There are several types of pension plans and retirement accounts. Their transfer and withdrawal rules depend on the applicable legislation.
LIRA (Locked-In Retirement Account)
An account that holds funds transferred from a pension plan governed by provincial pension legislation. Withdrawals are restricted unless applicable unlocking requirements are met.
LRSP (Locked-In Retirement Savings Plan)
A locked-in retirement savings arrangement commonly used for funds originating from a federally regulated pension plan. Check your account documents to confirm the governing legislation.
RLSP (Restricted Locked-In Savings Plan)
A federally regulated savings arrangement that holds locked-in pension funds. It is different from a Restricted Life Income Fund (RLIF), which is used for the federal one-time 50% unlocking option when its conditions are met.
LIF (Life Income Fund)
A retirement income account funded with locked-in pension savings. Annual withdrawals are generally subject to minimum and maximum limits, with additional access possible under applicable unlocking rules.
RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund)
An account that provides retirement income from registered savings. It requires minimum annual withdrawals. A regular RRIF is not itself a locked-in pension account.
PRIF (Prescribed Retirement Income Fund)
A retirement income arrangement available under Manitoba and Saskatchewan pension rules. It generally requires minimum annual withdrawals without the annual maximum that applies to a LIF. Transfer eligibility and other conditions depend on the jurisdiction.
LRIF (Locked-In Retirement Income Fund)
A retirement income arrangement used for Newfoundland and Labrador pension funds. Withdrawals are subject to applicable minimum and maximum limits.
RPP (Registered Pension Plan)
An employer-sponsored pension plan. It may be a defined benefit or defined contribution plan. Options after leaving employment depend on the plan and applicable legislation.
DCPP (Defined Contribution Pension Plan)
A type of RPP in which contributions are defined and the value of the account depends on contributions and investment performance.
Not all of these plans are covered by our unlocking service. See the eligibility questions below for the types we can assess.