Regulatory amendments to the Pension Plan of Elected Municipal Officers (PPEMO)
Changes to your public-sector pension plan
Legislative provisions came into force on 1 January 2019,
allowing for partition between de facto
spouses and the possibility for them to obtain a statement of
benefits under the PPEMO.
Furthermore, regulatory amendments took effect on 10 January 2019, establishing the terms and conditions for partitioning the
benefits accrued under a pension plan when de facto spouses stop
living together.
Please note that partition of benefits accrued under a public-sector pension plan is carried out on a voluntary basis and, by law, up to a maximum of 50% of the value of the benefits accrued over the total period of membership in the plan may be awarded.
The regulatory amendments mainly concern:
The application for a statement of benefits
for de facto spouses
Pension plan affected: PPEMO
Effective date: 10 January 2019
In order to be receivable, applications for a statement of
benefits must be filed using the form for this purpose and include
the following:
- the names and addresses of the active or former member of
the council and his or her spouse, as well as
their respective Social Insurance Numbers and dates of birth;
- an attestation from the active or former member of the
council and his or her spouse confirming that
neither of them was married or in a civil union at the time they
stopped living together. The attestation is a written
declaration on the Application for a Statement of Benefits. If
applicable, the date and proof of a divorce or dissolution of
civil union prior to the breakdown of the de facto union must be
sent to Retraite Québec, unless they have already been provided;
- an attestation from the active or former member of the
council and his or her spouse confirming the
dates on which they started and stopped living together. The
attestation is a written declaration on the Application for a
Statement of Benefits. If applicable, proof that the spouses
were living in a conjugal relationship must also be provided;
- for spouses who had been living in a conjugal
relationship for at least one year but less than three years
before their union broke down, an attestation and, if
applicable, supporting documents confirming that a child was
born or is to be born of their union;
- the data provided by the employer concerning participation
in the pension plan for the period preceding the date on which
the spouses stopped living together.
In order to be receivable, the application for a statement of
benefits for de facto spouses must be signed by the active or
former member of the council and his or her spouse.
The application for a statement of benefits is valid for the PPEMO and any other pension plans indicated on the form.
Information about the documents to be provided
Note that you can provide clear and legible copies of the documents.
If necessary, we may request the original documents or certified
true copies.
The statement of benefits accrued under the pension plan
Pension plan affected: PPEMO
Effective date: 10 January 2019
Retraite Québec will send the statement of benefits to the active
or former member of the council and his or her
spouse within 90 days following the date on which the application is
received, provided it is receivable.
The statement for de facto spouses provides the same information
as in the case of partition of benefits between married or civilly
united spouses. It shows the benefits accrued under the public
sector pension plan for the entire participation period.
However, benefits accrued during a de facto union are not calculated
or shown on the statement of benefits.
The application for payment of accrued benefits for de facto spouses
Pension plan affected: PPEMO
Effective date: 10 January 2019
With the application for payment, de facto spouses must enclose a written agreement providing for partition of the
benefits accrued under the pension plan.
The agreement must:
- be made before a notary or lawyer, or by joint declaration
on oath;
- be signed by both spouses:
- within 12 months following the date on which they stop living together;
or
- within 12 months following 1 January 2019,
if they stopped living together before
that date.