Death

Spouse’s pension

When an active member dies, their surviving spouse is entitled to a spouse’s pension if one or more of the following conditions are met:

• the surviving spouse is financially responsible for at least one child; or
• the surviving spouse is at least 40 years old and was married to the active member for at least two years; or
• the surviving spouse draws a full pension under the Invalidity Insurance Act or becomes entitled to one within two years of the active member’s death.

The amount of the full spouse’s pension is:

• when an active member dies before their 65th birthday, two thirds of the insured disability pension;
• when a person who was drawing a retirement or disability pension dies, two thirds of the current pension;
• when an active member dies after their 65th birthday, two thirds of the retirement pension accrued at the time of death.

The spouse’s pension can be drawn either wholly or in part as a one-off lump sum, provided the deceased was not drawing a retirement pension.

Life partner’s pension

When an active member dies, their surviving partner is entitled to a life partner’s pension if one or more of the following conditions is met:

• the partner is at least 40 years old and was in a life partnership with the active member on a continuous basis for at least five years before the active member’s death; or
• the partner is financially responsible for one or more children of the partnership who are entitled to orphan’s pensions.

The entitlement only arises if the life partnership had been notified to PUBLICA in writing, in the form of a life partnership agreement, while the active member was alive. A life partnership can also exist between people of the same gender. You can find the life partnership agreement under forms and fact sheets on this page.

The amount of the life partner’s pension is calculated in the same way as the spouse’s pension.

The life partner’s pension can be drawn either wholly or in part as a one-off lump sum, provided the deceased was not drawing a retirement pension.

Orphan’s pension

Children of an active member or pension recipient who has died are entitled to an orphan’s pension. If both parents are deceased, they receive a double orphan’s pension until their 18th birthday. This can be extended until the 25th birthday if the recipient is still in full-time education or is at least 70% disabled under the terms of the Invalidity Insurance Act.

Amount of the orphan’s pension:

• when an active member dies before their 65th birthday, one sixth of the insured disability pension;
• when a person who was drawing a retirement or disability pension dies, one sixth of the current pension;
• when an active member dies after their 65th birthday, one sixth of the retirement pension accrued at the time of death.

Lump-sum death benefit

Subject to certain conditions, PUBLICA will pay a lump-sum death benefit if an active member dies. This is reduced by the cash value of an orphan’s pension, if there is one.

The following are entitled:

• people who received substantial financial support from the deceased active member;
• a person who was in a life partnership with the deceased active member on a continuous basis for at least the five years immediately preceding the latter’s death or is financially responsible for one or more children of the partnership, provided that the life partnership had been notified to PUBLICA in writing, in the form of a life partnership agreement, during the active member’s lifetime;
• the deceased’s children;
• the deceased’s parents;
• the deceased's brothers and sisters (exept FAOA pension plan)

A lump-sum death benefit will also be paid out under restrictive conditions to those who become entitled to a spouse’s or life partner’s pension as a result of the death.

The lump-sum death benefit must be claimed within a year after the active member’s death. If this is not done, the capital reverts to the pension plan.