Types of claims

Current, retired and former PSAC members are eligible to apply for several claims to compensate them for the hardship and financial loss of the Phoenix pay system. Read our breakdown carefully to see what you may be eligible for.

Claims for severe impacts

PSAC members having suffered personal or financial consequences due to Phoenix, whether they be current or former employees or the estate representative of a deceased member, can file claims for severe impacts.

You are eligible if you were a PSAC member and incurred severe damages between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2020 as a result of Phoenix pay issues.

Depending on the type of claim, a minimum threshold of $1,500 may apply. This means that you are eligible for compensation if the total amount of your claim exceeds $1,500. This minimum threshold will only be applied once for all claims submitted through this process.

These claims can include:

  • financial costs or lost investment income due to delays in pay;
  • leave taken because of health issues;
  • severe damages and personal hardship, including mental anguish.

Learn more about other examples of severe impact claims

How to apply online

General damages

While current members automatically received the $2,500 compensation for general Phoenix damages PSAC negotiated on their paycheques in March of 2021, members who have left or retired from the federal public service since PSAC secured the Phoenix damages in 2020 must apply for this compensation. Retired or former members, as well as the estate of a deceased member who worked for the federal public service, could receive up to $2,500.

People who worked for the federal public service between the fiscal years of 2016 and 2020 are eligible to apply.

How to apply online

How to apply by mail

Out-of-pocket expenses

Current and former members can also claim out-of-pocket expenses incurred because of Phoenix pay problems.

Many out-of-pocket expenses can be claimed, such as:

  • Non-sufficient funds and other financial penalty charges resulting from missed or late payments;
  • Interest charges from credit cards, lines of credit, and/or personal loans;
  • Interest and related fees on loans or lines of credit required for the repayment of source deductions on an overpayment;
  • Fees for early withdrawal of investments and withdrawals from savings.

Consult the full list of out-of-pocket expenses before filing the online claim form.

Reimbursement for tax advice

Current and former members can apply for reimbursement of fees paid for tax advice for their 2016 to 2021 tax seasons, if they obtained tax advice services due to Phoenix pay problems. The employer can reimburse up to $200 per year, taxes included.

Find out how you can make this claim before filling the form.

Advance for government benefits

Current and former members who were overpaid in 2016, 2017 and 2018 can apply for an interest-free advance of government benefits until their Phoenix pay problems are resolved and their tax slip has been corrected. This is because some members may have experienced a reduction of government benefits and credits due to overpayments.

Find out if you are eligible to claim the advance before completing the form.

Claims for impacts to income taxes and government benefits

A claim is available for current and former members whose income and benefits were impacted when they were owed salary from one year that was paid the following year (for example, salary owed from 2016 was paid in 2017). In those situations, members might incur a financial loss related to paying a higher rate of income tax or reduced government benefits and credits due to having a higher income in the wrong year, and these losses can be claimed.

Find out if you are eligible for this claim.

If you have questions or need help with the claim process, consult the Contact us section of the claims website.

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March 8, 2023