Survivor Benefits FAQ

1. What is a survivor allowance?
2. I remarried after my retirement. Will my new spouse be entitled to survivor benefits upon my death?
3. Will my spouse be entitled to a survivor pension upon my death if we had been separated?
4. Who can make a claim for survivor benefits?
5. What documentation is required to make a claim for survivor benefits?
6. Can a survivor waive entitlement to a pension?
7. What benefits are provided under the Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan for my children?
8. What happens to my Public Service Superannuation Pension if I have no survivors?
9. I am retired and not married to my partner. How can I make it easier for that person to claim benefits after my death?
10. I am receiving a survivor pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act. Will it stop if I remarry?

1. What is a survivor allowance?

A survivor allowance is a lifetime pension payable on the death of a plan member to the spouse, the common-law partner or same-sex partner of the member. It is equal to one-half of the unreduced pension of the plan member (i.e. one- half of the member's pension before any reduction for early retirement or for Canada or Quebec Pension Plan entitlement is applied). A survivor allowance is subject to indexing in the same manner as the member's pension, calculated from the date that the member ceased to be employed.

To be eligible, the marriage or conjugal relationship had to start prior to the date the member ceased to be employed. In addition, a conjugal relationship can be recognized only if it has been in existence for a minimum of one year. See the Survivor Benefits section of the Annuitant Booklet for more details.

2. I remarried after my retirement. Will my new spouse be entitled to survivor benefits upon my death?

Normally, a survivor is not entitled to a pension if the marriage occurred after retirement. However, the plan member can opt to receive a reduced pension to provide survivor benefit coverage for his or her spouse in this situation. The option must be made within one year after the date of marriage or one year from the commencement of the member's pension, whichever is later.

It should be noted that if the marriage was preceded by a common-law relationship that commenced prior to retirement, the survivor would be eligible for a regular survivor allowance.

Estimates of the reduction and benefit amounts are available from the Superannuation Sector . Refer to the Annuitant Booklet for more details on this subject.

3. Will my spouse be entitled to a survivor pension upon my death if we had been separated?

A separation (with or without a legal separation agreement) will not affect the spouse's entitlement to a survivor allowance provided they were still married at the time of the plan member's death. If the couple were divorced, the former spouse will not be eligible for a survivor allowance.

4. Who can make a claim for survivor benefits?

A survivor allowance is payable to a spouse, common-law partner or same-sex partner (see question #1 above). If the member is separated from a legal spouse and has a partner who also qualifies for an allowance, the benefit is divided between the two applicants based on the period of cohabitation with the member.

5. What documentation is required to make a claim for survivor benefits?

For a legal spouse, a copy of the marriage certificate is required. For a common-law or same-sex relationship, sworn statements and other evidence demonstrating the conjugal nature and the period of the relationship are required. The Annuitant Booklet has more details on this subject.

6. Can a survivor waive entitlement to a pension?

A survivor can waive entitlement to a pension if, as a result, a minimum benefit will be payable or a child will receive an increased allowance. The waiver is irrevocable and must be made within three months after being notified of the pension entitlement.

7. What benefits are provided under the Public Service Superannuation Pension Plan for my children?

On the death of a plan member, the member's children under 18 years of age, or between 18 and 25 and enrolled in school on a full-time basis, are eligible for an allowance. The amount paid to each child is one-tenth of the member's unreduced pension if there is a survivor and double that amount if there is no survivor. The maximum amount is four-tenths (or eight-tenths if there is no survivor) which is divided amongst the children if there are more than four. A child's allowance is subject to indexing in the same manner as the member's pension. See the Annuitant Booklet for more information.

8. What happens to my Public Service Superannuation Pension if I have no survivors?

If you have no eligible survivors, or your survivors have ceased to be eligible for an allowance, a minimum benefit may be payable. The minimum benefit is normally five times your annual unreduced basic pension (without indexing), minus any basic pension paid to you, your survivor and/or children (not including indexing). If there is a balance payable, it will be paid to your Supplementary Death Benefit beneficiary or, if there is no beneficiary, to your estate. See the Annuitant Booklet for a more detailed explanation.

9. I am retired and not married to my partner. How can I make it easier for that person to claim benefits after my death?

If your relationship started prior to the date you ceased to be employed in the Public Service, your partner may qualify for a survivor allowance. You may wish to provide a sworn statement as well as other documents as evidence of the nature and period of your relationship. Records should be retained on an ongoing basis so that they are available in the event that they are needed to support a claim. The Annuitant Booklet has more details on this subject. Further information on the documentation requirements can also be obtained from the Superannuation Sector .

10. I am receiving a survivor pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act. Will it stop if I remarry?

No. A survivor pension is payable for life and is not affected by remarriage.