If you die while still on the job, your beneficiary may be eligible to receive a death benefit. Here is an overview of member death benefits.
(If you are retired, visit our Death Benefit page for retirees to learn about available benefits.)
Types of Death Benefits
Most members who die while they’re still working will leave their beneficiaries what’s called an ordinary death benefit. The benefit is a lump sum payment usually equal to one year of your earnings per year of service, up to a maximum of three years, but the calculation of the death benefit can be different if you’re in a special retirement plan. Please visit our Death Benefits page to see which calculation applies to you. Generally, to qualify for the ordinary benefit, you must have at least one year of service credit and your death must occur while you are on the public payroll. Check your retirement plan booklet for other qualifying circumstances.
Some members who die because of an on-the-job accident (not due to their own willful negligence) may leave their beneficiary an accidental death benefit. If paid to a surviving spouse or dependent parent, the benefit is a lifetime pension. For Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) Tier 4, 5 and 6 members, the benefit is 50 percent of your earnings from your last year of service. For a majority of other members, the benefit is 50 percent of your final average earnings (less any workers’ compensation benefit). There is no minimum service credit requirement to qualify for the accidental benefit.
Death benefits vary by tier and retirement plan, so check your retirement plan for specific benefit and eligibility information and contact us if you have questions.
Reporting a Death
NYSLRS cannot pay out any death benefits until after we are notified of a member’s death and have a certified copy of the member’s death certificate. That’s why it’s so important to talk with your family now about your benefits and how to report your death to NYSLRS. Survivors can report a member’s death using our online form.
Update Your Beneficiaries
In most cases (unless beneficiaries are determined by law, as in the case of accidental death benefits), your death benefit will be paid to the last beneficiaries you designated, so it’s important to be sure yours are up to date. Your beneficiaries are listed in your Retirement Online account and on your Member Annual Statement. You can update your beneficiary information using Retirement Online.
What happens if an nys police officer files for retirement and then passes prior to actual retirement date?
For most NYSLRS members, their beneficiaries are eligible for a death benefit if they die before retirement. You can find information about death benefits for State Police in the State Police retirement plan publication.
If you have account-specific questions, please message our customer service representatives using our secure contact form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.
Why am I unable to get death benefit information over the phone after a loved one has passed away?
We are sorry for your loss.
Once we receive an original death certificate, we will mail information about any continuing pension benefits and death benefits that may be payable to named beneficiaries (or their certified representative, such as guardians, powers of attorney and executors). We will also send named beneficiaries the appropriate forms to complete.
Can a spouse attest the beneficiary after a sudden death? My husband passed away u expectedly 3 months after we got married, him nor I updated each other on our benefits as we thought we had more time. If his beneficiary was still is mother, as his spouse am I entitled to anything? My concern is paying back the funeral home for his services. I am currently past due.
We’re sorry for your loss. Information about death benefits and beneficiaries can depend on whether a NYSLRS member is retired or not and whether the death was the result of an on-the-job accident. For information about death benefit beneficiaries, please call 866-805-0990, press 3, then follow the prompts.
No he was not yet retired he had 17 years with the state ddso of Taconic. The death was not on the job either.
To speak with a customer service representative, please call 866-805-0990, press 3, then follow the prompts.
This does not answer my general question. My question is that if a spouse in the State of NY has the legal right to attest beneficiaries on a spouses life insurance specifically if they are newlyweds and if they both did not change any beneficiaries yet.
If you have questions about broader NYS law, you may wish to speak with an attorney.
What role do the death benefits play if you are retired, but working under Section 212?
Most NYSLRS retirees are eligible for a post-retirement death benefit if they retired directly from payroll or within one year of leaving covered employment. The post-retirement benefit is a percentage of the benefit available during your working years.
For account-specific information about how this may apply in your particular situation, please email our customer service representatives using our secure email form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.