Change your pension option

You have 60 days after your pension is granted to change your pension option.

You have 60 days from when your pension is granted to change your pension option. After that time, your selection is final and cannot be changed.

If you did not have a spouse at retirement

If you did not have a spouse when your pension was granted, you have 60 days to change your pension option.

If you had a spouse at retirement

If you had a spouse when your pension was granted, you still have 60 days to change your pension option, but your possibilities are limited to protect your spouse's rights.

Under provincial legislation, your spouse has certain rights to your pension:

The right to be the sole beneficiary of your pension
The right to receive a minimum 60 per cent lifetime death benefit

This means you must choose a joint life option that provides a lifetime death benefit to your spouse, unless your spouse gives up their right to your pension benefit. Your spouse can only give up this right before your pension starts. Once it starts, they cannot give up or reduce their right to your pension benefit.

If your spouse dies within 60 days of your pension being granted, you can change to any pension option because there is no longer a need to protect your spouse’s right to your pension. If your spouse dies after the 60-day period, you cannot change your pension option.