Your beneficiaries

Your PJPP pension is payable for life, but what happens when there is a disruption? Death, relationship breakdown, going back to work, even moving or changing financial institutions can affect your pension.

One of the benefits of the PJPP pension is the survivor allowance, which allows your loved ones to be taken care of in the event of your death.

Your beneficiaries: Eligible spouse and children

If you die after you start receiving a pension from the PJPP, a survivor allowance equal to the 60% of the pension you are receiving at the time of your death will:

  • be paid to your surviving eligible spouse; or
  • if you have no surviving eligible spouse, be divided equally among your eligible children.

Eligible spouse – Spouse is someone of the same or opposite sex who:

  • is married to you, or
  • has been living with you in a conjugal (common law) relationship continuously for at least three years, or
  • is in a relationship of some permanence with you if, together, you:
    • are the natural or adoptive parents of a child, or
    • have shown intent to treat a child (other than a foster child) as a member of your family.

Only the spouse at the time of your retirement is eligible for any spousal survivor pension payable after you retire. If you enter into a spousal relationship after retirement, your new spouse will not be eligible for a survivor pension.

Eligible child – A child who is the natural or adopted child of you and/or your spouse (or a child for whom you have shown intent to treat as a member of your family) who is:

  • under 16, or
  • 16 to 18 and financially dependent,
  • at least 18, attending school to a maximum of 5 years from the completion of secondary school, or
  • a disabled dependant child

Disabled dependant child – A child who is receiving a survivor pension and who is financially dependent on that income due to a physical or mental disability (that has been approved by the Provincial Judges Pension Board (PJPB)) will continue to receive a pension regardless of age. That pension will continue as long as the child’s disability continues.

PJPP survivor pensions

A surviving spouse will receive a pension for life, even if they remarry. A child will receive a survivor pension until such time as they no longer qualify as an eligible child. Survivor pensions are not prorated. Your pension will be paid to you in the month of your death, and the survivor pension will begin the month after you die.

Pensions being paid to a surviving spouse or eligible child are protected against inflation.  The pension is increased every January 1st according to the same formula used for your pension as a retired judge.

If you do not have an eligible spouse or child, a refund of your contributions – plus interest, but less applicable taxes and any pension benefits already received – will be paid to your personal representative (typically, the executor of your estate).

If you enter a new spousal relationship after you start receiving your pension, your new spouse will not be eligible for a survivor allowance. This also applies to any new child who is the result of a post-retirement relationship.