By the Numbers: Government Benefits 2011

An overview of this year’s government benefits for the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) and the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP); Old Age Security (OAS); Unemployment Insurance (UI); and Workers Compensation.

*Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan*	*CPP*	*QPP*
*Contribution Rate*	*4.95%*	*4.95%*
*Year’s maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE)*	*$48,300.00*	*$48,300.00*
*Basic exemption*	*$3,500.00*	*$3,500.00*
*Maximum premiums for employees*	*$2,217.60*	*$2,217.60*
*Maximum premiums for self-employed*	*$4,435.20*	*$4,435.20*
*Retirement Benefits (maximum for new recipient)*	*$960.00*	*$960.00*
*Lump Sum Death Benefit (max.)*	*$2,500.00*	*$2,500.00*
*Disability (max.)*	*$1,153.37*	*$1,153.34*
*Dependent children’s benefit*	*$218.50*	*$69.38*
*Surviving spouse 65 and over (max.)*	*$576.00*	*$576.00*
*Surviving spouse under 65 (max.)*	*$529.09*	*N/A*
*Surviving spouse 45-64 (max.)*	*N/A*	*433.34*
*Surviving spouse under 45 (max.) not disabled, no child*	*N/A*	*$110.98*
*Surviving spouse under 45 (max.) not disabled, with child*	*N/A*	*$402.35*
*Surviving spouse under 45 (max.) disabled*	*N/A*	*$433.34*

Old Age Security (effective January 1, 2011 -- adjusted quarterly	*Monthly Maximum*
*Old Age Security*	*$524.23*
*Guaranteed Income Supplement*	*$661.69*
*Spouse’s allowance (Age 60-64)*	*$961.18*
*Widowed spouse’s allowance (Age 60-64)*	*$1,065.45*

*Unemployment Insurance (E.I.)*	Canada (excl. Quebec)	*Quebec*
*Annual insurable earnings (max.)*	*$44,200.00*	*$44,200.00*
*Premiums – annual maximum (employee)*	*$786.76*	*$623.22*
*Premiums – annual maximum (employer)*	*$1,101.46*	*$872.51*
*Benefits – weekly maximum (55% of insurable earnings)*	*$468.00*	*$468.00*

*Workers Compensation*
*Province*	*Percentage of Earnings*	*2011 Maximum Insurable Earnings/ Maximum Compensation Rate*
*Alberta*	*90% (net)*	*$82,000*
*British Columbia*	*90% (net)*	*$71,700*
*Manitoba*	*90% (net)*	See Note*
*New Brunswick*	*85% (net)*	*$56,700*
*Newfoundland/Labrador*	*80% (net)*	*$51,595*
*NTW/Nunavut*	*90% (net)*	*$82,720*
*Nova Scotia*	*75% (net) 1st 26 weeks then 85% (net)*	*$52,000*
*Ontario*	*85% (net)*	*$79,600*
*Prince Edward Island*	*80% (net) 1st 38 weeks then 85% (net)*	*$47,800*
*Quebec*	*90% (net)*	*$64,000*
*Saskatchewan*	*90% (net)*	*$55,000*
*Yukon*	*75% (net)*	*$77,920*

Note: * Manitoba has a “maximum insurable earnings” for 2011 of $96,000 for the purposes of calculating the premium that an employer has to pay but there is no “maximum compensation rate” when calculating a claimant’s wage loss.

Vol. XI No. 06 • February 7, 2011