United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund

1. Separation after less than 5 years

Options

1. Withdrawal settlement → one-time payment in an amount equivalent to your own contributions plus interest, which extinguishes all other rights to any other future benefits.

2. Defer payment of your withdrawal settlement for up to 36 months.

3. Re-enter the Pension Fund

(a) within 36 months of separation and no benefit was paid → participation in the Pension Fund is considered to have been continuous.

(b) after 36 months of separation → you will start a new period of contributory service for which you will become eligible to receive another benefit.

(c) after a withdrawal settlement has been paid to you → you can restore your most recent prior period of contributory service within 12 months from your date of re-entry into participation in the Pension Fund.

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2. Separation after five (5) or more years and prior to reaching early retirement age

Options

1. Withdrawal settlement → one-time payment in an amount equivalent to your own contributions plus interest, which extinguishes all other rights to any other future benefits.

2. Deferred retirement benefit → payable when you reach normal retirement age or when you become eligible for an early retirement, with the applicable reduction factors. No child benefit is payable.

3. Defer your benefit election (i.e. a withdrawal settlement or a deferred retirement benefit) for up to 36 months.

4. Re-enter the Pension Fund

4.1. within 36 months of separation and no benefit was paid → participation in the Pension Fund is considered to have been continuous.

4.2. after 36 months of separation → you will start a new period of contributory service for which you will become eligible to a separate benefit.

4.3. after a withdrawal settlement has been paid to you → you can restore your most recent prior period of contributory service within 12 months from your date of re-entry into participation in the Pension Fund.

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3. Separation after five (5) or more years, after reaching early retirement age, and prior to reaching normal retirement age

Options

1. Reduced monthly retirement benefit, with or without commutation of up to one third of the benefit into a lump sum.

2. Deferred retirement benefit → payable when you reach normal retirement age or when you become eligible for an early retirement, with the applicable reduction factors. No child benefit is payable.

3. Withdrawal settlement → one-time payment in an amount equivalent to your own contributions plus interest, which extinguishes all other rights to any other future benefits.

4. Defer your benefit election for up to 36 months.

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4. Separation after five (5) or more years at normal retirement age

Options

1. Monthly retirement benefit, with or without commutation of up to one third of the benefit into a lump sum.

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5. Re-entering the Pension Fund after already entitled to or in receipt of a periodic pension benefit

Upon re-entering the Pension Fund, the periodic pension benefit is suspended and no benefit is payable until the participant dies or again separates from service. If the participant separates from service again, he/she is entitled for the additional period of contributory service to a withdrawal settlement or a periodic pension benefit, subject to the conditions listed in the Pension Fund’s Regulations.

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6. Forfeiture

1. Beneficiary failed to submit payment instructions or accept payment.

1.1 Right to Withdrawal Settlement shall be forfeited two (2) years after payment has been due.

1.2. Right to a periodic benefit shall be forfeited five (5) years after the first payment has been due.

1.3. Right to continued periodic benefit payment shall be forfeited two (2) years after a periodic payment has been due.

2. Beneficiary failed to submit a duly signed Certificate of Entitlement → right to continued periodic benefit payment shall be forfeited two (2) years after a periodic payment has been due.

7. After Service Health Insurance (ASHI)

For retirees/beneficiaries who opted for After Service Health Insurance (ASHI), premiums are deducted directly from their monthly pension benefit. As ASHI matters are not handled by the Pension Fund, please contact the UN Health and Insurance Section directly with regards to any ASHI related inquiry through email address ashi@un.org or a ‘Contact Us ticket’ at their website at: http://www.un.org/insurance/inquiries.

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8. Steps and Requirements

What are the Steps and Requirements for Separation from Service?

You should begin the separation process in advance, at least two months before your separation date. It is recommended that you contact the UNJSPF for an estimate of your benefit options within six months of your anticipated separation date or use the interactive Benefit Estimate tool through the Member Self-Service.

To review, calculate and process your benefit, the Fund must receive the following three mandatory separation documents:

1. Payment Instructions Form

Your original Payment Instruction (PI) on the correct form (PENS.E/6 for less than 5 years of contributory service or PENS.E/7 for more than 5 years of service) indicating the benefit option you have selected, the complete bank account information or voided check indicating the account at which you wish to receive payments, the currency of payment, and your email and mailing address with your original ink signature. The Fund must receive the original Payment Instructions form with your original ink signature.

2. Separation Notification form PF4

The original and duly completed, dated and signed Separation Notification form PF4 (financial clearance) issued and submitted to the Fund by the Payroll Office of your employing organization and signed by an authorized payroll or finance officer, detailing your pensionable remuneration and contributions since the end of the previous year; and

3. Separation Personal Action form (SEPPA)

The Separation Personal Action form (SEPPA) issued and submitted to the Fund by your employing organization, and indicating your official date of separation. Discrepancies will delay payments, so if you do not receive your payment promptly, inquire first with your member organization before contacting the Fund.

For more information on the process of separation or a detailed guide on how to fill out the Payment Instruction (PI) form, check out our comprehensive separation page. Furthermore, if you elect a periodic benefit, the Fund must receive also the following supporting documents (as applicable in your case) at the latest at the time of separation, in order for the Fund to set up all entitlements correctly:

a copy of your Birth Certificate or valid passport;
a copy of your valid photo ID document (e.g. Passport or other valid official, government issued photo ID, carrying your names, date of birth and signature – the “UN Laissez-passer” is NOT a valid ID document);
a copy of your marriage certificate/s;
a copy of your divorce decree/s;
a copy of the birth certificate/s or valid passport of your current and/or former spouse/s (or copy of his/her valid passport or other official, government issued photo ID);
a copy of the spouse’s official, government issued photo ID;
a copy of the birth certificate(s) of your dependent child(ren) under 21 years of age;
a copy of death certificate(s) for spouse(s), ex-spouse(s), child(ren), if applicable; and
ORIGINAL Designation of Beneficiary form A2