The following information is intended to provide you with an understanding of your potential survivor and child entitlements under the public service pension plan. In the event of death, your compensation advisor 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?
• If both you and your spouse die, do your children receive a pension benefit?
• Are there any additional death benefits that will be paid out if you pass away?
• Should you inform the Public Service Pension Centre if the person you've named as the beneficiary of your Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) Plan moves?
• Does your Will affect who receives your Supplementary Death Benefit ( SDB)?
• What death benefits are available if you are slain while on duty?
• Do any of your group benefit plans continue for your family after your death?

Are your family members protected in the event of your death?
If you have 2 or more years of pensionable service to your credit, your family is protected under your pension plan in the event of your death. Your eligible survivors and eligible children may be entitled to survivor benefits and child allowances.

If you have less than two years of pensionable service to your credit, your eligible survivors or estate is entitled to a return of contributions, plus interest.

Who is able to claim survivor benefits?
A survivor allowance is payable to a 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 found by consulting the Public Service 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 relationship, 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 Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

If both you and your spouse die, do your children receive a pension benefit?
When there is no survivor benefit payable to a spouse or common-law partner, each child may be entitled to receive an allowance. In this situation, a child’s allowance is equal to one-fifth of the basic pension benefit of the plan member.

Are there any additional death benefits that will be paid out if you pass away?
Yes. The Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) provides a form of decreasing term life insurance. The basic benefit is equal to twice your annual salary and decreases by 10% annually to a minimum of $10,000, starting at age 66. If you die as an active member of the Public Service pension plan, your SDB benefit will never reduce below 33% of your annual salary (rounded up to the nearest $1,000) or below $10,000, whichever is greater.

The benefit is paid to your designated beneficiary or your estate and is calculated as follows:

Under your pension plan, there is a minimum benefit guaranteed should there be no more eligible survivors or children. For more information, refer to minimum benefit.

Also, the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP) provides group life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance to members. Members are generally those who are employed in managerial or confidential positions. To determine if you are eligible to enroll in the PSMIP , contact your compensation advisor.

Should you inform the Public Service Pension Centre if the person you've named as the beneficiary of your Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) Plan moves?
Yes, you should notify the Pension Centre when this person moves. In the event of your death, if the Pension Centre has a current address for this person, the benefit can be paid more quickly.
When you contact the Public Service Pension Centre, please have the following:

• Pension number or Personal Record Identifier (PRI);
• Name of beneficiary;
• Your beneficiary's new address.

Does your Will affect who receives your Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB)?
Wills, Agreements and Court Orders do not affect who receives your death benefit. The person you named as your beneficiary for the Supplementary Death Benefit (SDB) Plan receives your death benefit. You can only name one beneficiary under this plan. If you wish to divide your death benefit among two or more people, you must name your estate as the beneficiary. You may then specify in your Will how it should be divided.

What death benefits are available if you are slain while on duty?

• The Public Service Income Benefit Plan for Survivors of Employees Slain on Duty provides your family with an income guarantee if your death was caused by an act of violence occurring in the course of or arising out of the performance of your duties as a Federal Public Service employee. The plan is designed to supplement the income eligible survivors receive from various government sources, to guarantee an income level equal to the net salary or the net pension these employees would have received if alive.
• The High Risk Travel Compensation Program (HRCTP) is designed to provide the survivors of Public Service employees on official travel status with compensation for private life insurance benefits not paid because death occurred as a result of war or other hostile activities.
• Flying Accidents Compensation provides for the payment of compensation to employees or their dependants where injury or death is a direct result of a non-scheduled flight undertaken by an employee in the course of duty, or in the case of a civil aviation inspector where injury or death is a direct result of any flight undertaken for the purpose of conducting a flight test or monitoring commercial air operations on that flight.

Do any of your group benefit plans continue for your family after your death?

Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) coverage does not automatically continue for a survivor. It is not required that a retired member be enrolled in the PSHCP prior to death in order for a survivor to be eligible to apply in his/her own right. An individual in receipt of a recognized survivor or children’s pension benefit must apply and be approved for PSHCP coverage in order to ensure receipt of health benefits under the PSHCP. Applications may be made by contacting the Public Service Pension Centre.

Similar to the PSHCP, an individual in receipt of a recognized survivor or children’s pension benefits must apply for dental coverage under the Pensioner’s Dental Services Plan (PDSP), in order to obtain this benefit. Additional plan and enrolment information can be found on the TBS PDSP web site.

For a summary of each group insurance benefit plan, visit Your Insurance Benefits at a Glance.