When death occurs: Royal Canadian Mounted Police pension
The following questions and answers will provide you with an understanding of potential survivor and child entitlements under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pension Plan. In the event of your death, your survivor or legal representative should immediately notify the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
You may want to know…
Are your family members protected in the event of your death?
Your pension plan offers several types of protection for your family. For example, the survivor of a deceased member may apply for Survivor Benefits.
In addition, eligible children may be entitled to a child allowance. Full-time students between the ages of 18 and 25 are paid directly.
If there is no survivor or eligible child, the RCMP Pension Plan provides for a minimum benefit payable to the designated beneficiary or, in the absence of such a beneficiary, to the deceased member's estate.
Any applicable life insurance and accidental death or dismemberment insurance amounts will be payable to the designated beneficiary. In the absence of a designated beneficiary Great-West Life pays the benefit based on the line of succession for the province in which the plan member lived. Contact SEB Administrative Services Inc., the RCMP Insurance Administrator, at 1 877-778-8084 to find out more.
Who is able to claim survivor benefits?
Survivor Benefits are payable to a surviving spouse/common-law partner. In the event that you're separated from your legal spouse, but have a common-law partner who may also qualify for an allowance, the benefit would normally be divided between the two applicants based on the period of cohabitation. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
What documentation is required to make a claim for survivor benefits?
A legal spouse must provide a copy of the marriage certificate. A common-law partner is required to provide sworn statements and other evidence that demonstrates cohabitation and the conjugal nature and the period of the relationship. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Government of Canada Pension Centre.
Are your children entitled to survivor benefits?
Generally speaking, to be eligible your child must be under 18 years of age. However, children between 18 and 25 may receive benefits if they're enrolled full-time in school or another educational institution and have attended continuously since their 18th birthday or the date of your death, whichever occurred later.
A child's benefit is equal to one-fifth of the survivor benefit to a maximum combined amount of four-fifths for all dependent children. If there are more than four children, the maximum combined amount payable may be divided among all the eligible children.
What is payable to the children if there is no survivor benefit?
When there is no survivor benefit payable to a spouse/common-law partner, the child's survivor benefit is two-fifths of the survivor benefit.
Should you inform the Government of Canada Pension Centre if the person you've named as your beneficiary moves?
Yes. In the event of your death, the Pension Centre will need a current address for your beneficiary in order to promptly process the survivor benefit. When you contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre, please have the following ready:
- Pension number
- Name of beneficiary
- Your beneficiary's new address
Please complete another RCMP- GRC 2196E: Naming or Substitution of a Pension Beneficiary form if your named beneficiary predeceases you.
Can your survivors apply for group benefit plans in the event of your death?
Your survivors may be eligible to enroll for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan and the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan rules in the event of your death.
Do any of your existing group benefit plans continue for your family after your death?
Public Service Health Care Plan coverage does not automatically continue for a survivor. Plan and enrolment information can be found on the Public Service Health Care Plan website.
Similarly, an individual receiving a survivor or a child's pension benefit must also apply for dental coverage under the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan, in order to obtain this benefit. Additional plan and enrolment information can be found on the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan website.
What death benefits are available if your death can be attributed to your service in the force?
If your survivors suspect that your death is a result of your service with the RCMP, they may be entitled to benefits under the Pension Act and the Survivor Income Plan. The Pension Act is administered by Veterans Affairs Canada and provides a tax free benefit to the spouse and children of RCMP members in the case of a duty-related death. Your survivors should contact Veterans Affairs Canada to find out if they qualify for a benefit under the Pension Act. A favourable decision under the Pension Act also qualifies your survivors to the Survivor Income Plan. This program provides an income top-up to the spouse and children of RCMP members in the case of a duty-related death.