Death Before Retirement

If you die before you are eligible to retire, your beneficiary will receive either a refund of your contributions or a retirement death benefit, depending on whether your death resulted from an on the job illness or injury.

Service death benefits - If an active Fund member dies on the job as the result of a job-related injury or illness, the Fund pays service death benefits to the member's beneficiary . The death benefit is calculated on the greater of 10 years of service credit or the member's actual service credit. The minimum service death benefit is $500 per month.

Non-service death benefits - If you are an active Fund member who dies because of an injury or illness that is not the result of City employment, non-service death benefits depend on your years of service credit. If you have completed:

•  Less than two years of service credit—your beneficiary will receive a refund of your contributions and no death benefits will be paid.
•  Two or more years of service credit—death benefits will be paid to your eligible beneficiary or designee.

Fund Members

If you have completed:

•  Less than two years of service credit—your beneficiary or designee will receive a refund of your contributions. No retirement benefit will be paid.
•  At least two years but less than 15 years—death benefits will be paid to your beneficiary or designee. The death benefit is calculated on the greater of 10 years of service credit or your actual service credit. In this case benefits are payable under the 10 Years Certain or One-half Survivor option .
•  At least 15 years of service credit—benefits are payable as a 10 Years Certain, One-half Survivor, or Full Survivor option .
• Single members with no beneficiary to receive a monthly benefit will have death benefits paid as 10 Years Certain in one lump sum.

Inactive members

If you have completed:

•  Less than five years of service credit—if you terminated less than three years before dying, your beneficiary or designee will receive a refund of your contributions.
•  At least five years but less than 15 years of service credit—death benefits will be paid to your beneficiary or designee. The death benefit is calculated on the greater of 10 years of service credit or your actual service credit. In this case benefits are payable under the 10 Years Certain or One-half Survivor option .
•  At least 15 years of service credit—death benefits are paid to your beneficiary or designee. Payment options include a 10 Years Certain or Full Survivor benefit .

Benefit Payment Options

Your beneficiary receives benefits according to the payment option he or she chooses, based on your membership status (active or inactive) and years of credited service.

10 Years Certain —Your beneficiary receives your full benefit from the plan for 120 months.

One-half Survivor —Your beneficiary receives one-half of your full benefit for his or her lifetime.

Full Survivor —This option is available to your beneficiary only if you die as an active member and have at least 15 years of service or you are at least age 60 when you die. Your beneficiary receives the same reduced pension benefit amount you would have received—based on your age and your beneficiary's age when you died.

When you choose the one half or full survivor option if your beneficiary dies before receiving 120 payments your designee or estate is paid the actuarial equivalent of 120 payments in a lump sum

If you are single your designee will be paid a lump sum benefit.

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