When thinking about death benefits, it is important to know who may be eligible for death benefits and what may be payable. Here is what you need to know.
Eligible survivor(s)
Your surviving spouse, eligible child(ren), or dependant(s) may be entitled to receive a survivor pension.
Your surviving spouse
A person who you are:
- legally married to, or
- in a registered domestic partnership with, or
- cohabiting in a conjugal relationship that has continued for at least:
- three years, if either of you is married, or
- one year, if neither of you is married.
If you are an active member, your surviving spouse is the spouse at the time of your death.
If you are a retired member and your retirement date is before April 1, 2024, your surviving spouse is the person who became your spouse:
- before you retired, or
- at least three years before your death. A combination of a period of cohabitation in a conjugal relationship may be added to a period of legal marriage or registered domestic partnership.
If you are a retired member and your retirement date is on or after April 1, 2024, your surviving spouse is the person who was your spouse on your date of retirement.
Your eligible child(ren)
- A natural or adopted child for whom you are a legal guardian.
- An eligible child must be under age 18 or between 18 and 25 years of age if they are in continuous full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution. Continuous full-time attendance, as directed by the Income Tax Act, means there can be no break in attendance each school year and attendance must continue solely on a full-time basis.
Your dependant(s)
- A relative* who, by reason of a mental or physical disability, is fully dependent on you for financial support.
* A relative is defined as a mother, father, child, brother, sister, grandchild, grandmother, or grandfather.
Designated beneficiary(ies)
A designated beneficiary does not receive a survivor pension upon your death. Instead, they receive a lump sum payment of any remaining death benefit after a surviving spouse and/or eligible children or dependants have received their benefit from the Plan. You can name any person, organization, or your estate as a beneficiary.
To update or change your designated beneficiary information:
- For active members, please complete a Member Information Form located on our forms page and return it to our office.
- For retired members:
- If you retired prior to April 1, 2024, please complete a Member Information Form located on our forms page.
- If you are a retiree, or a survivor of a retiree, who retired on or after April 1, 2024, please contact our office.