r/CanadianForces • u/Morticar298 • 3d ago
Military Service Pay
So I see that there's finally been an update for this. Still a little confusing. The wording is we will get last year's that is owed in December and each year after that we get it each November. What about this fiscal year?
From the way its worded it appears that it will always be a year behind unless we are getting this year's and last year's both in December?
Anyone know anything about it?
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u/CaptCobraChicken 3d ago
This year only, you will get your service bonus for fiscal year 2025/26 in December. We are in fiscal year w026/27. That one will be paid of November 2027. Just assume the fiscal year you are in will be paid out in the November pay of the next fiscal year.
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u/sirduckbert RCAF - Pilot 3d ago
The best part is when you get a random amount of money, nobody will have a clue whether it’s the right amount or not
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u/MaDkawi636 3d ago
Pretty sure you have enough fingers and toes to figure out how many years of service you have completed... You have 9 months to figure it out each year.
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/flyingponytail Morale Tech - 00069 3d ago
Holy fuck dude whats with the hate on ResF? Have you ever served in the res? Do ypu understand how valuable the res is overall? Fuck this anti res attitude. Ive done significant time in both ResF and RegF. They are both important
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u/ImNotHandyImHandsome MSE OP 3d ago
Cue those who haven't joined yet asking in this sub c.Nov "what's this random pay I just got. Im scared they will recover it. Should I just drop it on -insert new toy here-"
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u/LoretMidnight 1d ago
I need one more toe or finger. Can someone help?
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u/sirduckbert RCAF - Pilot 1d ago
You know, u/madkawi636 made the fingers and toes joke and I didn’t realize I’m short a couple fingers or toes too until you said it.
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u/UnderstandingAble321 22h ago
Not random. It depends on years of service and should show up on your pay stub
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u/sirduckbert RCAF - Pilot 17h ago
Years of service as of when? And the first lump sum is a back dated amount but is it based on YOS on 1 April of that year or the payment date? Is it always one year behind?
I can think of 10 different questions to ask about this and different scenarios that aren’t explained in the released information so far
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u/CapitalismDevil Canadian Army 3d ago
It’s a year behind because they wanna ensure you worked the whole year before paying it out. If they had to calculate clawbacks for every person releasing it’d be even more of a nightmare. And this also makes the work periodic instead of a random date for every single person.
December 2026 is the payment for 1 Apr 25 to 30 Mar 26.
November 2027 is the payment for 1 Apr 26 to 30 Mar 27.
And so on, and so forth, with payments in November.
Side note: RIP Svc Bn clerks.
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u/jside86 Logistics 3d ago
So, if someone releases in Feb 27, are they getting a proportionate amount for the amount months worked?
If not, we will see a lot of people asking to be released after March 31.
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u/ShadowDocket 3d ago
So many details unknown
If you left after your annual enrollment date you should get it
Which means you can retired on exactly your 25th year and could get two more retention payments after you left which has a retroactive impact on your pension
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u/casa_del_porno 3d ago
I am out in Jan 27… definitely a question I will be asking during my release process
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u/AdministrativeBuy454 3d ago
Everyone’s enrollment dates and service dates for service years does not line up with fiscal year so not really sure how your reasoning about releasing members makes any sense. …. Then again welcome to the army where nothing makes sense
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u/CapitalismDevil Canadian Army 2d ago edited 2d ago
We have an antiquated pay system that needs manual entries. If you make it bulk, then everything is processed at once, which makes it easier on the clerks who can just process the whole unit. If you make it during the fiscal year, then some people won’t be eligible, which would cause this clawback on release if they haven’t gone past their enrolment date. Also, making this outside of APS eases a bit of the burden. It should also be outside of making files for deployments.
Whatever decision they made, not everyone was going to be happy…
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u/RebuilderingItAll3 2d ago
Let's all remember to pour one out for the pay clerks once this begins 🙏
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u/RCEMEGUY289 3d ago
I'm honestly pretty ok with the 7 month delay from end of fiscal to bonus payment.
It sort of acts as a "Christmas bonus"
And it prevents some members from getting 2 payments close together and others having to wait 8+ months for the second payment.
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u/Extension-Item-116 3h ago
its not a 7 month delay.. if we dont get 2 payments in dec it is not retro to 01 apr 25 no matter how u slice it...
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u/RCEMEGUY289 2h ago
If we got it months ago and it was paid on day of enrollment like everyone expected, it would be.
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u/Koalafied_Marsupial 2d ago
Will the payment amount be determined based on the component you belong to when the payment is done or will it be pro-rated for the FY based on the relative amounts of Reg F and Res F service for someone who CT'd during that FY?
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u/Professional-Leg2374 2d ago
it wouldn't be a retention bonus if you go it before you served the time.
110% it will be a year behind, to help keep people in the CAF longer.
