Eligible children

In some instances under the Plan, survivor benefits are payable to
your eligible children. The OPSEU Pension Plan defines eligible
children as under the age of 18; or, if your children are over 18, they must be attending secondary school full-time. If they are in a post-secondary
institution they must be in full-time continuous attendance up to a maximum of five years. As your children get older they will no longer qualify in this category.

Simply put, if you have children over 18 who are not in school, you do not list them as "Eligible Children" on the Identifying Benefit Recipients form. If you wish to provide them with survivor benefits, you may list them under 'Other Benefit Recipients' section on the Identifying Benefit Recipients (OPTRUST 1015) form and select them as designated beneficiaries and other benefit recipients.

• Before retirement
For your children to receive any survivor benefits for your credit after December 31, 1986, you must identify them as designated beneficiaries under the 'Other Benefit Recipients' section. If your spouse wants to waive his/her entitlement to pension benefits, he/she must complete a Spousal Waiver Pre-Retirement Death Benefit form (OPTRUST 1023). This would tell us that you want benefits to flow to your children
instead of your spouse. On the Identifying Benefit Recipients (OPTRUST 1015), complete the 'Eligible Children' section, and the 'Other Benefit Recipients' section, including the check boxes for designated beneficiary and other benefit recipient.

• After retirement
On the Identifying Benefit Recipients (Retirement) form (OPTRUST 1015R), complete the 'Eligible Children' section and the 'Payment Recipient' section. We need your signature on the form you submit to make it a valid legal document. Your signature does not have to be witnessed.

If your eligible children are under age 18, you may wish to establish a Guardian of Property (see definition). If you have not established a Guardian of Property for any survivor benefits your eligible children may be entitled to while they are still minors, these benefits may be paid into Court according to provincial law (see Questions).