Retraite Québec administers most of the pension plans in which public and parapublic sector employees (employees of the gouvernement du Québec and public bodies). If the deceased was a retired or active participant in a public or parapublic sector pension plan, you need to contact Retraite Québec.
If you and the funeral director completed the Application for the simplified forwarding of information relative to the death, the Directeur de l’état civil will provide Retraite Québec with the information concerning the death. You must nevertheless contact Retraite Québec to find out what other formalities must be completed in order to benefit from the advantages associated with the deceased’s retirement plan.
Benefits under the pension plan
When a pensioner or a member under a pension plan administered by Retraite Québec dies, his or her spouse (see Definitions), dependent children (see Definitions) or heirs may receive a pension, a refund of the deceased person’s contributions or a payment equal to the actuarial value of his or her pension, depending on the terms and conditions of the plan concerned.
Life insurance
As provided for in most of their collective agreements, employees of the public and parapublic sectors are eligible for a basic life insurance plan and, if applicable, an additional life insurance plan. This additional protection is included in many collective agreements. Retraite Québec is responsible for the administration of the life insurance plan and the additional life insurance plan, if applicable.
When an eligible employee dies, Retraite Québec pays the life insurance benefit to the employee’s heirs.
Spouse
The person who was married to or in a civil union with the member or the pensioner. If the member or the pensioner was not married, the person who qualified as de facto spouse.
De facto spouse
The person who the member or pensioner publicly presented as his or her spouse and who, at the time of death, had been living in a conjugal relationship with the member or pensioner for a period that varies according to the pension plan.
Coordination with the Québec Pension Plan
A process whereby the pension paid under a given plan is reduced in order to take into account the pension paid under the Québec Pension Plan.
Dependent child
A child who, at the time of the member or pensioner's death, was under 18 and who was not married nor in a civil union; or a child under 21 who attended full time a recognized educational institution and who relied on the deceased for subsistence.
Integrated pension
A pension that has been reduced by a certain amount following the integration of the plan under which the pension is paid with the Québec Pension Plan.
The spouse (see Definitions), dependent children (see Definitions) or heirs, as the case may be, of a member or pensioner at the time of his or her death.
Below is a description of the general rules governing various pension plans administered by Retraite Québec. More specific information can be obtained by contacting Retraite Québec directly.
Government and Public Employees Retirement Plan ( RREGOP) and Pension Plan for Management Personnel ( PPMP)
Member who is not eligible for an immediate pension
If a member dies before 55, when he or she has less than two years of service credited for eligibility purposes, the member’s surviving spouse or heirs, if the member did not have a spouse, are entitled to the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan, with accrued interest.
If a member dies before 55, when he or she has two or more years of service credited for eligibility purposes, the member’s surviving spouse or heirs, if the member did not have a spouse, are entitled to the higher of the following two amounts :
- the actuarial value of the member’s indexed deferred pension;
- the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan, with accrued interest.
To the highest of these two amounts, the refund of any amount the member paid to obtain his or her pension credits, if applicable, is added.
Member who is eligible for an immediate pension
If a member dies when he or she is eligible for an immediate pension but has not yet retired, the member’s surviving spouse is entitled for life to a pension equal to 50% of the member’s integrated pension (including 50% of the pension credits resulting from a transfer from a supplemental pension plan ( SPP), of the pension credits resulting from a transfer under an agreement and of the additional life annuity, if applicable) that would have been paid to the member if he or she had retired on the date of his or her death.
Integration with the Québec Pension Plan applies to the surviving spouse’s pension as of the first day of the month following the member’s death. If the actuarial value of that pension is less than the member’s total contributions with interest, the amount of the pension will be increased so that the actuarial value of the pension is equal to the total contributions paid, with accrued interest.
If there is no surviving spouse, the heirs are entitled to the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan, with accrued interest.
Pensioner
When a pensioner dies, his or her surviving spouse is entitled for life to a pension equal to 50% of the pensioner’s integrated pension (including 50% of the pension credits resulting from a transfer from an SPP, of the pension credits resulting from a transfer under an agreement and of the additional life annuity, if applicable) that was paid to the pensioner. The surviving spouse is entitled for 60% of the integrated pension if the pensioner had chosen so.
Integration with the Québec Pension Plan applies to the surviving spouse pension as of the first day of the month following the pensioner's death.
If there is no surviving spouse (or if the spouse is not entitled to benefits), the heirs are entitled to the total of the pensioner’s contributions to his or her pension plan, less the pension amounts already paid.