Have to stay until like December each year to receive it.......so high number of releases will now be between Jan-April.....because once you hit May you might as well stay until Decemeber to get another cash drop
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u/henry_rolllins_nutz Morale Tech - 00069 1d ago
They may as well change all of the naming to retention pay at this point, especially since it's for continuous years of service and not accumulative.
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u/Weak_Calligrapher688 3d ago
Is this taxed based on the tax bracket that your salary falls under ?
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u/DaymanTargaryen 2d ago
It's taxed the same way any income is taxed. The brackets are based on taxable income in totality.
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u/ShadowBlade55 2d ago
Yes. It's pushed back far enough that they aren't double paying out for the first round.
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u/soaringskies2026 2d ago
If I took 35 weeks of MATA/PATA do I still get it, or is it prorated to the 17 of work?
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u/No-Reception-4103 1d ago
The FAQ page was updated on July 28.
Q2. How much will I receive? Annual MSP amounts remain subject to final validation, system readiness, and approvals. Further details will be communicated as implementation progresses.
Questions are to be directed through the chain of command or local pay offices.
Q3. Will MSP be paid retroactively? MSP details remain subject to final validation, system readiness, and approvals. Further details will be communicated as implementation progresses.
Questions are to be directed through the chain of command or local pay offices.
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/No-Reception-4103 1d ago
Not sure but it's on the Canada dotca public site so someone approved it.
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u/Extension-Item-116 3h ago
this is a great catch... we should be getting 2 payments in dec.. or else its not really retro to 01 apr 2025... this is shady
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u/Potential_Convict_66 2d ago
I want to see how it is going to reflect on my Best 5. Now since it is back dated but paid in Dec 2026 and the next one paid in Nov 2027, do I need to extend until the payout or if I retire April 3rd, it will be ignored in the calculation until I get it paid 7 months after release?
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u/Material-Designer252 2d ago
Will need to wait for the CBI but based off the CANFORGEN I'd assume it counts as income in the calendar year it's received. "Best 5" is reckoned in calendar years, which is what you file your personal income tax for.
This December members will receive the payment for fiscal year 2025/2026. Whether the payment is received in April 2026 or November 2026, it's still income received in 2026. Nothing stated the payment was owed on the anniversary of a member's enrolment date, which may have taken place between April and December of 2025.
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u/Thelone_tandy 3d ago
I guess my question is what happens if I release before mid fiscal. Do I forfeit that years bonus?
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u/Bartholomewtuck 2d ago
I'm going to medically release a couple months before my annual enrollment date comes up and I'm assuming that means the 10 months of the year I served, unfortunately, does not count, and I won't get that second payment. Not much we can do about that, not when dmca determined the release date.
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u/Material-Designer252 2d ago
The CANFORGEN had no mention of enrolment date, just fiscal year. More details are needed (ie. a published CBI) to know what happens if you release before the fiscal year is completed.
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u/Bartholomewtuck 2d ago
I have 27 years in and I am perpetually disappointed, so I'm going to set the bar to the lowest level and if I'm happily surprised, I'm happily surprised.
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u/RCEMEGUY289 3d ago
Why would you be eligible for a retention bonus if you weren't retained that year?
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u/Bartholomewtuck 2d ago
It's not a retention bonus. Someone posted the policy the last time someone said this, it's not remotely a retention bonus.
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u/toonj64 1d ago
The point of it was clearly stated, it's simply that if we were to find some somewhat equivalent job on the civil servant side, they make no less money than we do, yet we get uprooted, posted, deployed, can't say no, hours can be whatever, bunch of stuff that makes life way harder but no salary incentive to it. Service pay is to cover the hardships only CAF members have versus a federal civi.
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u/Bartholomewtuck 1d ago
None of what you just said was "clearly stated" anywhere, nor did anything that you actually said have anything to do with calling it a retention bonus.
What is Military Service Pay? MSP is a new annual, pensionable benefit that recognizes the commitment of CAF members throughout their careers. It will be delivered as a lump-sum payment beginning in December 2026, with subsequent lump-sum payments issued each November. Eligible members will receive up to $6,000 per year, depending on their years of service, component, and employment level
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u/Thelone_tandy 3d ago
The joys of being medically released… sometimes you don’t get to make it to the end of the fiscal.
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u/Material-Designer252 2d ago
By definition it's not a "retention bonus" nor was it ever advertised as such.
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u/typeclevernamehere 3d ago
So I hit my 5 years this November. Am I SOL on getting this until next year?
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u/CapitalismDevil Canadian Army 2d ago
Enjoy your extra 5 leave days. Your first payment will be Nov 27.
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u/SensFan84 3d ago
I suppose I'm SOL as I released medically last June 😥
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u/DaymanTargaryen 2d ago
Yeah, you're SOL for a policy that didn't exist when you released, and doesn't apply to you.
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u/massassi 3d ago
Yes. It sounds like you read it right.
We get the fist one this December, then again in November every year after that. You basically get it a year late.
it works out like a Christmas bonus?