Death Before Retirement
You may select one or more beneficiaries to receive survivor benefits if you pass away before retirement. The type and amount of the benefit are determined by several factors, including:
- Creditable service
- Salary
- Cause of death
- Date of death
Survivor benefits fall into two main categories:
- Non-Job Related Death Benefits
- Job-Related (Accidental) Death Benefits: Including special provisions for public safety officials
Need more information on survivor benefits available to retirees?
Non-Job Related Death Benefits
If your death is not job-related, one of the two benefit types may be paid.
Option 1: One-Time Lump Sum Payment
You may name one or more beneficiaries to receive a one-time payment of your accumulated total deductions in your annuity savings account.
- A beneficiary can be an individual or an entity.
- Designation is made on the Beneficiary Selection Form – Lump Sum.
Option 2: Member Survivor Allowance (Option D)
This option provides a monthly allowance to a qualified beneficiary, calculated as if you had retired under Option C on the date of death.
- Only one Option D beneficiary may be designated.
- Eligible beneficiaries include your spouse, child, former spouse (if not remarried), parent, or sibling.
- Designation is made on the Beneficiary Selection Form – Option D Monthly Benefit.
Surviving Spouses
If no Option D beneficiary is designated, an eligible spouse may still elect Option D if:
1. You had at least 2 years of creditable service.
2. Your marriage lasted at least 1 year.
3. You were living together at the time of death (unless the Board finds that you were living apart for a justifiable cause).
Spousal rights supersede all other beneficiary designations. The minimum Option D allowance for an eligible surviving spouse is $500 per month, or $6,000 annually.
Dependent Children
When an Option D allowance is paid, additional benefits may be available:
- $120/month for the one child.
- $90/month for each additional child.
These benefits end at age 18, or age 22 if they are a full-time student. Benefits continue indefinitely if the child was physically or mentally incapacitated from earning as of your date of death.
If there is no spouse, children may, in some cases, receive both the Option D allowance and the additional dependent allowance. Dependent allowances do not apply to inactive members.
Accidental Death Benefits (Job-Related Death)
Accidental death benefits apply if you die as the direct result of a personal injury sustained or hazard undergone in the performance of job duties, with no serious and willful misconduct.
Benefits generally include:
- A lump-sum payment of accumulated deductions.
- A pension equal to 72% of the annual rate of regular compensation on the date of injury, or the average annual rate of regular compensation for the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of death, whichever is greater.
Eligible beneficiaries:
- Primary beneficiary: Surviving spouse
- If no spouse: Dependent children (unmarried and under 18; under 22 if a full-time student; or physically or mentally incapacitated from earning regardless of age).
Additional dependent allowance may also apply.
Survivor Benefits for Public Safety Officials Killed in Line of Duty
These provisions apply to firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty.
Killed in Line of Duty – Retirement Allowance
A surviving spouse may receive a pension equal to the maximum salary for your position at the time of death. This pension increases as the salary for the position increases.
If your spouse is eligible for this benefit:
- Your accumulated deductions are paid in one lump sum to the beneficiary on record.
If no surviving spouse, dependent children may be eligible for pension payments for a limited period of time.
Killed in Line of Duty – Lump-Sum Benefit ($300,000)
A one-time $300,000 payment is available if a firefighter or police officer is killed in the line of duty. This benefit is administered and paid by the State Board of Retirement to an eligible beneficiary, regardless of the member’s retirement system.
It’s paid to:
1. A surviving spouse.
2. If no spouse, surviving children.
3. If no children, the member’s parents.