Retired Member Death

Death and survivor benefits may be payable to the eligible surviving spouse, minor children, beneficiary(ies), or estate of a deceased VCERA retiree. The benefits payable depend on many factors and can only be determined after VCERA reviews the member’s unique circumstances.

Death and Survivor Benefits

$5,000 Death Benefit

At the death of a retired member, there is a one-time, lump-sum benefit of $5,000 payable to the named beneficiary or estate. This benefit may be reduced for retirees with outgoing reciprocity and is not payable upon the death of a non-retiree receiving a monthly benefit or continuance benefit.

Monthly “Continuance” Benefit

An eligible surviving spouse or minor children may also be eligible for a monthly benefit, payable for life, depending on the retirement option elected by the member at retirement. The following survivor benefits are based on an Unmodified Option election and the type of retirement applicable to the deceased member:

• Service retirement or nonservice-connected disability retirement: An eligible spouse will receive a 60% continuance of a deceased member’s monthly benefit, payable for life. To be eligible, the spouse must have been (a) married to the member for one year prior to the retirement date or (b) at least age 55 and married to the member for two years prior to the date of death.
• Service-connected disability retirement: An eligible spouse will receive a 100% continuance of a deceased member’s monthly benefit, payable for life. To be eligible, the surviving spouse must have been (a) married to the member prior to the retirement date or (b) at least age 55 and married to the member for two years prior to the date of death.

If there is no eligible spouse or partner, these “continuance” benefits may be payable to minor children until age 18 (continuing through age 21 if they remain unmarried and regularly enrolled as full-time students in an accredited school.)