How would a survivor (who was not legally married to the contributor) make a claim to survivor benefits at the time of the contributors death?
To make a claim the survivor will need to provide documentation that would prove that they lived together and that a conjugal relationship existed for at least one year prior to the contributor’s death. If the contributor is over age 60 at the time of death, the evidence will need to date back to the contributor’s 60th birthday. The survivor will be asked to provide statutory declarations, along with secondary evidence that would show that they maintained a common residence during the period of cohabitation (a letter and blank declarations will be sent to the claimant giving all pertinent information). The claimant must complete one declaration and two declarations must be completed by friends or relatives of the contributor, who lived in their community, and who were aware of the circumstances of the relationship. Secondary evidence can be in the form of bills, receipts, mortgage or lease documents, insurance policies, electoral lists etc. or any documents that show that the couple sh
