When death occurs
This information is for public servants (Federal government employees). When a public servant like you, or someone close to you, dies, the Pay Centre and Pension Centre need to be notified. They also need specific documentation before they can issue or amend any form of payment related to pay or benefits.
On this page
- In the event of your death
- In the event of the death of your spouse, common-law partner or child
- Related links
In the event of your death
Someone needs to report your death before the pay or pension centres can take any action.
Other organizations to notify include:
- Service Canada (SIN)
- Canada Pension Plan
- any private insurance that you had
Notifying your manager
In the event of your death, your survivor or executor should contact your manager or an individual close to you in the office who can inform your manager.
Your survivor or executor also needs to provide your manager with a copy of your death certificate.
Once your manager has a copy of the death certificate, they will advise your departmental human resources team and the Pay Centre.
The Pay Centre will submit documentation to the Pension Centre informing them of your death.
Pay-related benefits
The Pay Centre will provide your executor or survivor with information on any pay-related benefits. Benefit entitlements will depend on 3 factors at the time of your death:
- employment status (that is, indeterminate, term, casual)
- length of service
- eligibility for benefits
Pay-related death benefits that may be payable to your named beneficiary or estate include:
- vacation leave credits owing at the time of your death
- severance pay owing in accordance with the collective agreement
- any salary owing up to the end of the month
- any monies owing as a result of overtime, extra duty entitlements, or other reason
The Pension Centre will provide your executor or eligible survivor with information on any pension entitlements and death benefits, as well as any related payments. For more information on pension entitlements, visit When death occurs: Pension, or contact the Pension Centre.
In the event of the death of your spouse, common-law partner or child
If your spouse, common-law partner or child dies, advise the Pension Centre as soon as possible. You will also need to provide them with a copy of the death certificate.
Changing your employee benefits plans
Review your public service group insurance benefit plans coverage. To change your coverage, send an amended application to the Pay Centre. This will allow them to adjust any related deduction rates.
You may change your coverage under the Public Service Health Care Plan by:
- using Phoenix self-serve
- sending a new employee application form to the Pay Centre under cover of a pay action request form
If your named beneficiary dies or if you wish to designate a new beneficiary for your Supplementary Death Benefit Plan:
- complete a naming or substitution of a beneficiary form
- send the form to the Pension Centre
Claiming the death benefit under your management insurance plan
If your spouse or common-law partner dies, complete the Public Service Management Insurance Plan’s claim for death benefit form and send it, along with a copy of the death certificate, to:
Public Service Management Insurance Plan, Insurance Advisory Division
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Pay Policies and Training Services Directorate
Place du Portage, Phase II: 4th floor
165 Hotel-de-Ville
Gatineau Quebec K1A 0S5
Attention: Group Policy G68-1400
Changing your management insurance plan beneficiary
Review the beneficiary information under your Public Service Management Insurance Plan. If applicable, complete a new public service management insurance plan beneficiary form (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) and forward it to the Pay Centre.
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