New Teacher
Welcome to the teaching profession! Your professional status and membership with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation brings with it many services, resources and programs to support you throughout your career.
For more information about the tools and resources available to help you, visit Teaching in Saskatchewan.
Pension and benefit plans are an important means to support the health, wellness and financial security of individual teachers and their families. As a member of the Federation, you are eligible for a wide range of benefits while you are on contract. Substitute teachers are also eligible for certain benefits.
Pension and Group Benefits
As a member of the Federation, you have the following benefits while you are on a continuing, replacement or temporary contract:
If you are a substitute teacher, you are eligible for pension benefits and may purchase voluntary life insurance.
All of the above plans are administered by the Federation, except for the dental plan and mandatory group life insurance plan, which are administered by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Superannuation Commission.
* For teachers on a temporary contract, the term of the contract must be for 20 or more full or partial teaching days to be eligible for mandatory group life insurance.
Submit to the STF a completed Enrolment form, signed by both you and your school board. An Enrolment form must be submitted each time you sign a new contract. Your enrolment information is shared with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Superannuation Commission for the administration of your dental benefits.
If your personal information changes (i.e., address, preferred email or employment status) you must complete and return a STF Change of Information form.
Health and dental coverage begins after you have completed 20 full or partial days of teaching service, while you are on contract. Once you have completed the 20-day qualification period, your coverage is applied retroactively to the first paid teaching day of your contract. You will be contacted by Green Shield Canada with instructions for registering your GSC everywhere account.
Voluntary life insurance coverage begins the day the Federation receives your completed application form and your premium deposit, provided you meet the requirements for insurability.
All other benefits begin the first day of your contract.
Highlights of Each Plan
The Members’ Health Plan covers a wide range of eligible medical expenses for you, your spouse and your dependants while you are on contract. This Plan is designed to provide health-care coverage beyond what your provincial health plan provides. The Plan provides coverage for:
- Prescription drugs
- Health-care expenses
- Eye exams and vision service and supplies
- Out-of-country emergency medical expenses
This benefit is fully funded by the provincial government – teachers do not pay premiums to this Plan.
The health plan is administered by the Federation and all claims are processed and paid by Green Shield Canada.
For more details, visit Health Plan, or contact the Members’ Health Plan.
Coverage for a range of dental expenses is provided by the Teachers’ Dental Plan, for you and your family while you are on contract. This benefit is fully funded by the provincial government – teachers do not pay any premiums to this Plan.
The dental plan is administered by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Superannuation Commission and all claims are processed and paid by Green Shield Canada.
More information about the dental plan can be found on the Commission’s website.
The ability to earn an income is something we often take for granted. Should a disability prevent you from working after your paid sick leave benefits have been exhausted, a monthly disability benefit may be available from the Teachers’ Long-Term Disability Plan. Rehabilitative services that support the recovery process and return to active employment are also available. You must apply for these benefits.
Since teachers pay the premiums, disability benefits from this Plan are not taxable.
For more details, visit Disability Plan, or contact the Teachers’ Long-Term Disability Plan office.
Life insurance coverage for teachers on contract is provided by the Teachers’ Group Life Insurance Plan. Coverage is equal to twice the maximum salary for Class VI, rounded to the next one thousand dollars. An equal amount of coverage for accidental death and dismemberment is also provided.
The provincial government pays half of the premiums with teachers paying the other half through deductions from their pay.
The Group Life Insurance Plan is administered by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Superannuation Commission. More information about the benefits provided by this plan can be found on the Commission’s website.
Portaplan offers term life, accident and dependant life insurance at group rates. This plan is available to provide added coverage above your Teachers’ Group Life Insurance Plan. Portaplan coverage continues even if your contract ends, you change careers or you move to another country, as long as premiums are paid when they are due.
Participation in this plan is voluntary and premiums are paid fully by the policyholder.
Portaplan has some special offers for first and second year STF members, and is an economical alternative to traditional mortgage insurance. Also, your eligible spouse can apply for a policy in their own name, even if you are not a policyholder.
For more details, visit Optional Life Insurance, or contact Portaplan.
All Saskatchewan teachers who began teaching after July 1, 1980 are members of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Retirement Plan (STRP). The STRP is a defined benefit plan, which means you will receive a lifetime pension when you retire, based on your earnings and service. The STRP is designed to provide valuable and reliable benefits for present and future members.
Monthly pension contributions are deducted from your pay by your school board, based on current teacher contribution rates, as approved by the Council of the Federation. The provincial government contributes to the pension plan at the rate negotiated through the provincial collective bargaining process.
For more details about this plan, visit Pension Plan, or contact the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Retirement Plan.
Online Services
Log in to MySTF to access the following self-service options.
Profile Management
- Update your mailing address and preferred email address.*
Health Plan
- Update your spouse/dependant information.
- Download health claim forms with your personal information already filled in (including your health plan member ID number).
- GSC everywhere allows health plan members to:
- Submit health, drug and vision claims online.
- Register for direct deposit.
- Access personal claims history and explanation of benefits.
To register, check your preferred email address for a Welcome Kit from GSC. Be sure to check your junk mail folder, too!
Pension Plan – STRP
- Use the STRP Pension Estimator to estimate your pension at various retirement dates, and change a number of variables to fit your personal situation.
- View your three most recent Annual Pension Statements.
Optional Life Insurance – Portaplan
- View your most recent Annual Premium Notice.
- View your current insurance coverage, beneficiary designation and chosen payment method.
Dental Plan
- GSC everywhere allows teachers to:
- Submit dental claims online.
- Register for direct deposit.
- Access personal claims history and other benefit details.
For step-by-step registration instructions, check your preferred email address for an email from GSC. Be sure to check your junk mail folder, too!