Life Events - NIPF
If you get married before you retire, contact the SEIU Benefit Funds to update your records. Your new spouse will automatically become your beneficiary. If you would like to name someone other than your spouse, you will need to submit a signed and notarized Spousal Waiver Form.
If you die before you retire, your spouse will be eligible for a Lifetime Survivor’s Pension from the Pension Fund.
When you retire, the payment option you elect can provide a benefit for your spouse in the event you die before your spouse. The standard form of payment for married participants is the 50% Spousal Pension, which allows your spouse to receive half of your monthly pension amount you were receiving prior to your death. You may choose to provide a greater benefit (either 75% or 100%) or you may choose to provide no benefit at all, but you’ll need your spouse’s consent if you elect that option.
If you get married after retirement, your pension benefits will not be affected; you’ll continue to receive the same monthly pension benefit, and benefits will generally stop when you die.
If you become disabled and cannot work, you may be eligible to receive a Disability Pension. To be eligible, you must:
- Be younger than 65;
- Be unable to work in any type of employment;
- Have been determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration;
- Have at least 10 vesting credits; and
- Have worked at least 1,000 hours (or 350 hours for Seasonal Employees) in covered employment in the 24 months before you became disabled.
Refer to your Description abrégée du régime or Summary of Material Modifications for more information.
If you are ready to retire from covered employment, contact the Benefit Funds about three months before your preferred retirement date to begin getting your paperwork in order. You’ll receive your work history, an estimate of your pension and an explanation of the payment options available to you.
You will need to complete an Demande. Once you have successfully applied for your pension, you will begin receiving your pension benefit on either:
- Le premier jour du mois suivant votre dernier jour travaillé;
- Le premier jour du mois suivant la date d’achèvement de votre demande de pension; ou
- The date you requested on your Pension application.
If you sign up for Direct Deposit, your pension check will be deposited automatically in your bank account on the first business day of every month. If not, your monthly pension check generally will be mailed two to three days before the last working day of every month for the following month. Once you begin receiving your pension, you cannot change your payment option. Refer to the FAQs for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about applying for your pension.