Glossary

The UNJSPF Glossary defines key terms used by the Fund. Most of these terms are defined by the Fund’s Regulations and Rules, but some words have taken a life of their own after being used for 70 years by the Fund.

Actuarial equivalent

"Actuarial equivalent" shall mean the equivalent determined according to the actuarial tables adopted by the Board under article 11.

Administrative rules

"Administrative Rules" shall mean the rules made by the Board under article 4.

Alimony

"Alimony" shall mean ﬁnancial provision made by a spouse for his/her spouse or former spouse in cases of separation or divorce.

Beneficiary

Beneficiaries are those entitled to a disability benefit, as well as those who are entitled to regular, periodic survivor’s benefit from the Fund (e.g. entitled surviving spouse(s)/ ex-spouse(s)/ child(ren)/ secondary dependent).

Benefits

"Benefit" shall include a withdrawal settlement under article 31, and a residual settlement under article 38.

Board

"Board" shall mean the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board.

Divorce

"Divorce" shall mean the legal termination of a marriage. Since a legal separation does not terminate the marriage, a participant or retiree who is legally separated from his/her spouse would continue to have the status of 'married' for pension purposes in his/her pension record.

Divorced surviving spouse

"Divorced surviving spouse" shall mean the former spouse of a participant or retiree, who requests a divorced spouse’s beneﬁt and meets the requirements set forth in Article 35 bis (b) of the UNJSPF Regulations.

Equivalent actuarial value

"Equivalent actuarial value" shall mean the equivalent determined according to the actuarial tables adopted by the Board under article 11.

Guardian

"Guardian" shall mean a third party appointed by the appropriate judicial authority in the retiree’s or beneficiary’s country of residence to manage his/her financial and/or pension affairs.

Joining

If you are a full-time staff member a UNJSPF member organization and you are granted an appointment of 6 months or longer, your participation in the Fund will commence automatically via a personnel action form (PA) submitted by your employer. Participation in the Fund is mandatory if your contract meets these requirements, provided that participation is not expressly excluded by the terms of your contract.

Member organization

"Member organization" shall mean the United Nations and any specialized agency or other organization admitted to membership in the Fund in accordance with article 3.

Normal retirement age

"Normal retirement age" shall mean age 60, except that it shall mean age 62 for a participant whose participation commences or recommences on or after 1 January 1990 but before 1 January 2014, and age 65 for a participant whose participation commences or recommences on or after 1 January 2014.

Pensionable renumeration

"Pensionable remuneration" shall mean the remuneration, at its equivalent in dollars, defined in article 51.

Restoration

"Restoration" shall mean the inclusion in contributory service of the prior contributory service of a former participant who again becomes a participant.

SPC

Staff Pension Committee of a member organization of the Fund

Separation

"Separation" shall mean ceasing to be in the service of a member organization otherwise than by death.

Fund

United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund also referred to as “the Fund”

Validation

"Validation" shall mean the inclusion in contributory service of a period of non-contributory service which occurred prior to the commencement of participation.