Family Death Benefits

The Plan provides a monthly allowance for each of your surviving minor children and/or adult disabled children.

For Active members, to be eligible for this benefit, you must be a Full Member of the Plan and contributing to the Plan at the time of your death, unless your coverage is automatically continued while you are off work on a paid Disability Leave or Workers' Compensation Leave. For more information, please see the section on Full Membership.

For Retirees, to be eligible for this benefit, you must have had at least five years of Department Service with the Plan at the time of your retirement. Your Qualifying Service with LACERS will not be used to determine your eligibility for the Family Death Benefit allowance.

SUPPLEMENTAL FAMILY DEATH BENEFIT
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In addition, the Plan provides an optional Supplemental Family Death Benefit monthly allowance if you die after completing a qualifying period.

QUALIFYING PERIOD

For Active members, the contribution for the Supplemental Family Death Benefit is $2.25 per payroll period. You must enroll and make contributions by payroll deduction for 39 successive bi-weekly payroll periods (approximately 18 months) before coverage becomes effective.

For Retirees, you may continue your coverage into retirement by paying $4.90 per month. You must have already completed the required 39 bi-weekly contributions at the time of your retirement, and you were contributing to the Supplemental Family Death Benefit at the time of your retirement. To elect to continue your coverage after retirement, please discuss this election with your Retirement Counselor.

DISCONTINUING OF SUPPLEMENTAL FAMILY DEATH BENEFIT COVERAGE

You may discontinue coverage at any time by notifying the Retirement Plan Office. Active members may re-enroll by making contributions by payroll deduction for 39 successive bi-weekly payroll periods before coverage recommences. However, a retiree may not re-enroll once he or she has requested to discontinue the benefit.

You must notify the Retirement Plan Office when you want to stop deductions (e.g. your youngest child turns age 18). The Retirement Plan Office will not stop the deductions without a written request, and will not refund amounts deducted for the Supplemental Family Death Benefit.

FAMILY DEATH BENEFIT/SUPPLEMENTAL TABLE
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The monthly amount payable for the Family Death Benefit and Supplemental Family Benefit is the same for both active members and retirees.

Family Death Benefit Supplemental Family Death Benefit Monthly Total
Child $937 $520 $1,457
Spouse/Domestic Partner $937 $520 $1,457
Maximum per Member Death $2,187 $1,066 $3,253

Your spouse's/domestic partner's portion will not be payable if he or she is receiving a separate spousal continuance.

TERMINATION OF BENEFIT
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The monthly allowance for the Family Death Benefit and Supplemental Family Death Benefit, if applicable, will terminate for your child when:

  • Your child reaches age 18; or
  • If disabled, your child over age 18 is no longer disabled; or
  • Your child marries.

The monthly allowance for the Family Death Benefit and Supplemental Family Death Benefit, if applicable, will terminate for your spouse/domestic partner when:

  • Your spouse/domestic partner remarries; or
  • Your spouse/domestic partner no longer has the care of at least 1 of your children; or
  • The last of your children is no longer eligible for the benefit.