Death
Reporting a Death
When a deferred member dies, the surviving pension partner or a representative of the member’s estate should contact APS directly regarding the processing of a pre-retirement death benefit.
When an active member dies, the employer is required to report the member death to Employer Services in writing as soon as they become aware. Employers should forward a verification of death document to APS upon receipt, if applicable. Employers are also required to submit a member termination to APS as soon as contributions have been withheld from the deceased member’s final salary payment. When submitting the termination transaction, the termination date will be the date of death, regardless of the last day that the member actually performed duties.
Deceased Member with Service Payments
If the deceased member was repaying leave service or purchasing prior service, the pension partner or beneficiary(ies) cannot complete the purchase. The last payment received from the member must be remitted as a buyback payment transaction. The member’s pensionable service will be prorated to reflect the payments made prior to the member’s death.
Deceased Member on Leave
If the deceased member was on non-contributory leave without pay at the time of death, the pension partner or beneficiary(ies) cannot purchase the leave period.
If the deceased member had been on a contributory leave, remit the contributions made by the member and report the appropriate leave of absence without pay; contributory or Parental Leave of Absence without pay; or contributory transaction.
Once APS has the required documents and the termination detail, PSPP will calculate the pre-retirement death benefit. If there is a surviving pension partner and no matrimonial property order affecting the pension partner’s entitlement, PSPP will provide the pension partner with a pension partner options package. If there is no surviving pension partner, APS will forward the death benefit to the eligible beneficiary(ies).
Survivor Benefit Options
Read more about the survivor benefit options here:
Benefit Payments to a Dependent Minor Child
Where any pre-retirement death benefit is payable to a designated beneficiary who is a dependent minor child, the benefit will be paid to:
- the named or appointed trustee or guardian of the child’s estate, if the benefit amount is over $10,000.00;
- the Public Trustee, if the benefit amount is over $10,000.00 and no trustee was named or appointed; or
- the child’s guardian, if the benefit amount is less than $10,000.00 – the payment is conditional on the guardian executing a “Guardian’s Acknowledgement of Responsibility” in the prescribed form.
- Where a trustee or guardian for a minor beneficiary’s estate has been appointed, the plan’s administrator, APS, must be provided with a copy of the document appointing the trustee or guardian before payment of any pre-retirement death benefit can be made.