Liaison - Your pension and benefits newsletter
Issue 19: 2026
On this page
- Changes to your Supplementary Death Benefit after age 65
- Survivor benefit for your common-law partner
- Subscribe to the Compensation Email Notifications
- When to contact the Pension Centre versus when to contact Canada Life
- Navigating the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as a new member
- How life changes can impact your health and dental benefits
- Contact information
Changes to your Supplementary Death Benefit after age 65
The Supplementary Death Benefit is a one-time payment made to your named beneficiaries upon your death. Your coverage and monthly contributions decrease as you get older. Here’s how:
- After you turn 65, your monthly contributions decrease by $1.50 each year.
- When you turn 66, your coverage decreases by 10% of the original basic amount each year.
- By age 75, the coverage decreases to a minimum of $10,000, and you no longer pay monthly contributions.
Reminder to keep your beneficiaries up to date
The beneficiaries you previously named are still valid. You do not need to do anything if you wish to keep them.
To change your beneficiaries, submit the PWGSC-TPSGC 2196: Naming or changing your beneficiaries form to the Pension Centre. You may also ask the Pension Centre for a paper copy.
Survivor benefit for your common-law partner
Make it easier for your common-law partner to receive a survivor benefit upon your death.
Qualifying for a survivor benefit
Your partner may qualify for a survivor benefit if:
- Your common-law relationship started before you retired; and
- You lived together in a common-law relationship for a continuous period of at least 1 year that continued until your death.
How to access a survivor benefit
Your partner will need to:
- Send a copy of your death certificate to the Pension Centre as soon as possible.
- Prove your common-law relationship was ongoing at the time of your death by submitting the following documents to the Pension Centre:
- A completed Statutory Declaration form (PWGSC-TPSGC 2016); and
- Documents showing you lived together in a common-law relationship. Acceptable documents include joint bank or mortgage statements, shared bills, and statements from people who can confirm your relationship.
If you have questions
To learn more, visit Survivor benefits. You may also contact the Pension Centre.
Subscribe to the Compensation Email Notifications
Compensation Email Notifications provide you with important and timely general information about your pension and benefits. The emails are sent directly to your inbox so you can easily access information that’s relevant to you.
If you haven’t already done so, subscribe today by visiting Public Service Compensation Email Notifications.
When to contact the Pension Centre versus when to contact Canada Life
Pension Centre
The Pension Centre is responsible for verifying your eligibility for the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP), registering you and your survivors and dependants in these plans, and deducting or adjusting contributions from your pension payment. The Pension Centre shares this information with Canada Life and notifies them of your coverage start date.
Contact the Pension Centre if you:
- want to confirm that you and your eligible dependants qualify for benefit plan coverage.
- need to register as an eligible pensioner or survivor.
- have questions about your contribution rates.
- require a form to enroll in or update your category of coverage (i.e., pensioner only/single coverage, pensioner with one eligible or more family members/family coverage).
Canada Life
Canada Life is the plan administrator for your PSHCP and PDSP benefits. Their responsibilities include administering the plans and adjudicating claims to ensure you receive the benefits to which you are entitled.
Contact Canada Life if you:
- have questions about your claims or the benefits covered by the plans
- need help to complete or update your positive enrolment, including your dependants’ information.
Keeping your personal information and banking information up to date helps to ensure that your claims are processed on time and accurately.
Navigating the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) as a new member
Once you have registered for the PDSP with the Pension Centre or with your pension office, and have been provided with your plan and certificate number:
- Complete your positive enrolment online or by paper to make sure your claims are processed correctly. You will need your PDSP certificate number.
Note: You must complete positive enrolment even if you completed it as a member of the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP), as they are two separate plans.
- If you submitted any forms when you were a member of the PSDCP, you will need to resubmit them. This could include, for example, an application for a dependant with a disability or a treatment plan.
For information about resubmitting forms, consult your PDSP Member Booklet (PDF, 719 KB). You may also contact Canada Life.
- Share your new PDSP number and certificate number with your dental providers.
How life changes can impact your health and dental benefits
You must update your personal information whenever life events occur, such as a change in your relationship status. This ensures that your benefits, coverage and corresponding contribution rates remain accurate. Failure to notify the Pension Centre or your pension office of changes may result in overpaid contributions, which will not be refunded.
What you need to do
- Inform the Pension Centre or your pension office of the change and provide supporting documentation, if required, such as a marriage certificate or proof of common-law status. They will be able to advise you if a change to your category of coverage is needed.
To change your category of coverage, complete a form from the Pension Centre or through your pension office. Separate forms are required for your PSHCP and PDSP.
- Update your positive enrolment information with Canada Life through your member services accounts or by mailing a completed Positive Enrolment Form to Canada Life. Paper forms are available online through the Member Services Website (Select the applicable plan, then “Forms” at the top of the page.) You may also contact Canada Life. Don’t forget to sign the form, otherwise it will be returned to you for completion.
Contact information
Pension Centre
- 1-800-561-7930 (toll-free in North America)
- 506-533-5800 (collect outside of North America)
- 506-533-5990 (TTY)
Canada Life
- 1-855-415-4414 (toll-free in North America)
- 1-431-489-4064 (collect outside of North America)
- 1-800-855-0511 (TTY)