Preparing to separate from a UNJSPF member organization is a process that entails various steps and may come at a busy moment of your life and career. Thus, you should start preparing at least three months prior to your separation date. If you are wondering what to expect, look no further!

First, it is recommended that you run an estimate in your UNJSPF Member Self-Service (MSS) account within six months of your separation date. This will provide you with an approximate estimate of your future benefit.

Second, visit the UNJSPF website to help you navigate the pension aspects of the separation process, like understanding your benefit options, separation requirements, and expected processing timelines in the Fund. As a next step, the Fund must receive the following documents:

From the participant

• Payment instruction (PI) form duly completed, dated, hand signed, then submit your payment instructions to the Fund via the correct form (PENS.E/6 for less than five years of contributory service or PENS.E/7 for more than five years of service), indicating your benefit selection, complete bank account information, the currency of payment, your telephone number, and your email and mailing addresses. The form must include: 

• Your original ink signature.

• Copy of a recent bank statement.

• Copy of a valid government-issued photo ID document.

• Other supporting documents as detailed on the UNJSPF website.

From the employing organization

• Separation Notification form PF4 (financial clearance), detailing your pensionable remuneration and contributions since the end of the previous year.

• Separation Personnel Action form (SEPPA) indicating the official date of separation, dependent information, and other important data.

Your entitlement options from the Fund will depend on the length of your contributory service reached at the date of separation from service, and for those who are entitled to a retirement benefit on your age at the date of separation.

Your Normal Retirement Age (NRA) is the age at which you, as a Fund participant with at least five years of contributory service at the date of separation, would be entitled to a retirement benefit under Article 28 of the Fund’s Regulations and Rules that is unreduced on account of age. The NRA is defined based on the date at which you last entered UNJSPF participation.

• If you joined the UNJSPF before 1 January 1990, your NRA is 60 years;

• If you joined the UNJSPF between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2013, your NRA is 62 years;

• If you joined the UNJSPF on or after 1 January 2014, your NRA is 65 years.

As for Early Retirement Age, just like for your NRA, your Early Retirement Age for pension purposes is based on the date at which you last entered UNJSPF participation and the applicable UNJSPF Regulations and Rules at that time.

• If you joined the UNJSPF before 1 January 2014, your early retirement age is 55 years;

• If you joined the UNJSPF on or after 1 January 2014, your early retirement age is 58 years.

Do not confuse your NRA with your Mandatory Age of Separation (MAS), which is the age at which you, as a staff member, must separate from the service of your organization. The MAS is regulated by the Staff Regulations and Rules of your employing organization. In some of the UNJSPF member organizations, the MAS for active staff members is currently 65 and, in other organizations, it is still 62.

When you retire (not including disability or survivor’s benefit), you will receive a benefit entitlement letter on your MSS account providing details regarding your benefit, including the date it was implemented and the amount you will receive. If you are retiring, you will also find the amount of your total contributions to the Fund during their participation and a reminder that you will be required each year to return a proof-of-life document (Certificate of Entitlement) to continue to receive your benefit. It is important to ensure that your address and contact details at separation are correct and that you keep them up to date once you start receiving your benefit.

The following is an overview of your benefit options based on the length of your contributory service and your age at the date of separation.

1. Separating with less than five years of contributory service:

Article 31 – Withdrawal settlement: a one-time payment in an amount equivalent to your own contributions plus interest, which extinguishes all other rights to any other future benefits. This benefit can be restored should you return to active service and Fund participation in the future.

Article 32 – Deferment of payment or choice of benefit for 36 months: this is not a benefit but an arrangement that allows you to defer/delay payment of your withdrawal settlement for up to 36 months from your separation date. Should you resume participation in the Fund within the 36-month deferment period from your date of separation from service, your participation will be deemed to have been continuous (provided that no benefit has been paid to you).

2. Separating with five or more years of contributory service prior to reaching early retirement age

Article 30 – Deferred retirement benefit: a periodic benefit payable for life, normally as of the date from which you reach your normal retirement age (NRA) or, at your request, at any date between your early and normal retirement ages, in which case a reduction factor will be applied for life. This benefit can be restored, should you return to active service and Fund participation before reaching your NRA, provided payment of this benefit has not, yet, begun. It is adjusted for cost of living over time.

Article 31 – Withdrawal settlement: a one-time payment in an amount equivalent to your own contributions plus interest, increased by a certain percentage for those who contributed five or more years to the Fund. Payment of this benefit extinguishes all other rights to any other future benefits. 

This benefit can be restored should you return to active service and Fund participation in the future.

Article 32 – Deferment of choice or benefit for 36 months: this is not a benefit but an arrangement that allows you to defer/delay the payment of your withdrawal settlement for up to 36 months from your separation date. Should you resume participation in the Fund within the 36-month deferment period from your date of separation from service, your participation will be deemed to have been continuous (provided that no benefit has been paid to you).

3. Separating with five or more years of contributory service after reaching early retirement age but prior to reaching normal retirement age

Article 29 – Early retirement benefit: a periodic benefit payable for life, effective the date following your separation date.

Article 30 – Deferred retirement benefit: periodic benefit payable for life, normally as of the date at which you reach your normal retirement age (NRA) or, at your request, at any date between your early and normal retirement ages, in which case a reduction factor will be applied for life.

Article 31 – Withdrawal settlement: one-time payment in an amount equivalent to your own contributions plus interest, increased by a certain percentage for those who contributed five or more years to the Fund.

Article 32 – Deferment of choice or benefit for 36 months: this is not a benefit but an arrangement that allows you to defer/delay the payment of your withdrawal settlement for up to 36 months from your separation date. Should you resume participation in the Fund within the 36-month deferment period from your date of separation from service, your participation will be deemed to have been continuous (provided that no benefit has been paid to you).

4. Separating with five or more years of contributory service at normal retirement age

Article 28 – Normal retirement benefit: a periodic benefit payable for life, effective the date following your separation date.

In preparation for your separation/retirement, you may also wish to take the Fund’s Pension eLearning modules and/or attend or listen to the recording of the Fund’s virtual Pension Townhall on the topic. You can access the eLearning modules and information about the UNJSPF Pension Townhalls via the dedicated webpages. 

MORE INFORMATION
If you have any questions regarding your participation, separation and in-retirement experience, please visit our website: www.unjspf.org. You may also reach out to the Fund via one of the options available on the ‘Contact us’ page: contact.unjspf.org.