For eligible New York State Management/Confidential (M/C) employees, the Survivor’s Benefit Program ensures that your survivors will receive a death benefit if you die before retiring. Your survivors may be eligible even if you are not a member of the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS), the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS), or the State University Optional Retirement Program (TIAA).
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 before 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 the State payroll within the last six months and you die 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 the State payroll within the last 12 months, and you die 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 before your retirement date, your beneficiary may still be eligible to collect a benefit.
Note: The service requirement is waived if you die as the result of an on-the-job accident and an accidental death benefit is paid on your behalf by your retirement system.
How much will my beneficiary receive?
If you are a member of NYSLRS, NYSTRS or TIAA:
- 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 amount 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 also be paid to your beneficiary.
If you are not a member of NYSLRS, NYSTRS or TIAA, your annual salary, up to $50,000, will be paid to your beneficiary.
Who is my beneficiary for this benefit?
If you are a member of NYSLRS, NYSTRS or TIAA:
- Your beneficiary is the same beneficiary you designated to receive your ordinary death benefit.
- You may change your beneficiary designation with your retirement system. NYSLRS members, you can sign in to Retirement Online to view or update your beneficiaries.
If you are not a member of NYSLRS, NYSTRS or TIAA, 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.
Ordinarily, no action by your beneficiary is necessary to claim this benefit. Upon your death, your employing agency will notify the Survivor’s Benefit Program.
Does divorce affect my beneficiary designation?
If you are divorced, it is especially important to review the beneficiary designation for your survivor’s benefit. As of July 7, 2008, the beneficiary designation for certain benefits, including the survivor’s benefit, are automatically revoked when a divorce, annulment or judicial separation becomes final, unless the terms of a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) specify otherwise.
For more information about how divorce may affect retirement benefits, visit our Divorce and Your Benefits page.
Where can I get more information?
Your employer’s benefits administrator should be able to answer questions you or your beneficiary may have about this benefit.
If you have questions or need more information, we’re glad to help.
- Send a message: using our secure contact form
- Call: 866-805-0990
- Write:
NYSLRS
Survivor’s Benefit Program
110 State Street
Albany, NY 12244-0001
Include your NYSLRS ID (or the last four digits of your Social Security number if you are not a NYSLRS member) and your current State employer on any correspondence.
VO1660 Rev. 4/24
© 2024, 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.