Regulatory amendments to certain public-sector pension plans
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.
Regulatory amendments establishing the terms and conditions for partitioning the benefits accrued under a pension plan when de facto spouses stop living together also took effect on 1 January 2019.
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 plans affected:
RREGOP,
PPMP,
RPSO,
PPPOCS,
TPP,
CSSP,
PPCT,
RPCHCN, PPFEQ
Effective date: 1 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 member or pensioner
and his or her spouse, as well as their respective Social Insurance Numbers and dates of birth;
- an attestation from the member or pensioner
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 member or pensioner
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 one of the following:
- A child was born or is to be born of the union.
- The spouses adopted a child together.
- One of the spouses adopted a child of the other.
- the data provided by the employer concerning participation in a public-sector 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 pensioner or the active member of one of the public-sector pension plans affected by the regulatory amendments,
and his or her spouse.
The application for a statement of benefits is valid only for the pension plans clearly 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 a public-sector pensio plan
Pension plans affected:
RREGOP,
PPMP,
RPSO,
PPPOCS,
TPP,
CSSP,
PPCT,
RPCHCN, PPFEQ
Effective date: 1 January 2019
Retraite Québec will send the statement of benefits to the member or pensioner
and his or her spouse within 90 days following the date on which the application is received, provided it is receivable. The statement shows the benefits accrued under the public-sector pension plan
for the entire participation period.
The application for payment of accrued benefits for de facto spouses
Pension plans affected:
RREGOP,
PPMP,
RPSO,
PPPOCS,
TPP,
CSSP,
PPCT,
RPCHCN, PPFEQ
Effective date: 1 January 2019
With the application for payment, de facto spouses must enclose a
written agreement providing for partition of the benefits accrued under the public sector 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 the they stopped living together before that date.