It's important to keep the Fund updated regarding any changes in your marital status as it can affect the eligibility of your spouse to a survivor's benefit. As a participant in the Fund, if you get divorced, remarried, or enter a non-traditional union, please inform your employing organization of any changes in your marital status. They will then inform us and you should see the change reflected in your Annual Pension Statement the following year.
For more information, please check the pages listed under Resources.
Updating in case of marriage
Participants should contact their HR focal point to report marriage and should ask them to contact the Fund and provide a Personnel Action form specifically issued to update marital status to married and submit a copy of participant's marriage certificate.
If you die in service and you are married, your spouse is eligible for a surviving spouse's benefit.
If you die in retirement and you were married at the time of separation, your surviving spouse is also eligible for a surviving spouse's benefit provided you did not take a withdrawal settlement.
Please check the Survivor's benefits page for more information.
Updating in case of non-traditional unions
The Fund recognizes unions/partnerships lawfully entered into and legally recognized by the competent authority of the location where the status was established as long as the union confers similar legal effects as marriage, specifically including pension rights.
Marital status is updated the same way, irrespective of the nature of the marriage or relationship. For more information on eligibility for spousal benefits and determining what kinds of unions recognized by the Fund, check out Article 34 and Article 35 of the Fund’s Regulations and Rules and guidelines to determine eligibility for spousal benefits.
Updating in case of divorce
Participants should contact their HR focal point to report divorce and should ask them to contact the Fund and provide a Personnel Action form specifically issued to update marital status to divorce and submit a copy of the divorce decree and related documents pertaining to the separation of assets.
If you die in retirement, a divorced surviving spouse could be eligible for a divorced surviving spouse’s benefit if he/she fulfills the requirements in Article 35 bis(b). Furthermore, pursuant to Article 45 of the UNJSPF Regulations, the Chief Executive of Pension Administration (CEPA) of the Pension Fund has the discretion to remit a portion of a periodic pension benefit to a former or estranged spouse in order to fulfill a legal obligation on the part of a former participant or retiree (e.g. alimony or child support payment) arising from a marital or parental relationship and evidenced by an order of a court. For more information on these requirements or other questions about divorce, check out our comprehensive divorce page.
