Family Support Payments—Canadian Armed Forces pensions

This page provides information about the Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act (GAPDA) in the form of questions and answers specific to the following audiences:

This information is specific to the following audiences:

  • Regular Force members who enrolled before March 1, 2007
  • Regular Force members who enrolled on or after March 1, 2007
  • Reserve Force members in the Reserve Force (Part-Time) Pension Plan (Part I.1)
  • Reserve Force members who have qualified for the Regular Force (Full-Time) Pension Plan (Part I)

You may want to know

What is the Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act?

The Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act (GAPDA) allows for the diversion of pay and pension benefits to satisfy support, alimony or maintenance orders. This means that a portion of your pension benefit is diverted (paid) to the recipient named in the order.

If a court order has been issued in Canada, ordering a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) pension benefit recipient to pay spousal and/or child support, that court order can be enforced in part, or in whole, through the your pay or CAF pension benefit.

Who is eligible to receive Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act payments?

Any person who is entitled to maintenance, support or alimony payments under a Canadian court order.

I am currently an active Canadian Armed Forces member and have no plans to release in the near future. Can my pay be garnished for family support?

The Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act (GAPDA) allows for the garnishment of pay. Please contact your pay office for more information.

On release, I am entitled to a lump sum pension benefit (return of contributions or transfer value). Can this benefit be diverted under the Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act?

Yes. The Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act (GAPDA) allows for the diversion of lump sum pension benefits to satisfy support, alimony or maintenance orders. This means that a portion of your lump sum pension benefit is diverted (paid) to the recipient named in the order.

How much money can be diverted from my pension benefit?

The amount paid out of your pension benefit is determined according to the law of the province in which you live. Some provinces have laws providing a maximum amount that may be diverted from the pension benefit. If you live in a province with no such law, the amount to be diverted is the amount specified in the court order, up to a maximum of 50% of your net pension benefit. If you live outside of Canada, the amount to be paid out of your pension depends on the law in the province where the person applying for payment lives.

On release, I am entitled to a monthly recurring pension benefit. Can this benefit be diverted under the Garnishment, Attachment, and Pension Diversion Act?

Yes. For information about the diversion of your pension, visit the Family support payment page under the Retired Member audience.

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