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.
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) (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.