Your eligible spouse at the time of retirement remains the eligible spouse for the survivor benefit unless he or she has properly waived the survivor pension benefit as part of the separation in accordance with the conditions set out by applicable legislation in your jurisdiction of employment.

Contact the Plan for the spousal waiver that applies to your jurisdiction of employment. If your eligible spouse at the time of your retirement has waived the survivor pension as described above, and you have a subsequent spouse on your death, that subsequent spouse would be the eligible spouse for the survivor pension, provided you and your subsequent spouse were living together at the time of your death.

If you’ve separated from the spouse you had at retirement or have a new spouse, be sure to contact the Plan as soon as possible, to ensure that the Plan’s records are kept up to date. "Separated" or “Living separate and apart,” for example, does not include a situation where one spouse is in long-term care, or living away for some other reason, but rather separate living arrangements where the intention is to end the marriage or common-law relationship.