What Your Survivors Should Know

If you elected your spouse as a survivor pension beneficiary after your pension began, upon your death he or she will be eligible for ongoing pension payments for his or her lifetime providing your death occurs 12 months after the election If your death occurs within 12 months of the election, pension payments will cease 12 months after your death.

Whether ongoing benefits are due or not, your survivor should contact us upon your death. We will ask for your social security number so we can stop your payments and review your record to see if anything more is payable.

Continued insurance for your survivors.

If you elected a survivor option for your pension, group insurances will continue uninterrupted for your designated pension beneficiary after your death. Your eligible dependents who were covered at the time of your death will continue to receive insurance benefits if you chose the survivor option.

If you elected your spouse as a survivor pension beneficiary after your pension began, upon your death he or she will remain eligible for insurance coverage but must pay the full, unsubsidized monthly premiums. The premiums will be deducted from the pension. If the pension does not cover the entire cost of the monthly premium, a bill will be sent for the remainder.

If you did not choose a survivor option, coverage for your enrolled spouse and dependents ceases on the last day of the month of your death. However, they may be eligible to continue insurance coverage for up to 36 months through COBRA or for an unsubsidized group conversion policy as described in Your Insurance Benefits.