Applying for the Canada Pension Plan

I had the bright idea that I was going to apply for the CPP on line. I’m working hard to catch up to the modern era,

Before you can apply on line, you have to apply, on paper, through the regular post, for a secret number which allows you to set up an account with Service Canada.

Which I did. On receipt of my secret number, several weeks later, I proceeded to open my account. There ensued a lot of rigmarole re: security questions, user names, passwords, the verification of passwords, and so on. 

I duly followed all instructions, and triumphantly stepped away from the keyboard an hour later, infinitely pleased with myself that I had finally tapped into that plump CPP piggybank that I’ve been paying into my whole life. I tapped in a little later than I could have and perhaps a little sooner than I should have, but it’s done!

Or so I thought. That was a month ago. Haven’t heard a damn thing from them. No sign of a CPP payment into my bank account. What gives?

So I gathered up my paperwork. Gonna get to the bottom of this. Found my secret number. Found the answers to the security questions. The only thing I couldn’t find was my username and password.

I go back to their website. If I can’t access my account, I have to write in for a new secret number and start all over again!

I sure hope the CPP web network isn’t run by the same folks who are in charge of the Phoenix pay system for government employees. If that’s the case, I’ll be long gone before I ever see a pension cheque!