At OMERS, we understand that planning for the future involves considering difficult scenarios. Our survivor benefits are designed to provide financial support and peace of mind to you and your loved ones in the event of your death. These benefits are an integral part of the OMERS Plan, reflecting our commitment to supporting members and their families through all of life’s stages.
The type of survivor benefit and amount payable depend on whether you have started your pension when you pass away. The benefit is payable to your survivors according to pension laws and based on various eligibility factors.
The survivor benefit information on this page focuses on the OMERS pension. Beneficiary entitlements are different for an Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) account.
Ontario pension laws and the OMERS Plan set out the rules for survivor benefits. There are specific rules around eligibility of a spouse, dependent children and designated beneficiaries for survivor benefits. See below for a summary of the benefits and how they can vary.
Your legal spouse or common-law spouse is automatically first in line for survivor benefits after your death, unless they waive their entitlement and provided you were not living separate or apart at the relevant time.
If you pass away before starting your OMERS pension, your spouse on your date of death is eligible for survivor benefits
If you pass away after starting your OMERS pension, your spouse on the date you started your pension is eligible for survivor benefits. Their entitlement does not change, even if your relationship changes after retirement (unless they waive their entitlement or pass away).
If you did not have a spouse on the date you started your OMERS pension or that spouse passed away, your spouse on your date of death is eligible for survivor benefits.
If you have a dependent child when you pass away, they may also be entitled to survivor benefits (payable for as long as they are eligible).
To be eligible for survivor benefits, your child must be dependent on you when you die and one of the following:
18 or younger
a full-time student under 25
meet the definition of a totally disabled child
Designate or update your beneficiaries through your myOMERS account.
If you do not have a spouse or dependent children when you pass away, your beneficiaries designated with OMERS may be entitled to a survivor benefit.
Only a member can add/change beneficiaries. An executor, estate trustee, power of attorney for property or survivor cannot name or change a member’s designated beneficiaries.
The survivor benefits described below are for post-1986 benefits.
If you pass away after starting your OMERS pension, your spouse on the date you started your pension is eligible for survivor benefits. Their entitlement does not change, even if your relationship changes after retirement (unless they waive their entitlement or pass away).
If you did not have a spouse on the date you started your OMERS pension, your spouse on your date of death is eligible for survivor benefits.
Before paying a survivor benefit to a spouse, OMERS is required under applicable laws to confirm that a member was not living separate and apart from their spouse at the relevant time.
Sometimes we may be advised by a third party (i.e., relatives, friends, an estate trustee or another romantic partner) that a member and spouse may have been living separate and apart. In this situation, we will gather further information by following up with the appropriate parties, including the person who is making an application for survivor benefits as a spouse.
Determining if spouses were living separate and apart can be a complex matter and it is necessary to examine all of the circumstances objectively. Relationships can be unique, and what was normal for a particular spousal relationship will be considered when a spousal status determination is made.
Sometimes spouses can live separately and still be considered “living together” as spouses. For example, if one spouse lives in a nursing home due to deteriorating health while the other spouse lives in the matrimonial home, they can still be considered spouses under pension laws as long as the spousal relationship continues.
There are also situations where spouses who live together are considered to be living separate and apart. For example, where the spousal relationship has ended but the spouses continue to live in the same residence out of economic necessity, the two individuals cannot be considered spouses under pension laws.
The survivor benefit information on this page focuses on the OMERS pension. Beneficiary entitlements work differently for an AVC account. If you contribute to an AVC account, your spouse is entitled to the balance of your account upon your death. If you do not have a spouse when you die, your designated beneficiaries receive the balance. If you do not have any designated beneficiaries, the balance will go to your estate. For more information, see our Additional Voluntary Contributions page.
If the member worked for an OMERS employer when they passed away, the employer will notify OMERS. In all other cases, their survivors should contact OMERS as soon as they are able to, at 416-369-2444 or 1-800-387-0813 if possible, survivors should have the member’s OMERS membership number or social insurance number, and date of the member’s death.
When applying for a survivor benefit, OMERS requires supporting documents to confirm the eligibility of survivors and process the benefit. Unless otherwise stated, we do not need certified or notarized copies of documents. Survivors will be asked to complete a Survivor Options Form and provide additional documents as outlined below.
Learn about the lifetime pension formula and early retirement.
Learn how to start preparing for this next chapter in life.
Learn about how and when you will receive your pension.