Lump-sum death benefit - The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Lump-sum death benefit

If you are enrolled in the Death and Disability Plan when you die, the Board of Pensions pays a lump-sum death benefit if you are an active member or if you are receiving disability benefits under the Death and Disability Plan. Former Death and Disability Plan members who left employment with a congregation or affiliate employer after turning age 55 may also be eligible.

Amount of benefit

For eligible former members, the benefit is a one-time payment of $12,500. If your employment status is active or disabled, the lump-sum death benefit is equal to the disability benefits basis* multiplied by a percentage based on your age at death, as shown in the table below.

Lump-sum death benefit percentages if you have eligible survivors
Your age at death	Multiplier percentage (%)
Under 31	400
31	390
32	380
33	370
34	360
35	350
36	340
37	330
38	320
39	310
40	300
41	290
42	280
43	270
44	260
45	250
46	240
47	230
48	220
49	210
50	200
51	190
52	180
53	170
54	160
55	150
56	145
57	140
58	135
59	130
60	125
61	120
62	115
63	110
64	105
65+	100

Lump-sum death benefit percentages if you do not have eligible survivors
All ages	100

How lump-sum death benefits are paid

Generally, when your family member or survivor reports your death to the Board of Pensions, the Board sends a Death Benefits Claim form to your spouse, beneficiary, and, when applicable, covered dependents. The Board will pay benefits once it receives a completed form, a copy of the death certificate, and any outstanding pension and/or disability overpayments, as applicable.

The lump-sum death benefit is paid to your survivors in the following order:

your surviving spouse, provided the marriage or the initiation of any disability or retirement benefits occurred at least one year before your death
your unmarried dependent children, either under age 26 or permanently disabled before age 26, who were your dependents during the 12 months immediately before and on your date of death
your dependent parents
your unmarried dependent siblings, either under age 26 or permanently disabled before age 26, who were your dependents during the 12 months immediately before and on your date of death
your estate, when there are no eligible dependents

*The disability benefits basis is the greater of effective salary, as reported to the Board, or the median effective salary as of the date any benefits payments begin, up to the IRS compensation limit.