Life Events - Affiliates Canada
If you get married before you retire, contact SEIU Benefit Funds to update your records. Your new spouse will automatically become your beneficiary. If you would like to name someone other than your spouse, you will need to submit a signed and notarized Spousal Waiver Form.
If you die before you retire, your spouse will be eligible for a Lifetime Survivor's Benefit from the Pension Fund. Please note that certain provides require specific time frames for length of marriage in order for Spousal Pension Benefits to apply. See your Descripción abreviada del plan (in French Translation) for more information.
When you retire, the payment option you elect can provide a benefit for your spouse in the event you die before your spouse. The standard form of payment for married participants is the 66 2/3% Spousal Pension, which allows your spouse to receive 66 2/3% of your monthly pension amount you were receiving prior to your death. You may choose to provide a greater benefit (either 75% or 100%) or you may choose to provide no benefit at all, but you’ll need your spouse’s consent if you elect that option.
Si se casa después de jubilarse, sus beneficios de pensión no se verán afectados. Continuará recibiendo el mismo beneficio de pensión mensual, pero, cuando muera, estos se interrumpirán.
If you get divorced, contact SEIU Benefit Funds to update your records. You may need to name a new beneficiary. If you get divorced before you retire, and you do not remarry, your pension generally will be paid as a Single Life Annuity.
If you get divorced after retirement, your form of pension benefit will not change.
If you become disabled and cannot work, you may be eligible to receive a Disability Pension. To be eligible, you must:
- Be younger than 65; and
- Have been determined to be totally and permanently disabled
- Have at least 10 years of current or vesting service; OR
- Have at least 15 years of service credit, with at least one year of current service.
A disability pension is not payable if you are eligible to receive long term disability benefits from a long term disability plan maintained by a participation organization.
Refer to your Descripción abreviada del plan for more information.
If you are ready to retire from covered employment, contact the Benefit Funds about four to six months before your preferred retirement date to begin getting your paperwork in order. You’ll receive your work history, an estimate of your pension and an explanation of the payment options available to you.
You will need to complete an Solicitud. Once you have successfully applied for your pension, you will begin receiving your pension benefit on either:
- El primer día del mes siguiente a su último día de trabajo.
- The first of the month following the date you filed your completed pension application; or
- The date you requested on your application.
If you sign up for direct deposit, your pension check will be deposited automatically in your bank account on the first business day of every month. If not, your monthly pension check generally will be mailed two to three days before the last working day of every month for the following month. Once you begin receiving your pension, you cannot change your payment option. Refer to the FAQs for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about applying for your pension.