The following are some of the Frequently Asked Questions we receive about survivor benefits:

• Who are my eligible survivors?
• What happens if I die and have no eligible survivors?
• What happens if at the time of my death I have no eligible survivors and I did not name a beneficiary?
• What happens to survivor benefits if I get a divorce?
• Do I need to notify the pension Fund office if I get married so that my spouse will be listed as an eligible survivor?

Check out the Summary Plan Description Booklet for more answers to your pension benefit questions.

Who are my eligible survivors?

Article 6243e.2(1), the pension statute, considers the following to be eligible survivors:

• Surviving spouse, who was married to you at the time of your death and at the time of your retirement. However, a surviving spouse who marries a firefighter after retirement can receive 20 percent of the firefighter’s death benefit for each year of marriage, or 100 percent after five years.
• Child or children under age 18 (they must be unmarried and depend on you for support).
• Child or children age 18 through 22 (they must be unmarried and going to school full time), if there is either no eligible spouse or you submit an election form to extend survivor benefits through age 22 even if there is an eligible spouse.
• Child or children of any age who is totally disabled from a physical or mental illness, injury, or retardation at the time of your death.
• Dependent parent who meets the guidelines for a dependent as established by the Board of Trustees.

If you have a child who you believe is permanently and totally disabled from a mental or physical illness, injury, or retardation, please notify the Fund office to certify your child's disabled status.

Stepchildren, grandchildren or children in your custody as a guardian are ineligible for survivor benefits unless you legally adopt them before you die.

Benefits for dependent child(ren) and/or parent(s) will be paid to the person with custody (i.e., legal guardian), unless you designate by notification to the board a testamentary trustee to receive the child(ren)'s and/or parent's benefit.

No benefit will be paid if you die from suicide or attempted suicide before you have participated in the Fund for two years.

What happens if I die and have no eligible survivors?

If you do not have any eligible survivors, you can name someone as a beneficiary to receive a refund of your pension contributions or the balance of your account assets if you are in DROP. However, that person(s) would not be eligible to receive your pension benefit.

What happens if at the time of my death I have no eligible survivors and I did not name a beneficiary?

Your estate will be eligible to receive a refund of your pension contributions or the balance of your account assets if you are in DROP.

What happens to survivor benefits if I get a divorce?

If you get a divorce, your ex-spouse automatically becomes ineligible for survivor benefits.

Do I need to notify the pension fund office if I get married so that my spouse will be listed as an eligible survivor?

Yes. Please send a copy of your marriage license to us, so that we may have accurate survivor information.

If you ever have any questions about eligible survivors or your pension benefits, please contact the Member Services staff at the pension office.

BACK