Section 4: Your Benefits
Additional income
Your entitlement to a survivor's pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act is not affected by other employment or pension income. If you are employed in the Federal Public Service or elsewhere and/or are receiving a pension under the Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan, it does not affect your superannuation survivor benefit.
Waiver of Entitlement
You are permitted to waive your entitlement to a survivor's allowance if doing so will result in payment of a minimum benefit or increase a child or student allowance. A waiver must be submitted to the Superannuation Sector no later than three months after receiving notice of entitlement to the allowance. The minimum benefit is explained in Section 8.
Children's allowances
Children who are less than 18 years old are usually eligible for a monthly allowance. This allowance is payable on the child's behalf, most often to you. Where the child is not living with you, or should you die while the child is still eligible for an allowance, payment is made on the child's behalf to the person having custody and control of the child. This person does not have to be the legal guardian.
Each eligible child is entitled to an allowance amounting to one-fifth of your pension. You will, of course, still receive your full pension. The maximum allowance payable on behalf of all children cannot exceed four- fifths of your basic pension. If there are more than four children, the maximum allowance will be apportioned among all the eligible children.
If you were to die while your children are still eligible, their allowances would be paid at twice the rate described above for each child, up to a maximum of eight-fifths of your basic pension for four or more eligible children. If both parents were plan members and both have died, the children may be entitled to an allowance in respect of each parent's participation in the plan.
Students' allowances
A student's allowance may be paid to a plan member's child who is between the ages of 18 and 25, and enrolled in an accredited full-time educational program since attaining age 18 or since the date of the plan member's death, whichever is later. A student's allowance is paid directly to the student and is subject to the same conditions as a child's allowance.
The student must apply for the allowance. Application forms are available from the Superannuation Sector. Once the student's initial entitlement is established, application forms to reconfirm entitlement for subsequent years will be forwarded annually. Students should complete the form only after they have enrolled for the academic year for which the form is being completed.
Regular scholastic vacations or short periods of illness will not adversely affect payment of student allowances. If there is an absence for any other reason, or if the student withdraws from school, the student should contact the Superannuation Sector to determine whether he or she will still be eligible for an allowance. In certain circumstances, a student absent for periods of less than two academic years may qualify for an allowance if the student resumes full-time study.
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