Locked-In Retirement Accounts (LIRAs) are subject to specific restrictions regarding when and how funds can be accessed. Under LLQP regulations, individuals can generally only withdraw funds from a LIRA before retirement under certain circumstances. These include:
* Disability and a reduced life expectancy, as defined by the plan's requirements, which allow for early withdrawal due to significant financial or health hardships.
In contrast:
* Moving to another country, such as Arizona, does not qualify as a reason for early withdrawal under Canadian pension regulations.
* Retirement alone, without converting the LIRA into a Life Income Fund (LIF) or similar product, does not directly permit withdrawals from the LIRA.
* Collecting QPP benefits does not impact the withdrawal conditions of a LIRA directly unless combined with an allowable reason such as disability with reduced life expectancy.
Thus, option B correctly reflects the LLQP criteria under which Nathalie may access her LIRA funds early due to disability and a shortened life expectancy.