When a member dies

What happens if I die before I begin receiving my pension?

With less than two years of eligibility service and Plan membership

Your survivor pre-retirement will receive the commuted value of your accrued pension. If you do not have a survivor pre-retirement, the commuted value will be paid to your beneficiary or estate.


With two or more years of eligibility service or Plan membership

With a survivor pre-retirement, but no dependent children

  • Your survivor pre-retirement will receive a monthly pension equal to at least 50% of your unreduced pension or the commuted value of your accrued pension.

With a survivor pre-retirement and dependent children
  • Your survivor pre-retirement will receive a monthly pension equal to at least 50% of your unreduced pension or a commuted value.
  • Each dependent child will receive a monthly pension equal to 10% of your unreduced pension, to a maximum of 40% shared equally among all dependent children.

With dependent children but no survivor pre-retirement
  • Each dependent child will receive a monthly pension equal to 20% of your unreduced pension, to a maximum of 80% shared equally among all dependent children.
  • Your beneficiary or estate will receive the commuted value of your accrued pension.

With no survivor pre-retirement and there are no dependent children
  • Your beneficiary or estate will receive the commuted value of your accrued pension.

Note: If you would like to make sure that your children receive the maximum allowable survivor benefits under the Plan you should designate them as beneficiaries, whether they are dependent children or not.

What happens if I die while I am receiving my pension?

With a survivor post-retirement, but no dependent children
  • Your survivor post-retirement will receive a monthly pension equal to at least 50% of your unreduced pension.

With a survivor post-retirement and dependent children
  • Your survivor post-retirement will receive a monthly pension equal to at least 50% of your unreduced pension.
  • Each dependent child will receive a monthly pension equal to 10% of your unreduced pension, to a maximum of 40% shared equally among all dependent children.

With dependent children but no survivor post-retirement
  • Each dependent child will receive a monthly pension equal to 20% of your unreduced pension, to a maximum of 80% shared equally among all dependent children.

With no survivor post-retirement and there are no dependent children

Your beneficiary or estate will receive the greater of:

  • your Plan contributions with interest to your pension commencement date, or
  • five times your unreduced annual accrued pension at the date of your death,


minus any benefits paid to the date of your death.

Note: If you would like to make sure that your children receive the maximum allowable survivor benefits under the Plan you should designate them as beneficiaries, whether they are dependent children or not.


What happens if I marry or enter into a common-law relationship after I begin receiving my pension?

You will have the option to provide a survivor benefit to your new spouse or common-law partner. If you choose this option, your pension will reduce and a percentage of your pension will continue to your new spouse or common-law partner after your death. For more information, contact the Pension Centre.

Are pension benefits reduced by other sources of income?

No

Who can be my beneficiary?

You may designate anyone as your beneficiary, including individuals or legally constituted organizations.

The rules of the Plan require that if you have a survivor pre-retirement or survivor post-retirement, that person receives pension benefits from the Plan upon your death. You do not have to designate that person as a beneficiary.

If you have dependent children that meet the Plan's eligibility conditions, they may be eligible for survivor benefits. If you would like to make sure that they receive the maximum allowable survivor benefits, you should designate them as your beneficiaries, regardless of whether they are dependent children or not.

If you do not designate a beneficiary and have no survivor pre- or post-retirement and/or dependent children when you die, pension benefits will be paid to your estate.

How do I designate or change my beneficiaries?

To designate or change your benficiaries, use the Designation of Beneficiaries form.

What if I still have outstanding amounts owing for leave without pay (LWOP) or elective service payments?

Outstanding contributions owing at the time of your death will be recovered in full from your survivors, beneficiary or estate.