Guide to SFDB (Supplemental Family Death Benefit)

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IMPORTANT NOTE
   This is an informational guide only. All benefits are paid only in accordance with the terms of the Water and Power Employees' Retirement Plan. If there are any conflicts, real or apparent, between this guide and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will prevail. Therefore, before taking any action which will affect your future welfare, we advise you to consult the Retirement Plan Office for the specific terms of the Plan in any situation.

This coverage is important to any DWP employee who has children under the age of eighteen. Please call our Membership section for more information at 213-367-1695

   The Water and Power Employees' Retirement, Disability and Death Benefit Insurance Plan (Plan) offers Supplemental Family Death Benefit (SFDB) coverage to its active and retired employees who have minor children.

   The SFDB is voluntary. SFDB coverage is offered in addition to the standard Death Benefits to which all Plan members are entitled. (Please refer to the "Summary Plan Description" for a detailed explanation of Death Benefits.)

This Page Describes

 

What are the standard Death Benefits?

   If you should die in active service before you are eligible to retire or before you have completed 25 years of service, your surviving family members will receive:

  • a lump sum payment equal to 14 times your monthly salary
  • a refund of your contributions to the Retirement Plan plus interest
  • a monthly family death benefit allowance, if you have at least one child who is under age 18 or disabled at the time of your death.

 

What is SFDB?

   SFDB is an optional benefit which may provide increased monthly income to the surviving spouse and minor or disabled child(ren) of a deceased Water and Power employee who was covered by the Benefit.

 

How do I become eligible for the benefit?

   You must be an active member of the Retirement Plan to enroll. You become eligible for the benefit after you have made 39 biweekly contributions of $2.25 by payroll deduction (about 18 months.) Contributions continue until you decide the benefit is no longer needed.

 

Can my spouse enroll in SFDB?

   Spouses who are both employed by the DWP may both enroll in SFDB and are both entitled to a benefit. However; although both parents may enroll, only one benefit will be paid out per family. This applies whether the parents die at the same time, or whether one predeceases the other.

 

Am I covered if I become injured or leave the Department?

   If you have become eligible for the SFDB and ....

  • go on Disability or Workers' Compensation, you may maintain your eligibility.
  • go on a leave of absence without pay, you may arrange in advance to purchase up to six months' coverage.
  • you terminate DWP employment, your coverage terminates. If you return to DWP employment, you must go through a new qualifying period.

 

How long will my surviving spouse be eligible to receive the benefit?

   Your surviving spouse will receive SFDB payments until the last of your children is no longer eligible or until your spouse remarries, whichever happens first.

 

How long will my child(ren) be eligible to receive the benefit?

   Your children are eligible for SFDB payments until they reach age eighteen. As each child reaches eighteen, only the remaining child(ren) under eighteen are eligible. A child who marries before age eighteen also ceases to be eligible. A child who is disabled before age eighteen will continue to be eligible for benefit payments until he or she marries or becomes able to be gainfully employed.

 

What are the advantages of subscribing to SFDB?

   SFDB can increase the Department-supported Family Death Benefit. The number of eligible family members determines the monthly Benefit payment allowed per family:

Family Death Benefit (Department funded) pays:
one child $160.00 per month
with no surviving spouse
Supplemental Family Death Benefit (employee funded) adds:
one child $200.00 per month
with no surviving spouse
Total combined monthly Benefit payment with SFDB option: $360.00 per month

 

Family Death Benefit (Department funded) pays:
spouse $160.00 per month
one child $160.00 per month
Total $320.00 per month
Supplemental Family Death Benefit (employee funded) adds:
spouse $200.00 per month
one child $200.00 per month
Total $400.00 per month
Total combined monthly Benefit payment with SFDB option: $720.00 per month

 

Family Death Benefit (Department funded) pays:
spouse $150.00 per month
child #1 $150.00 per month
child #2 $150.00 per month
Total $450.00 per month
Supplemental Family Death Benefit (employee funded) adds:
spouse $136.67 per month
child #1 $136.67 per month
child #2 $136.67 per month
Total $410.00 per month
Total combined monthly Benefit payment with SFDB option: $860.00 per month

 

Family Death Benefit (Department funded) pays:
spouse $112.50 per month
child #1 $112.50 per month
child #2 $112.50 per month
child #3 $112.50 per month
Total $450.00 per month
Supplemental Family Death Benefit (employee funded) adds:
spouse $102.50 per month
child #1 $102.50 per month
child #2 $102.50 per month
child #3 $102.50 per month
Total $410.00 per month
Total combined monthly Benefit payment with SFDB option: $860.00 per month

 

To enroll in the plan

   Please complete an application and mail it to us. You can pick up an application in person at the Retirement Office, or call the Membership section at 213-367-1695 and we will send you an application by mail.

   Please notify the Membership section in writing when:

  • you have a new addition to your family. Please include the new birthdate.
  • your youngest child reaches age eighteen.
  • you wish to terminate your coverage.

 

  
Although this document discusses the Plan in some detail, if there are any conflicts, real or apparent, between this document and the City Charter or the Plan, the terms of the Charter and the Plan will at all times be the final authority. Therefore before relying on provisions described in this document or taking any action which will affect your future welfare, you and your beneficiaries are urged to consult the Retirement Plan Office for the specific terms of the Plan in any situation.