When is an accidental death benefit payable?

     A member’s eligible survivor is entitled to an accidental death benefit if the member’s death is the natural and proximate result of a personal injury sustained or hazard undergone while in the performance of his/her duties and without serious and willful misconduct on the member’spart.

     Special provisions are applicable to firefighters, police officers, corrections officers, and public prosecutors. (Please refer to the section of this guide entitled, “Death of Firefighters, Police Officers,Corrections Officers and Public Prosecutors in the Line of Duty.)

Notice of Injury

Should a member notify his/her retirement board if he/she is injured on the job?

     If a member is injured or exposed to a hazard on the job, the member should notify both his/her employer and retirement board immediately. This establishes the time, place, and occurrence of the accident for future reference.

     If a member dies from a job-related injury or exposure to a hazard more than two years after the occurrence of the injury or exposure, accidental death benefits will be denied unless a notice was filed with the retirement board within 90 days of the injury or exposure or, if there are records of workers’ compensation payments for the same injury or, if the member is not covered by workers’ compensation, but there is a record of such injury or hazard undergone on file in the official records of his/her department.