Responsibilities | Pension Plans
Information for Pension Plan Members

Post-retirement Survivor Benefits
If you have a spouse when you start to receive your pension, the pension you choose must be a joint and last survivor pension that will reduce by no more than 40% at the time of your death or the death of your spouse. For example, if you receive a joint pension of $1000 per month, your spouse, following your death, would receive at least $600 per month.

Your monthly pension payment will be reduced from the amount payable for a single life pension in order to provide this joint pension, because the payment is guaranteed for the lives of both you and your spouse.

This requirement may be waived if your spouse is fully informed of his or her right to a joint pension, and signs a spousal waiver form ( Form 2 ), in the presence of a witness, not more than 90 days before you start to receive the pension. You are not permitted to be present when your spouse signs this form.

Note that the joint and last survivor pension requirement applies to any pension which commences after January 1, 1993, and includes all accrued pension benefits, not just those earned after January 1, 1993.


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