Your spouse or dependent children are eligible for a survivor pension. The amount of the pension is a percentage of what your pension would be after age 65, plus annual inflation increases.

 

Spouse
To be eligible for a pension, you and your spouse must be living together when your pension starts. Even if you subsequently separate or divorce, your spouse remains eligible to receive a survivor pension. If you're not living together when your pension begins, your spouse is not eligible for a survivor pension. Different rules may apply if you retired before 1990. Contact us for details if you don’t know what survivor benefits you selected when you retired.

 

Unless you and your spouse decide otherwise, your spouse automatically receives 60% of your Teachers' pension. You can decrease your spouse's survivor pension to 50% or increase it to 75%. The increase or decrease must be arranged before your pension starts.

 

Children
Eligible children will receive a pension if you don't have an eligible spouse. A child's default pension is 50% of your pension; however, if you had an eligible spouse at retirement, your child's pension is the amount your spouse was entitled to receive.

Summary of your options:

 

Automatic 60% survivor pension:

• If you do nothing, an eligible spouse automatically receives 60% of your pension calculated after the CPP reduction has been applied.
• The cost depends on the age of you and your spouse. Usually your pension is reduced about 2%. The reduction remains in effect even if your spouse predeceases you.   

  

Reduce your spouse's pension to 50% of your teachers' pension at age 65:

• You and your spouse must sign the Waiver of Joint and Survivor Pension form (275 KB PDF). This can only be done within the 12-month period before your pension begins and cannot be revoked once your pension begins.
• A 50% survivor pension is free, that is, no reduction to your pension.

 

Increase your spouse's pension to 65, 70, or 75% of your teachers' pension after age 65:

• You must apply at least two years before you go on pension or before you turn 63, whichever is earlier. If you miss the deadline, you may still be approved provided you pass a medical examination. You may revoke the increase right up until your pension begins.
• The reduction to your pension depends on the age of you and your spouse and the survivor option you chose. The reduction remains in effect even if your spouse predeceases you.