Leave without pay (ordinary and special)

If you take a period of ordinary LWOP, you must continue to pay your personal contributions to PSS for the first three months. Any period in excess of three months does not count as service for benefit purposes and you must cease to make contributions for that period. Any Additional Employer Contribution (AEC) that you may be eligible to receive does not accrue during periods of ordinary LWOP.

If you take a period of special leave that includes unpaid sick leave or maternity leave, contributions are payable for the full period of the leave, subject to a maximum payment period of two years. The period of special leave during which contributions are payable counts as service. Any Additional Employer Contribution (AEC) that you may be eligible to receive continues to accrue at the normal full time rate during periods of special leave.

Please refer to PSS Fact Sheet 2: Contributions and superable salary for more information.