Survivor Benefits
Learn more about your survivor benefits
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.
The following information is only a summary. Full plan details and rules are available in your Summary Plan Description (SPD) (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 (in equal shares if multiple payees):
- Your current spouse
- Your dependent children
- 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.