Federal legislation authorizing the Early Retirement Incentive received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, and the program is now in effect.
This page provides general information for Government of the Northwest Territories employees about the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) under the federal Public Service Pension Plan. It is intended to support informed decision making for participation in this federal program and where to find authoritative information.
Ahead of submitting an application, employees must notify their manager of their intent to apply to the Early Retirement Incentive and discuss possible retirement dates.
About the Early Retirement Incentive
The ERI allows eligible employees to retire early with an immediate, unreduced pension, calculated based on years of pensionable service. Normally, retiring before the standard eligibility age would result in a reduced pension; under the ERI, that reduction does not apply.
Participation is:
- Voluntary: applying is a personal decision
- Temporary: the program is time‑limited
- Conditional: approval is not automatic
NOTE: If employees have previously submitted their resignation or retirement and the Employer has officially accepted the resignation or retirement, it cannot be rescinded or postponed in favour of the Early Retirement Incentive.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more detailed information about the Early Retirement Incentive, please refer to the FAQ.
Key Dates
Application period: March 26 to July 24, 2026
Latest possible retirement date if approved: January 20, 2027 with the last day of work being January 19, 2027.
Applications submitted after July 24, 2026 cannot be considered.
Eligibility overview
Eligibility is determined under federal pension legislation and is based on age, pensionable service, and public service employment history.
Eligible employees will receive a confirmation letter or email from the Public Sector Pension Plan if they meet the basic age and service eligibility criteria. If an employee does not receive a letter, but believes they are eligible, they should contact the Pension Centre before discussing ERI with their manager.
Important: Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee approval.
GROUP 1
Joined the Pension Plan on or before December 31, 2012
• At least 50 years old
• At least 2 years of pensionable service
• At least 10 years of public service employment
GROUP 2
Joined the Pension Plan on or after January 1, 2013
• At least 55 years old
• At least 2 years of pensionable service
• At least 10 years of public service employment
Eligibility criteria must be met during the 300‑day program period, from March 26, 2026 to January 20, 2027. Employees who become eligible during this period may only retire after meeting the eligibility requirements and before the program ends.
Approval Is Not Automatic:
While eligibility is set by the federal government, approval depends on operational considerations. Departments may only support applications where they can confirm that:
- There is a need to reduce the workforce
- Services to residents can continue to be maintained
- Current and future operational and business needs can continue to be met
Applications are reviewed case by case. Applications require certification by the Deputy Head and final approval by the Deputy Minister responsible for the Public Service before a retirement date can be confirmed.
Internal Application process
This document outlines the GNWT’s internal application and approval process for the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI), including key steps, roles and responsibilities, and important timelines. Employees are encouraged to review this information before applying to better understand how applications are assessed and approved.
First step: Talking with a manager
Employees who are considering applying must speak with their manager or supervisor before submitting an application.
These early discussions help:
- Clarify how an application could affect the team or service area
- Set realistic expectations about approval
- Support service continuity and workforce planning
Ahead of submitting an application, employees must notify their manager of their intent to apply to the Early Retirement Incentive and discuss possible retirement dates.
Speaking with a manager does not commit an employee to applying. Once an application has received final approval and the manager has formally accepted the resignation (after the required waiting period), the retirement date becomes irrevocable. An exception applies if the Pension Centre later determines that eligibility requirements were not met.
Preparing to make an informed decision
Employees considering retirement under any program are encouraged to:
- Review official federal program information
- Create a pension estimate using the pension calculator
- Book a pension counselling appointment to understand personal financial impacts
- Download and complete the application form if they decide to proceed
These steps can help clarify how different retirement options may affect you personally.
Known issues with the Request for the Early Retirement Incentive Form
We are aware that many employees are having difficulty accessing the Request for the Early Retirement Incentive form.
WHAT’S CAUSING THIS ISSUE:
There are known conversion issues when fillable forms are updated or completed through Internet browsers. This affects clients both in work (government networks) and home environments (personal computers).
Most browsers will try to open these forms on their own. When you do, you may end up seeing a message like the one in the following image:
HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE:
- Right-click on the link and select “Save link as”
- Choose the folder you want to save the file to.
- Open that folder using windows file explorer and click on the file.
Once you click on the link, it should be opened by using the .pdf reader installed on your computer or device. You should now be able to enter your information and save the file.
If the problem persists, it is possible that you do not have a .pdf reader installed on your computer or device. If you are using a personal computer or device, we recommend that you download and install the latest version of Adobe Reader for Windows®, Mac, or Linux® by visiting http://www.adobe.com/go/reader_download.