Group life insurance
Group Life Insurance is a death benefit that is paid to a member’s beneficiary(ies) in the event of their death.
Eligible employees who are covered under the Civic and Police Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plan may continue to receive coverage after they retire through the Retiree Group Life Insurance Plan.
Within a couple of weeks of retiring, we will mail you information outlining your Retiree Group Life Insurance coverage. This will include your coverage amounts, contribution amounts, and other applicable information.
If you are a current employee, visit CityNet or log in to the employee portal for more information about your benefits.
Group life insurance when you retire
When you retire, your Basic Life Insurance and any Optional Life Insurance coverage under the Active Civic & Police Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plan ends.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, your Basic Life Insurance coverage will continue under the Retiree Group Life Insurance Plan at a reduced amount. The amount of coverage you receive is based on:
- Your Basic Life Insurance coverage immediately before you retire (one- or two-times your annual earnings), and
- Your age when you retire
You may choose to opt out of Retiree Group Life Insurance coverage.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Retiree Group Life Insurance, you must:
- Be eligible to retire and receive a pension through the Winnipeg Civic Employees’ Benefits Program (WCEBP) or the Council Pension Plan
- Begin your pension immediately following retirement from the City of Winnipeg or Participating Employer – there must be no gap between the end of active Group Life Insurance coverage and the start of your pension
- Have active Group Life Insurance coverage immediately before retiring
Employees who receive a lump-sum pension payment or a deferred pension are not eligible for Retiree Group Life Insurance coverage.
Benefit details
Your coverage is based on the Basic Life Insurance coverage in effect immediately before you retire.
The amount of coverage is reduced based on your age when you retire:
- Before age 65: 50% of Basic Life
- Age 65 – 69: 25% of Basic Life
- Age 70+: 15% of Basic Life
Your Basic Life Insurance coverage amount at retirement is calculated using your average pensionable earnings from the 13 pay periods immediately before your retirement date.
The current contribution rate for retiree Group Life Insurance is 0.025%. Contribution rates are subject to change.
Contributions are deducted from your bi-weekly pension payments.
Coverage & calculation example
A member with Basic Life Insurance coverage equal to 2x annual earnings and average biweekly earnings of $3,000 in the 13 pay periods immediately before retiring would have:
$3,000 x 26 x 2 = $156,000.00 in Basic Life Insurance coverage at retirement.
This member’s Retiree Group Life Insurance coverage and biweekly contributions would then be calculated as follows:
| Age | Retiree Group Life Coverage amount | Bi-weekly contribution amount |
|---|---|---|
| Under 65 | $78,000 | $0.75 |
| Age 65 - 69 | $39,000 | $0.38 |
| Age 70+ | $23,400 | $0.23 |
Beneficiary designation
We recommend reviewing and updating your beneficiary designation before you retire, especially if you haven’t reviewed it recently or if your personal circumstances have changed.
To update your beneficiary designation before you retire, please submit a completed Beneficiary Designation Form (hard copy with an original ink signature) to Human Resources before your last day of work.
We encourage you to review your beneficiary designation periodically to ensure it reflects your current wishes.
Conversion at retirement
Within 31 days of retirement, you have the option to convert insurance coverage with the Plan to an individual life insurance plan. No evidence of insurability will be required if you apply within 31 days of your retirement date.
The amount available to be converted to an individual plan will be reduced by the Basic Life benefit being retained under the Retiree Life benefit.
Learn more about how conversion works, amount limitations, and how to apply (PDF, 87KB).
Claims
In the event of your passing, your designated beneficiary or estate representative will need to contact the Civic and Police Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plans Corporation to initiate the claim process by emailing City of Winnipeg Total Compensation & Benefits.
Learn more about making a claim (PDF, 99KB).
Notice of change
All retired members have a responsibility to keep their information up to date for administration of their Retiree group life benefit.
For beneficiary designation updates (PDF, 106KB), submit the hard copy (signed in ink) to Total Compensation & Benefits.
For all other changes, please complete the Notice of Change form (PDF, 85KB).
Support & contact
If you have any questions or require additional support, please contact us.
- Email: EmployeeBenefits@winnipeg.ca
- Phone: 204-986-7996
- Mail:
Total Compensation & Benefits
6th Floor, 510 Main Street
Winnipeg, MB R3B 1B9
Plan governance
In accordance with the City of Winnipeg By-Law No. 82/2015, retirees of the City of Winnipeg and eligible Participating Employers enrolled in the Civic and Police Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plan (the Plan) are enrolled upon retirement from their employer.
The Plan is governed by the Board of Directors of the Civic and Police Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plans Corporation. Canada Life is responsible for claims adjudication and processing of benefits payable upon the death of an eligible Retiree.