§ Calculator · Retirement
LIRA unlock estimator
What this is
How much of a locked-in account can you free up?
A LIRA (Locked-In Retirement Account) holds money transferred out of an employer pension, and provincial rules limit access. The most common pathway is a one-time ~50% unlock to a regular RRSP/RRIF when you convert at retirement; small balances can often be unlocked in full. This estimates which applies to you.
- ·Standard 50% unlock: most provinces allow up to half the balance out at LIF conversion (min age: ON 55, AB/BC 50).
- ·Small-balance unlock: balances under roughly 40% of the YMPE (~$29,840 in 2026) can usually come out in full.
- ·Quebec is stricter: standard unlocking is generally not available before age 65.
Unlockable now
$60,000
Stays locked
$60,000
Min unlock age
55
Years to wait
0
At LIF conversion you can unlock about 50% of the balance into a RRSP/RRIF; the remainder stays locked and pays out as income.
Educational. Not financial advice. Real unlock applications go through your provincial pension regulator and plan administrator; hardship and shortened-life-expectancy pathways are not modelled.
Disclaimer
Educational, not financial advice. Output is generated by an AI assistant using simplified assumptions. Tax rates, contribution limits, and benefit amounts change annually; confirm with a CFP, CPA, or the relevant Canadian regulator (CRA, FSRA, OSC, IIROC) before acting.