022
- Training: Training on how to use these files will take place on December 15 at 1:00 pm EST.
Employers who participate in both DBprime and DBplus should submit their annual data for 2021 using CAAT’s Data Collection Tool (DCT). The DCT will be available on January 21.
- Data submission due date: March 7, 2022
- Training: Training will take place on January 18, 2022 and January 19, 2022. We will be offering both full and refresher training on the DCT process this year so you can select the session that is best for you.
Invitations for the DCT sessions will be sent two weeks ahead of time.
View the 2022 employer training schedule
Read this if: You are an employer working directly with CAAT
The 2022 employer training schedule is now posted on the CAAT website.
All training sessions will be recorded and made available on the website. You will receive the invitations to register for the sessions approximately two weeks prior to the session.
View the schedule
Employer portal updates
Read this if: you have access to the employer portal
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and secure messaging now available on the employer portal
CAAT’s Pension Administration Link (PAL) now offers two multi-factor authentication choices. Users can continue to receive a code via text message or phone call, or they can download and use an Authenticator application. On November 29 users who have access to PAL would have received an email from their PA with instructions for setting up the Authenticator application.
We also launched the secure messaging feature on PAL. Employers can send messages and documents securely to CAAT using the Message Centre in PAL instead of sending emails or documents via S-doc. We sent a video and presentation with more information about using the Message Centre to employers on December 7.
Please contact your employer PA if you have any questions or issues with MFA set-up or using secure messaging in PAL.
Plan Text Amendments improve equity for Plan members
Effective December 1, 2021, the Plan’s Governors passed two amendments that change the definitions of “Child” and “Disabled” in the Plan Text. These amendments broaden the definition of who can qualify as disabled under DBprime and who qualifies as a dependent child for survivor benefits paid from the CAAT Plan.
Read the Plan Text Amendment details
Happy Holidays
