Your Spouse or Partner

Members pension partners have special rights regarding the member’s pension. If a member is married, their spouse is automatically their pension partner, unless the member and pension partner have been living separate and apart for three or more years.

If a member is not married but they live with someone in a spouse-like or common-law relationship, this person will be considered the member’s pension partner once they have been living together for three years in a row. This period can be shortened if the member has a child of that relationship, either by birth or adoption.

For questions about a member’s personal situation as it relates to their MEPP pension, please contact Member Services directly.

It is important for members to disclose their pension partner information when they first join MEPP. If a member does not have a pension partner at the time of joining MEPP, they can update their information as their relationship status changes. Members must also update their information immediately should they divorce, separate or remarry while they are a Plan member.

If a member’s marriage ends, their pension benefit may have to be divided between them and their spouse. This requires a matrimonial property order (MPO) to be filed with MEPP. An MPO will provide details as to when and how a member’s MEPP benefit is to be divided, if at all. Members should consult their legal counsel about how to get and file an MPO. Members can also send a draft copy of the order to MEPP for review before submitting it, which can save members time and money if it needs to be changed.

Members who separate from their pension partner need to let Member Services know as soon as possible so that they can provide members with what they need to update their pension partner information.

Please note: completing a pre-retirement death benefit waiver does not prevent a member’s pension partner from seeking a division of the member’s pension.

More on Relationship Breakdown

Pension partners receive special protection by pension law. They are automatically a member’s only beneficiary if the member passes away before they begin their pension. The pension partner will receive a lifetime pension from MEPP if the member passes away after they become vested.

A pension partner can waive their right to a member’s MEPP benefit. However, the waiver must be completed before the MEPP member passes away. A pension partner can also choose to revoke the waiver at any time prior to the member’s death, making them the sole beneficiary once again.

When a member retires and starts their MEPP pension, the law requires them to choose a benefit option that will continue to pay a lifetime benefit to their spouse or partner, should the member pass away.

Upon a member’s retirement, their spouse or partner can complete a pre-retirement death benefit waiver to give up the right to that benefit. This allows the member to select a single lifetime pension option and name other beneficiaries.

A pension partner is how MEPP refers to a spouse or partner. This is a person who:

1. at the relevant time is someone to whom you are married and from whom you have not been living separate and apart for three or more consecutive years; or
2. if no such person exists, someone with whom you have been living in a common-law type relationship:
   1. for a continuous period of no less than three years, or
   2. of some permanence, if there is a child of the relationship by birth or adoption.

For the purposes of this definition, persons are living separate and apart:

1. if they are living apart and either of them has the intention to live separate and apart from the other, or
2. if, before the relevant time,
   1. they had been living separate and apart for any period, and
   2. that period was interrupted or terminated by reason only that either of them became incapable of continuing to live separate and apart or of forming or having the intention to continue to live separate and apart of that person’s own volition,