The Survivor’s Benefit Program for NYS Management / Confidential Employees

The Survivor’s Benefit Program is a financial protection plan that will provide a minimum death benefit to your survivors, if you are an eligible New York State Management/Confidential (M/C) employee. You may be eligible even if you are not a member of the New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS), the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS), or the State University Optional Retirement Program (TIAA/CREF).

 


What are the eligibility requirements?

There is no need to enroll — your beneficiary is eligible to receive this benefit if, at the time of your death, you were a full-time employee or officer of New York State whose scheduled work week equaled 20 or more hours, and your salary was paid directly from State funds (it must be equivalent to the minimum annual salary for an M/C-3 employee).

Additionally, you must meet one of the following requirements at the time of your death:

  • You were on the State payroll as an M/C employee for at least 30 days out of the 60 days immediately preceding your death; OR
  • You have at least one year of M/C State service and die while on the State payroll following your return from an authorized leave of absence without pay; OR
  • You have at least one year of M/C State service, were on a State payroll within the last six months and your death occurs while on an authorized leave without pay (and you were not otherwise gainfully employed); OR
  • You have at least five years of M/C State service, were on a State payroll within the last 12 months, and your death occurs while on an authorized leave without pay (and you were not otherwise gainfully employed).

If your death occurs within 30 days after you leave an M/C position and prior to the effective date of your retirement, your beneficiary may still be eligible to collect a benefit.

NOTE: The service requirement is waived if your death occurs as the result of an occupational injury and an accidental death benefit is paid on your behalf by your retirement system.

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How much will my beneficiary receive?

Here is how it is determined:

If you are not a member of a State retirement system or TIAA/CREF:

  • Your annual salary, up to $50,000, will be paid to your beneficiary.

If you are a member of a State retirement system or TIAA/CREF:

  • This program supplements the ordinary death benefit payment from your retirement system, up to $50,000, if that payment does not equal your annual salary.
  • If you do not qualify for an ordinary death benefit, the survivor’s benefit payable to your beneficiary will be the lesser of your annual salary, up to $50,000, or five times the ordinary death benefit that would have been paid if you had one year of service.
  • If an accidental death benefit is paid by your retirement system, a $5,000 survivor’s benefit will be paid to your beneficiary.

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Who is my beneficiary for this benefit?

If you are not a member of a State retirement system or TIAA/CREF:

  • You must designate a beneficiary to receive the survivor’s benefit. Request a Non-Member Employee Designation of Beneficiary Form (RS6357) from your employer and return the completed form to your personnel office.

If you are a member of a State retirement system or TIAA/CREF:

  • It is the same beneficiary you designated to receive your ordinary death benefit.
  • You may change your beneficiary designation with your retirement system.

Ordinarily, no action by your beneficiary is necessary. Upon your death, your employing agency will notify the Survivor’s Benefit Program.

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Divorce

It is especially important you review the beneficiary designation for your survivor benefit if you are divorced. Effective July 7, 2008, the beneficiary designation for certain benefits, including the survivor benefit, can be revoked when a divorce, annulment or judicial separation becomes final.

For more information on how your pension benefits can be affected by divorce, consult your attorney, contact our Matrimonial Bureau, read our guide to domestic relations orders and review our Divorce FAQs.

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Where can I get more information?

Your employer’s benefits administrator will be able to answer questions you or your beneficiary may have about this benefit. You may also contact our Call Center toll-free at 1-866-805-0990, or 518-474-7736 within the Albany, New York area, or write to us at:

New York State and Local Retirement System
Survivor’s Benefit Program
110 State Street
Albany, NY 12244-0001.

Your Social Security number and your current State employer should be included on any correspondence.

 


VO1660 (Rev. 7/14)
© 2014, New York State and Local Retirement System

This publication provides a general summary of membership benefits, rights and responsibilities, and is not a substitute for any New York State or federal law. For specific information about your benefits, please contact us.

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