This web site
provides information about Section 31(1) of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act,
commonly known as the "Gold Diggers Clause", or, as actuarial experts
refer to it as "anti-selection", which appeals to a stereotypical view
that women marry, or enter into relationships with, older men entitled to
pensions so they can obtain a survivor's benefit as a financial advantage.
In the real world, a new spouse or partner of someone over 60 is typically
making a long-term commitment to someone who may require a great deal of
support. That commitment, if reduced to financial terms, is typically much
greater than the value of the survivor's benefit.
So,
what is Section 31? Here it is:
CANADIAN
FORCES SUPERANNUATION ACT SEC 31(1)
Subject
to section 25.1 but notwithstanding any other provision of this Act the
survivor of a contributor is not entitled to an annual allowance in respect of
the contributor under this Part if at the time the contributor married the
survivor or began to cohabit with the survivor in a relationship of a conjugal
nature, the contributor had attained the age of sixty years unless, after that
time, the contributor became or continued to be a contributor.
NOTE:
Medical and dental benefits are also taken away because the survivor is no
longer an "entitled" person.
;)
