In the event of your death, the Plan may pay a benefit to your dependents, beneficiary, or estate.  If you are eligible for Early or Normal Retirement when you die, or if you die as the result of an accident which occurs in the course of your employment, and you have a qualified spouse and/or children under age 19, they will receive regular pension payments as long as they remain qualified.  If you do not have a qualified spouse and/or children under age 19, or if you are not eligible for retirement and your death is not due to a job-related accident, a lump-sum amount will be paid to your beneficiary or to your estate.  The lump-sum amount will include only your contributions to the Plan (plus interest if you have at least 5 years of Credited Service at your death).

When you die, whoever will be claiming the death benefit will need to notify Pension Administration and will have to provide a death certificate.  If your spouse is claiming the benefit, he or she may also need to furnish a copy of a marriage certificate.

The plan considers the following as a qualified spouse or child:

A Qualified Spouse:

•       Has not remarried,

AND

•       married you before your retirement.

A Qualified Child:

•       Is not married,

AND

•       is less than age 19, or

•       is substantially physically or mentally disabled.

Stepchildren are considered qualified if they meet the following additional requirements:

•       Stepchild was a legal member of the employee's family when the employee died, and

•       Stepchild was supported by the employee.

Eligibility for Survivor Pension Payments

A regular pension will be paid to your qualified spouse and/or children if you die while you are (i) an active member with at least age 40 with at least 10 years of Credited Service, (ii) a retired member currently receiving a pension, or (iii) a member who is eligible for a deferred pension but not yet receiving it.

Payments Begin:

•       Immediately if you were an active member eligible for retirement.

•       Immediately if you were already receiving a pension.

•       If you were eligible for but not yet receiving a Deferred Benefit, payments may begin immediately or may be deferred at your survivor's option.  Payments may not be deferred beyond the date you would have reached age 55.

Amount

The amount of  the  Survivor's pension is based on your accrued  pension amount and whether or not your death was job-related.  Your accrued pension amount is based on your Credited Service and Final Wages as of your date of death.  The amount of  the benefit and the division if any will depend on whether there is both a  widow and eligible children or only a widow or only a child or children.

Death From Job-Related Accident

If you are an active employee and you die as a result of a job-related accident, your qualified spouse and/or children will receive the greater of:

•       $550 per month, or

•       the monthly amount they would have been entitled to receive under the next subsection if you had been employed by the City for 30 years and if you had been age 70 at your death.

Death From Other Causes

If you are an active employee who is eligible for retirement, and you die from a cause other than a job-related accident, your qualified spouse and/or children will receive the following amount: 

•       If you have a qualified spouse, but no qualified children...

-             your spouse receives the greater of (i) two-thirds of your accrued pension amount, or (ii) the amount payable under the joint and 100% contingent option (see Option Settlement 2 in Section XII).

•       If you have qualified children but no qualified spouse...

-             your children share equally an amount that is equal to the greater of (i) two-thirds of your accrued pension amount, or (ii) the amount payable under the joint and 100% contingent option (see Option Settlement 2 in Section XII).

•       If you have both a qualified spouse and qualified children...

-             your spouse will receive for the joint benefit of his/herself and such qualified child or children an amount equal to the full amount of your accrued pension amount,

-             once your children are no longer qualified, your spouse will receive the greater of (i) two-thirds of your accrued pension amount, or (ii) the amount payable under the joint and 100% contingent option (see Option Settlement 2 in Section XII).

The total amount payable to qualified spouses and/or children is subject to a minimum of $75.00 per month.

If you were receiving monthly benefit payments at the date of your death, and you did not select one of the Settlement Options described in Section XIII, your qualified spouse will receive the following amount:

•       2/3 of the amount you were receiving prior to your death.

If you elected one of the settlement options, your qualified spouse will receive the benefit called for under the option.  However, if your spouse is deceased and you still have qualified children, their benefits will be computed without regard to the Settlement Option elected.

The total amount payable to qualified spouses and/or children is subject to a minimum of $75.00 per month.

Eligibility for Lump-Sum Payment

If you are an active employee when you die, but (i) you are not eligible for Early Retirement and your death is not the result of a job-related accident, or (ii) you do not have a qualified spouse or children, a refund of your contributions (with interest if you have at least 5 years of Credited Service) will be paid to your beneficiary or to your estate.