Beneficiaries Under the Pension Plan

One of the regulations under the Ontario Pension Benefits Act relates to beneficiaries and in particular to the rights of a surviving spouse.

If a member of the Queen’s (or any) Pension Plan dies prior to actually initating pension payments, and there is a surviving spouse as of the date of death, the law clearly provides that regardless of any prior beneficiary designation (including a will), the spouse is entitled to receive either a lump sum payment or a deferred pension.

A spouse is defined in the Pension Benefits Act of Ontario as being a person who:

1. is married to you and not living separate and apart from you; or

2. with whom you have been in a conjugal relationship and co-habited for a minimum of one year prior to this declaration.

As a result of this law, we are required to ask you to complete the Declaration of Marital Status section on the Beneficiary Change form, or if you have a spouse as defined under the Act, and do not name that spouse as your beneficiary, the Spousal Waiver form must be completed by your spouse and yourself.

Beneficiaries General Information

If a minor child is named as beneficiary and the staff member dies before the child is 18, the proceeds may have to be paid to the Province’s Official Guardian and held in trust. Staff are urged to check their beneficiary designation periodically to ensure it reflects current estate requirements.

Questions? Contact Us.