Submit a form to reduce your death (survivor) benefit after retirement

As the spouse of a plan member, you can sign a form that allows you to reduce (or waive) your pension benefit should your spouse die after retiring.


As the spouse of a plan member, you are entitled to a portion of the plan member’s pension after they die. By law, your spouse (the plan member) must choose a minimum 60 per cent joint life pension unless you sign a Form 2 waiver. This form allows you to give up or reduce (waive) your right to your spouse’s pension benefit after they die.

Waiving your rights to your spouse’s pension could affect your retirement income and access to health and dental care coverage. You should waive your right to your spouse’s pension only after carefully considering the financial implications.

Learn more about pension options by visiting Your pension > Planning for retirement > Choose your pension option.

Before you start

  • You (spouse of the plan member) must complete the form with a witness present.
  • The witness cannot be the plan member, another beneficiary or anyone else who has an interest in the pension.
  • The plan member must not be present when you fill out the form.
  • You must complete and sign the form no more than 90 days before the plan member’s pension effective date (the date their pension begins).

Completing the form

  1. Print the form using the link at the bottom of this page.
  2. Fill in the contact information for you and your spouse.
  3. Fill in the pension plan details, using the address and registration number in the required information box below.
  4. Complete the waiver section. (See below this list for two choices for waiving your rights.)
  5. Sign and date the form.
  6. Have your witness sign the form.
  7. Give the completed form to your spouse (the plan member) to submit with their retirement application.

 

There are two ways that you can reduce your right as a plan member’s spouse to a minimum 60 per cent joint life pension option:

  1. I’m agreeing to waive my right to a joint life pension but want to remain the beneficiary of a single life pension with a guarantee. This means I will receive pension payments only if my spouse (the plan member) dies before the end of the guarantee period. If they die after the guarantee period, I will receive nothing.
    • What to fill out:
      • Waiver A—check the main box (page 3) and the second sub-box “payments during the ____-year guarantee period...” and enter in the number of years (the guarantee period of the selected pension option)
      • Waiver B—do NOT check the box (page 4)
      • Waiver C—do NOT check the box (page 4)

  2. I’m agreeing to waive my right to a 60% lifetime survivor’s benefit. I still want to remain a beneficiary and take a lesser percentage. This means I will receive 100 per cent of my spouse’s (the plan member’s) pension payments if they die within the guarantee period, until the period ends. After the guarantee period, I will receive less than 60 per cent of their pension payment for the remainder of my life. If my spouse (the plan member) dies after the guarantee period ends, I will receive less than 60 per cent of their pension payments for the remainder of my life.
    • What to fill out:
      • Waiver A—check the main box and the first sub-box beside “lifetime payments that are ___% ….” and enter the percentage of the selected joint life pension option (page 3)
      • Waiver B—do NOT check the box (page 4)
      • Waiver C—do NOT check the box (page 4)

Eligibility

You are the spouse of a plan member who has chosen either a single life pension option or a joint life option less than 60 per cent.

If your spouse (the plan member) is still working and you want to give up your right to a pre-retirement death (survivor's) benefit, submit Form 4 instead.

Required information
  • Contact information for you and your spouse
  • The name, address and provincial registration number of the plan:
    Public Service Pension Plan
    P.O. Box 9460
    Victoria, BC V8W 9V8
    Provincial registration number: P085496
  • The pension option your spouse (the plan member) has selected
  • A witness to sign the form
Download: Form 2 Spouse’s waiver of 60% lifetime survivor’s benefit and/or beneficiary rights from a pension plan or annuity after payments start from the BC Financial Services Authority website