Pensioners
Pensioner Death
It is important that CSSB be advised as soon as possible when a death of a member occurs. Being notified in a timely manner will prevent pensions from being overpaid and potentially stressful repayment processes.
Notify the CSSB by providing the member’s:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Address
It’s helpful to also provide the following pieces of information when notifying the CSSB:
- Contact information for executor or administrator (if applicable)
- Name of spouse/common-law partner, their birth date, and contact information (if applicable)
- CSSB Personal Identification Number (PIN), if known
Documents required
| Documents | Notes |
|---|---|
| A copy of the Certificate of Death or Funeral Director’s Statement | Required in all cases. |
| Direction for Payment form | Required for a monthly pension continuing to survivor/beneficiary. Form provided by the Board. |
| Federal and Provincial TD1 tax forms | Required for a monthly pension continuing to survivor/beneficiary. Form provided by the Board. |
| Claimant’s Statement | Required of named beneficiary(ies) for processing life insurance claim, if applicable. Form provided by the Board. |
| Notarial copy of Will or Letters of Administration | May be required if pension benefits are payable to an estate. The Board will inform the executor or administrator if this is applicable. |
Additional documents may be required depending on the pension option elected by the member and the specific circumstances.
Pension benefits following a post-retirement death
Monthly pension benefits may continue after the death of the member, depending on the pension option elected at retirement. If a survivor option was elected, it would also depend on whether or not there is a surviving spouse/partner. Or, in the case of a pension option with a guarantee, if there is a surviving beneficiary.
- Lifetime
Pension will cease the month in which the member’s death occurs with no continuing payments to a beneficiary or estate. - Minimum 10- or 15-year Guarantee
Named beneficiary(ies) or the estate may elect to continue to receive pension payments for the balance of the guarantee period or receive the present-day lump sum value of the remaining payments of the guarantee period.
If the member passed away after the expiry of the guarantee period, the pension will cease the month in which the member’s death occurs with no continuing payments to a beneficiary or estate. - 1/2 to Survivor
Surviving spouse/partner will receive half of the member’s monthly pension payment for their lifetime. - 2/3 to Survivor
Surviving spouse/partner will receive two-thirds of the member’s monthly pension payment for their lifetime. - Full to Survivor
Surviving spouse/partner will receive the full amount of the member’s monthly pension for their lifetime.
The beneficiary(ies) or surviving spouse/partner will receive 2/3 of any accumulated and future cost-of-living-adjustments.
For the Lifetime and any survivor pension option (e.g., 1/2 to Survivor, 2/3 to Survivor, and Full Survivor), when the member and the spouse/partner have both passed away, the estate would receive any amount of the deceased member’s contributions and interest which exceeds the total pension payments made. Member contributions and interest are usually depleted in payment of the pension within the first 3-4 years after retirement on average.
In the case of a survivor option, if the spouse/partner predeceased the member, the pension will cease with the member’s passing.
In the case of a guarantee option, if the designated beneficiary(ies) predeceased the member, the share of the deceased beneficiary will be paid in equal portions to the surviving beneficiary(ies). If no beneficiary has been designated or there is no surviving beneficiary, the remaining pension would be payable to the member’s surviving spouse/partner, or if none, to the member’s estate. If a beneficiary who is receiving the pension passes away before the end of the guarantee period, the remaining pension would be payable to that beneficiary’s estate.