The pension benefits you accumulate over the course of a marriage or common-law relationship may be subject to division if you separate or divorce, but this division is not mandatory or automatic.
The Pensions & Benefits office can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision in the event of the breakdown of your spousal relationship.
The treatment of pension division is determined by whether you are an active member or a pensioner. This status also dictates the options available to you and your former spouse.
Upon submitting an Application for Information, the Pensions & Benefits office will prepare a Spousal Relationship Statement that provides pension information specific to the period of the spousal relationship. Both parties (you and your former spouse) are entitled to request this statement.
What if I end a spousal relationship while I am an active member?
Contact the Pensions and Benefits office to request a Spousal Relationship Statement. This document will reflect your entitlement as a member of the PSPP, in accordance with the Division of Benefits and Separate Pension Regulations under the PEI Public Sector Pension Plan Act (PSPPA).
If you are a non-vested member (i.e. you have been contributing to the PSPP for less than two years) on the date of your separation, no more than 50% of the contributions credited during your relationship may be payable to your former spouse.
If you are a vested member (i.e. you have been contributing to the PSPP continuously for two years or more) on the date of your separation, no more than 50% of the annual pension you earned during your relationship may be allocated to your former spouse.
What if I end a spousal relationship while I am collecting pension?
Contact the Pensions and Benefits office to request a Spousal Relationship Statement. This document will reflect your entitlement as a member of the PSPP, in accordance with the Division of Benefits and Separate Pension Regulations under the PEI Public Sector Pension Plan Act (PSPPA).