Death benefits

How death benefits work

Death benefits protect your eligible survivors from unexpected loss of income if you die. This coverage is provided through the Death and Disability Plan, and may include several components, depending on your employment status when you die: active; disabled; or an eligible former plan member. (The Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Plan is a separate plan and not part of the Death and Disability Plan.)

The Board pays benefits to your beneficiary(ies) on file with the Board of Pensions at the time of your death as designated through Benefits Connect, or in a certain order according to Benefits Plan rules. Log in to Benefits Connect to designate beneficiaries when you are first enrolled in death benefits, or to add, change, or verify designated beneficiaries and the percentage of the benefit assigned to each.

Visit these pages for details:

• Salary continuation benefit
  
• Lump-sum death benefit
• Children's education benefit
• Living needs benefit
• Supplemental death benefits coverage

Using death benefits

Generally, your employer is responsible for the cost of death benefits coverage and for your enrollment, apart from supplemental death benefits coverage. A family member or other authorized person must report the death of a covered person to the Board of Pensions as soon as possible.

Supplemental death benefits

If you are enrolled in the Death and Disability Plan, you may apply for supplemental death benefits, for additional protection against the unexpected loss of income if you die. Supplemental death benefits are available for you, your spouse, and/or your eligible children.