Survivor Benefits

Learn more about your survivor benefits

Death After Retirement

If a member is already receiving Retirement Benefits and passes away, a surviving spouse or other eligible beneficiary may be entitled to benefits based on the election the member selected when they retired. Contact us for more information.

Death Before Retirement

If a member is vested and passes away prior to receiving Retirement Benefits, a surviving spouse or other eligible beneficiary may be able to choose one or more of the Survivor Benefits described below. The following information is only a summary. Full plan details and rules are available in your Summary Plan Description (SPD) in Forms and Documents or on your member dashboard.

Go to Forms and Documents

50% Surviving Spouse Benefit

This benefit provides monthly income to a surviving spouse.

This benefit is not payable until the month following the date a member would have reached age 57 or the month following a member's death, if later.

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Amount

The amount of this benefit is 50 percent of the monthly benefit a member would have received if they retired and elected the 50 percent JSO coverage. Depending on the type of benefit earned, a surviving spouse may be eligible to defer payment of the 50 percent Surviving Spouse Benefit to a later date to receive a higher monthly amount.

60-Month Benefit

This benefit provides monthly income to a surviving spouse or dependent children for a maximum of 60 monthly payments (or less in the event of the beneficiaries’ death).

The benefit is not payable until the month following the date a member would have reached age 57 or the month following your death if later.

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How to Qualify

This benefit is payable if a member meets certain service and benefit class requirements, and the death occurs within a specified timeframe from when last working for a contributing employer.

Amount

The amount of this benefit is equal to the monthly benefit a member would have received if they retired and not chosen the 50 percent JSO coverage.

Lump-Sum Death Benefit

This benefit provides a one-time payment to the first of the following eligible payees in this order of priority (in equal shares if multiple payees):

Your current spouse
Your dependent children
Your non-dependent children
Your parents
Your brothers and sisters
Your estate

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How to Qualify

This benefit is payable if a member meets certain service and benefit class requirements, and your death occurs within a specified timeframe from when last working for a contributing employer.

Benefit Class 18/18+ $10,000 Death Benefit

This benefit provides a one-time $10,000 payment to the first of the following eligible payees in this order of priority:

Your current spouse
Your dependent children (in equal shares if multiple dependent children)

How to Qualify

This benefit is payable in addition to a 50 percent Surviving Spouse Benefit or 60-Month Survivor Benefit that a spouse or dependent children may qualify to receive.

This benefit is payable if a member meets certain service and benefit class requirements, and the death occurs within a specified timeframe from when last working for a contributing employer.

Introduction 50% Surviving Spouse Benefit 60-Month Benefit Lump-Sum Death Benefit Benefit Class 18/18+ $10,000 Death Benefit

Learn more about your survivor benefits

Death After Retirement

Death Before Retirement

50% Surviving Spouse Benefit

60-Month Benefit

Lump-Sum Death Benefit

Benefit Class 18/18+ $10,000 Death Benefit

Table of Contents

Start the survivor benefit application

Start the survivor benefit application

Start the survivor benefit application