Assessments are mandatory
Canon law requires your church employer to pay pension assessments to the Church Pension Fund. The Fund's Board of Trustees has set the assessment rate at 18% of your annual compensation package.
Failure to keep your assessments paid up-to-date can jeopardize your benefits.
Report a Change
...in your compensation or duties.
As a basis for assessment, your compensation consists of four categories:
1. Cash salary, the stipend you are paid, including bonuses, fees, one-time cash payments, tuition paid for your dependents, severance and any salary reduction used to fund an annuity or other tax-deferred account, such as a TSA, Retirement Savings Plan (RSVP), or 403(b) plan.
2. Housing allowance, the compensation you receive for this purpose. As we calculate the total compensation on which your assessment is based, it is important for us to know whether or not your housing is provided and if so, how it is provided.
- If your housing is provided rent-free, your housing allowance is assumed at 30% of the total of your cash stipend, Social Security (SECA) reimbursements, and utilities.
- If both housing and meals are provided free of charge, your housing allowance is assumed at 40% of the total of your cash stipend, Social Security (SECA) reimbursements, and utilities.
- If you receive a cash or housing equity allowance, your housing allowance is the actual dollar amount you receive.
- If your housing is provided rent-free and you receive an additional cash housing allowance or housing equity allowance, for pension purposes the value of the provided housing is calculated at 30% of the total of your cash stipend, Social Security (SECA) reimbursement, and utilities. Your total compensation is then equal to the calculated value of your housing, plus the actual cash housing allowance or housing equity allowance you receive, plus your other cash compensation.
- If you receive compensation from more than one church employer, but only one provides housing, compensation from all of your qualified employers is assessed for a proportionate share of your housing.
3. Social Security tax reimbursement (SECA), compensation your employer provides to offset your self-employment (SECA) taxes.
4. Utilities, allowances you receive to cover the cost of your utility bills, such as fuel, gas, and electricity, or the amount your employer pays for utilities on your behalf.
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