Children's education benefit
Under this benefit, each of your eligible children may receive $10,000 a year for up to four years of study beyond high school after your death.
If you are an active member enrolled in the Death and Disability Plan, your eligible children may receive this benefit. This benefit is also included in the Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Plan.
If you are a minister enrolled in the Covenant Package, the Congregational Pastors Package, or Transitional Pastor’s Participation and your employment ends, your eligible children under age 25 are eligible for this benefit if your death occurs during the 30-day window of no-cost death benefits coverage following your termination date.
Amount of benefit
Each of your eligible children under age 25 may receive up to $10,000 a year until they turn 25, for up to four years of study beyond high school after your death, while the child is a student at an accredited school, college, university, or other institution of higher learning. The maximum benefit for any one eligible child is $40,000. This benefit is not intended to cover graduate studies; however, the Board of Pensions may grant it for one year of graduate study if a child completes post-secondary study in three years.
The plan does not pay education benefits for study before your death.
Applying for and receiving benefits
In the event of your death, your family should contact the Board of Pensions when planning for a child’s higher education. The Board will send the Student’s Application for Educational Benefits, to be completed by the student.
Your family or eligible survivor must return the completed form to the Board.
The Board pays the children’s education benefit monthly, directly to the student, over a 12-month period. For students in semester-based programs, the following payment schedule applies:
- fall semester: six payments, October through March
- spring semester: six payments, April through September
Verifying the student's status
The school registrar must verify with the Board, in writing, student status initially and periodically thereafter. The registrar can return any form of verification on official school letterhead or clearinghouse letterhead to the Board.