The following information is intended to provide you with an understanding of the potential survivor and child entitlements under the public service pension plan. In the event of death, the Government of Canada Pension Centre should be notified immediately.

You may want to know…

• Are your family members protected in the event of your death?
• Who is able to claim survivor benefits?
• What documentation is required to make a claim for survivor benefits?
• Are there any additional death benefits that will be paid out?
• Are your survivors covered under any benefit plans in the event of your death?

Are your family members protected in the event of your death?
Your pension plan offers several types of protection for your family. For instance, your eligible survivors and eligible children may be entitled to Survivor Benefits and Child Allowances.

Who is able to claim survivor benefits?
Survivor Benefits are payable to a surviving spouse or common-law partner. In the event that you are separated from your legal spouse but have a 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 consulting the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

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 (same or opposite sex) partner, sworn statements and other evidence that demonstrates the conjugal nature and the period of the relationship are required. Additional information may be found by visiting the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

Are there any additional death benefits that will be paid out? Yes. The Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) provides a form of decreasing term life insurance – the basic benefit is equal to twice your annual salary when you retire and it decreases by 10% annually starting at age 66 to a minimum of $10,000. The benefit is paid to your designated beneficiary and is calculated as follows:

Under the public service pension plan, there is a minimum benefit guarantee should there be no more eligible survivors or children. For more information, refer to minimum benefit.

Are your survivors covered under any benefit plans in the event of your death?
Your survivors may be eligible to enroll for coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan (PDSP) in the event of your death.