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If you die while still working
Surviving spouse coverage
If you were working and had at least three years of service credit (five years if hired on or after July 1, 2010), your spouse has the following choices:
- Monthly payments for your spouse's lifetime
- Monthly payments for a period of 10, 15 or 20 years
- A lump-sum payment of the retirement deductions taken from your salary, plus interest.
The surviving spouse coverage is automatic regardless of who you named as your beneficiary. If you do not want this spousal coverage, you must complete the Beneficiary and Spousal Waiver form to waive this coverage.
Dependent Child
If you are still working, have no surviving spouse, and die, your dependent child under the age of 20 may receive a monthly benefit. Your dependent child will receive monthly benefits until age 20, or for five years, whichever is longer. For more information, call our office.
No surviving spouse or dependent children
If you have no surviving spouse or dependent children and you die, your account balance plus four percent interest (six percent interest before July 1, 2011) is paid in this order, to your: beneficiary, children in equal shares, parents in equal shares, estate.
If you die before you receive your benefit while inactive
If you die before you begin receiving your monthly benefit and there is,
- a surviving spouse, the spouse can choose either:
- a monthly benefit that can begin when you would have turned age 55; or
- a refund, which would provide the retirement deductions plus four percent interest (six percent interest before July 1, 2011). The interest is compounded daily.
- no surviving spouse, the account balance is paid, in the following order, to your: beneficiary, children in equal shares, parents in equal shares, estate.
If you die after you retire
- If you did not select survivor coverage, after you die, your monthly retirement benefit would stop. If there is a balance in your account, it is paid (in this order) to your: beneficiary, spouse, children in equal shares, parents in equal shares, estate
- If you selected a Joint-and-Survivor Option, then your named survivor would start receiving a lifetime benefit the month after your death.
- If your named survivor dies first, your monthly retirement benefit would increase to the Single-Life benefit amount the month after your survivor dies. You cannot add another survivor if your first named survivor dies. Please notify MSRS of your survivor's death so we can adjust your monthly benefit amount.
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