Return of Accumulated Deductions

If a job-related accident or exposure to a hazard causes the death of a member-in-service, what happens to his/her accumulated deductions?

     The member’s accumulated deductions and related interest will be paid to his/ her beneficiaries of record in one sum.

     The beneficiaries who receive the accumulated deductions are not necessarily the same as the beneficiaries eligible to receive the pension portion of the accidental death benefit.

Pension Benefit

What is the pension benefit if the death of a member-in-service is caused by a job-related accident?

     The eligible beneficiary of the member’s pension benefit will receive a yearly pension equal to either 72% of the annual rate of regular compensation, which the member had been earning on the date of injury or 72% of the aver-age annual rate of regular compensation for the 12-month period for which the member last received regular compensation, whichever is greater.

Eligible Beneficiaries of Pension Benefit

Who is the primary beneficiary of the pension benefit?

     The primary beneficiary of an accidental death benefit pension is the deceased member’s spouse. The spouse is eligible to receive a pension if the spouse was living with the member at the time of his/her death or was living apart from the member for justifiable cause.

Could any eligible surviving children receive pension benefits?

     If the member leaves no eligible spouse or if the spouse dies, pension payments would be paid instead to a guardian for the benefit of the surviving eligible children.

Who is an eligible child?

     Any member’s child is eligible who is under the age of 18 and unmarried or who is over the age of 18 and physically incapacitated from earning on the date of the member’s death.

When will children cease to be eligible to receive the aforementioned pension payments?

     Payments will be made as long as the children remain unmarried and under age 18 or as long as they remain physically or mentally incapacitated from earning.

Additional Pension Benefit

What is the additional pension benefit if a member’s death is caused by a job-related accident?

     An additional yearly pension of $312.00 will be paid for the benefit of each of the surviving eligible children. To be eligible, a child must be unmarried, under the age of 18 or 21 if a full-time student at an accredited educational institution, or be physically or mentally incapacitated from earning on the date of the member’s death.

Maximum Benefit Payable

Is there a maximum benefit payable?

     The total yearly amount, including the 72% pension and any additional pension for the benefit of eligible children, may not exceed the greater of two rates: the member’s annual rate of regular compensation on the date of injury or the salary the member received during the last year of regular compensation.

If a member’s surviving spouse dies, could the member’s surviving children become eligible to receive the pension benefits the spouse had been receiving?

     If the spouse had been receiving the 72% pension before his/her death, that pension plus each child’s $312.00 additional pension benefit could continue to be accepted by a court-appointed legal guardian on behalf of the surviving eligible children.

Eligibility of Other Family Members

Can pension benefits be paid to other family members if a member leaves no eligible spouse or children?

     If a member leaves no eligible spouse or children, the pension benefit would be paid to his/her totally dependent father or mother. If the parents are deceased or are not totally financially dependent upon the member, the pension benefit would be paid to any totally financially dependent unmarried or widowed sibling provided he/she was living with the member when the member died. Pension payments will continue as long as the beneficiary or beneficiaries survive, do not marry or remarry and remain unable to support themselves.

Receipt of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Can pension benefits be paid to other family members if a member leaves no eligible spouse or children?

     If a member leaves no eligible spouse or children, the pension benefit would be paid to his/her totally dependent father or mother. If the parents are deceased or are not totally financially dependent upon the member, the pension benefit would be paid to any totally financially dependent unmarried or widowed sibling provided he/she was living with the member when the member died. Pension payments will continue as long as the beneficiary or beneficiaries survive, do not marry or remarry and remain unable to support themselves.