Division of Pension Benefits Package

This information package provides a summary of the division of pension benefits process upon marriage or common-law breakdown as provided for under the Pension Benefits Division Act (PBDA). It is intended for pension plan members under the Public Service Superannuation Act (PSSA) and their spouse or former spouse/common-law partner. It is for information purposes only. In the event of any discrepancies between the content of this package and the PBDA and its associated regulations, the latter will prevail.

The PBDA came into force on September 30, 1994 and provides a mechanism for the division of pension benefits upon marriage or common-law relationship breakdown. The eligible applicant has to apply for a division of pension and produce a Court Order or written Agreement providing for a division of pension benefits. Pension benefits can be divided as part of the division of family assets to a maximum of 50 percent of the value of the pension benefits accumulated during the period of cohabitation.

Note: An application for the division of pension benefits may be submitted even if the Court Order or written Agreement providing for the division of the pension benefits was drawn up before September 30, 1994, the date the PBDA came into effect, provided the plan member had not died prior to September 30, 1992 and the terms of the Court Order or Agreement have not been satisfied by other means.

Division of Pension Benefits

Explore the following sections to learn more about the division of pension benefits:

• Eligibility Requirements
• Process Overview

Administrative Process

Explore the following sections to familiarize yourself with the process related to the division of pension benefits:

• Request for Estimate
• Application for Division
• Division and Payment
• Adjustment to the Plan Member's Pension Benefits
• Process Workflow

This information package may not answer specific questions related to your situation., therefore, you are encouraged to contact the Public Service Pension Centre.

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