A Survivor is generally the beneficiary of survivor benefits, such as the spouse or domestic partner, or a designated individual of a deceased Member.
Survivor Benefits are paid upon a Member’s death to their designated beneficiary. Designated beneficiaries may be entitled to certain benefits contingent on the following:
- Whether the member was an active, retired, or a deferred member;
- The member’s relationship to the survivor; and
- Whether the member designated beneficiaries with LACERS
Survivor Benefits Upon A Member’s Death – Before Retirement
Depending on the member’s years of Service, Service Credit, and Continuous Service, Survivors may have different benefit options as summarized below;
| SERVICE |
DUTY or
NON-DUTY RELATED
|
POSSIBLE BENEFIT OPTIONS
|
| Less than one year of Service Credit |
Non-Duty Related |
|
| At least one year of Service Credit, but less than five years of Continuous Service |
Non- Duty Related |
- Refund of Contributions and possible Limited Pension
|
| Less than five years of Continuous Service |
Duty-Related |
- Disability Retirement Survivorship; or
- Refund of Contributions and possible Limited Pension
|
| Five years or more of Continuous Service |
Any |
- Deferred Retirement; or
- Service Retirement; or
- Disability Retirement; or
- Refund of Contributions and possible Limited Pension
|
Survivor Benefits Upon A Member’s Death – After Retirement
In the event of a member’s death, their beneficiary may be entitled to one or more of the following survivor benefits:
- A one-time $2,500 Funeral Expense Payment
- Any accrued but unpaid retirement allowance for the month of the Member’s death (prorated for the actual days the member was alive)
- Any unused contributions (if applicable)
- A Continuance allowance (spouse/domestic partner, if applicable)
Continuance Allowance
In order for a spouse to be eligible for a Continuance allowance, the spouse must have been:
- Married to the Member at least one year prior to the date of retirement
- Married to the Member on the date of their retirement
- Married to the Member on the date of their death
In order for your domestic partner to be eligible for a Continuance allowance:
- The domestic partnership must have been registered either with the State of California or with LACERS at least one year prior to the date of retirement
- The domestic partner must be the Member’s domestic partner or spouse on the date of their retirement
- The domestic partner must be the Member’s domestic partner or spouse on the date of their death