Teachers Pension Plan ( TPP) and Civil Service Superannuation Plan ( CSSP)
Member or pensioner with a spouse (with or without children)
The surviving spouse is entitled for life to a percentage of the pension that the member (see Definitions) would have received if he or she had been retired, or of the pension that the pensioner was receiving. In the case of the TPP, the percentage is equal to 50% of the member’s integrated pension; in the case of the CSSP, it is equal to 60% of that pension so long as the member's contribution began after the 31 of December 1990. Otherwise, the percentage of the pension is equal to 50%.
Each dependent child is entitled to 10% of the integrated pension that the member would have received or that the pensioner was receiving. However, the total amount paid to the children must not exceed 40% of that pension. If there are more than four children, the total amount is shared equally among them. The orphan’s pension granted to a minor child under 18 is paid to the person or organization that is responsible for the child or to his or her tutor.
Coordination with the Québec Pension Plan will apply to the surviving spouse's pension or the orphan's pension as of the 1 day of the month following the death of the member or pensioner, when the pension starts being paid.
Member or pensioner with children but no spouse
If the member or pensioner has no surviving spouse (or if the spouse is not entitled to benefits), each dependent child is entitled to 20% of the integrated pension that the member would have received or that the pensioner was receiving. However, the total amount paid to the children must not exceed 80% of that pension. If there are more than four dependent children, the total amount is shared equally among them. The orphan’s pension granted to a minor child under 18 is paid to the person or organization that is responsible for the child or to his or her tutor.
Coordination with the Québec Pension Plan will apply to the orphan's pension as of the 1st day of the month following the death of the member or pensioner, when the pension starts being paid.
Member or pensioner with no spouse and no children
If there is no surviving spouse (or if the spouse is not entitled to benefits) and the member has no dependent children, the heirs are entitled to the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan, without interest.
In the case of a pensioner with no surviving spouse (or if the surviving spouse is not entitled to benefits) and no children, the heirs are entitled to the total of the pensioner’s contributions to his or her pension plan, less the pension amounts already paid.
Pension Plan of Certain Teachers ( PPCT)
Member who is not eligible for an immediate pension
For years of membership in RREGOP and the PPCT, the surviving spouse is entitled to the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan, with accrued interest.
For years of membership in the TPP, the surviving spouse is entitled for life to a pension equal to 50% of the integrated pension that the member accrued under this plan. For years of membership in the CSSP, the pension payable to the surviving spouse is equal to 60% of the integrated pension that the member accrued under this plan, providing he or she was a member of the plan after December 31, 1990. If he or she was not a member of the plan after this date, the percentage of the integrated pension is equal to 50%.
Each dependent child is entitled to 10% of the integrated pension that the member accrued by transferring years from another plan. However, the total amount paid to the children must not exceed 40% of that pension. If there are more than four children, the total amount is shared equally among them.
If the member has no surviving spouse (or if the spouse is not entitled to benefits), each dependent child is entitled to 20% of the integrated pension that the member would have received by transferring years from another plan. However, the total amount paid to the children must not exceed 80% of that pension. If there are more than four children, the total amount is shared equally among them. The pension granted to a child under 18 is paid to the person or organization that is responsible for the child or to his or her tutor.
Coordination with the Québec Pension Plan will apply to the surviving spouse's pension or the orphan's pension as of the 1st day of the month following the death of the member, when the pension starts being paid.
If there is no surviving spouse (or if the spouse is not entitled to benefits) and the member has no dependent children, the heirs are entitled to the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan, with interest for years of participation in RREGOP and the PPMP and without interest for years of participation in the TPP or the CSSP.
Member who is eligible for an immediate pension
If a member dies when he or she is eligible for an immediate pension, the surviving spouse is entitled for life to a pension equal to 50% of the integrated pension that would have been paid to the pensioner if he or she had retired on the date of his or her death.
Coordination with the Québec Pension Plan will apply to the surviving spouse's pension as of the 1st day of the month following the death of the member, when the pension starts being paid.
If the member has no surviving spouse (or if the spouse is not entitled to benefits), the heirs are entitled to the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan, with interest for years of participation in RREGOP and the PPMP and without interest for years of participation in the TPP or the CSSP.
Pensioner
In the case of a pensioner, the surviving spouse is entitled for life to a pension equal to 50% of the integrated pension that was being paid to the pensioner.
Coordination with the Québec Pension Plan will apply to the surviving spouse's pension as of the 1st day of the month following the death of the pensioner, when the pension starts being paid.
If the pensioner has no surviving spouse (or if the spouse is not entitled to benefits), the heirs are entitled to the total of the member’s contributions to his or her pension plan with interest for years of participation in RREGOP and the PPMP and without interest for years of participation in the TPP or the CSSP, less the pension amounts already paid.
