Life insurance applications with a handwritten signature that are scanned must continue to be submitted via your agency.

For the documents to be accepted:

• use the fillable PDF version available in the illustration software.
• all handwritten text and signatures remain legible once scanned.

There is no need to send us the originals, we simply ask that you keep them in your files.

Fillable PDF application (PDF, 995 kB)

In addition to scanned handwritten signatures, we will now accept electronic signatures from the following applications: DocuSign, Adobe Sign, Onespan and eZsign. 

These signatures will be accepted on our individual life insurance and investment documents, with the exception of change of beneficiary forms and changes of owners of life insurance policies.

All insurance applications for individuals who are planning to travel outside Canada in the next four weeks will be deferred until after their return.

It will be possible to re-evaluate their application two weeks following their return to Canada, which corresponds to the incubation period of COVID-19. The client will have to be in good health and symptom-free to be eligible.

Suspended files for trips that are finished or planned will be re-evaluated: questions, riders and health declarations may be requested.

In the context of Covid-19, SSQ Insurance was not allowing paramedical service providers to take appointments with clients. The government public health measures have changed, and the paramedical service providers have also adapted their processes. Considering these changes, SSQ Insurance will now allow paramedical service providers to take appointments.

As of June 5, you can start ordering all medical requirements for any cases, where they are needed. Note that the evidence of insurability requirements should be ordered based on our temporarily relaxed life insurance and critical illness tables that are currently in effect until September 30, 2020.

Evidence of insurability requirements that had been previously ordered but are not yet completed will now also be taken care of by the paramedical service providers.

No such exclusion exists in our contracts. Given that the insured risk is loss of life, a death resulting from COVID-19 will be covered under the same conditions as any other cause of death which is not the subject of an exclusion clause.

The clauses relating to the usual verification processes (e.g. contestability, admissibility) continue to apply.

SSQ Insurance offers measures to your clients who expect to have difficulty paying their premium. To this effect, the following information is available on our website on the information page for insureds.

We understand that the pandemic can have an impact on the financial situation of some of your clients. If this is your case, payment methods may be offered.

Our teams are analyzing each situation on a case-by-case basis. The client who wishes to take advantage of this option must contact our Client Services at 1-800-565-4550 or via email at [email protected] by no later than May 31, 2020.

This option allows your clients to defer their premium payment for a period of 60 days and it will not affect the protection offered under the policy.

The deferred premiums will be required on September 30, 2020. As such, we will send a reimbursement request and unless otherwise stated, any outstanding premiums shall be paid by the client within 30 days after September 30, 2020, in order to maintain the policy(ies) in force. Note that SSQ Insurance is not charging any interest expense on these payment deferrals.

Investment applications with a handwritten signature that are scanned must continue to be submitted via our secure advisor site.

For the documents to be accepted :

• use the Fillable PDF version of our application available on the secure advisor site.
• all handwritten text and signatures remain legible once scanned.

There is no need to send us the originals, we simply ask that you keep them in your files.

Fillable PDF application (PDF, 315 kB)

In addition to scanned handwritten signatures, we will now accept electronic signatures from the following applications: DocuSign, Adobe Sign, Onespan, Insuresign, IGeny and eZsign.

In Ontario, an electronic signature is now accepted for a change of beneficiary on registered plans.

On March 18, 2020, the federal government announced a COVID-19 Economic Response Plan for Canadians and Businesses.

Reduced minimum amount

Effective immediately, the required minimum amount from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF) is reduced by 25% for 2020. The purpose of this is to reduce the impact of withdrawals on the fair market value of RRIFs in light of the recent stock market plunge.

Since the required minimum amount is the same for Life Income Funds (LIF), this measure applies to them as well.

Following the adoption of this measure, please note that the current payments will not be modified. The client will therefore continue to receive the current payments even if the withdrawals made will exceed the reduced minimum amounts for 2020.

However, your clients can request to modify the payments by sending us a written request, which must comply with one of the following options:

1. Continue to receive current payments until the new reduced minimum amount for 2020 is reached. Once this amount is reached, stop payments until December 31, 2020;
2. Reduce future payments until December 31, 2020 in order to withdraw an annual total amount equal to the new reduced minimum amount;

It will not be possible to contribute the excess of the reduced minimum amount for 2020 to the RRIF. Please refer to the CRA reference document for details.