Payment Options > Survivor Options

If you elect a survivor option, you receive a reduced pension throughout your lifetime; however, upon your death your pension and health insurances continue for the lifetime of your survivor pension beneficiary. You can name your spouse, child (including your adopted child) or grandchild, sibling, or parent as survivor pension beneficiary. If you are married and do not name your spouse as beneficiary, he or she must sign off on the survivor benefit when you apply for retirement.

If you elect the 100 percent survivor option, upon your death your survivor will receive the same monthly benefit you received (before any tax, insurance premium, or other deductions). If you elect the 75 percent option, your survivor receives 75 percent of your benefit amount; with the 50 percent option your survivor will be paid half of your monthly pension payment.

The monthly pension amount for a survivor option is based on actuarial tables that factor in life expectancies for you and your beneficiary. These tables can be found in Retirement Readiness - A Two-Year Countdown .

Note: The actuarial tables only provide estimates. Percentages are rounded and are subject to change.

Additional notes about the survivor options.

• You cannot change your option or your survivor pension beneficiary for any reason after your retirement effective date.  
• If you elect one of the survivor options, but then your pension beneficiary dies before you, your pension payment will increase to the straight life amount (either full or early reduced). 
• Upon your death, insurances continue for your designated survivor pension beneficiary. Your eligible dependents who were covered at the time of your death will also continue to receive insurance benefits only if you have chosen the survivor option.
• Your survivor option choice has no bearing on insurance coverage for your dependents. If they are eligible, they have full coverage (not 75 percent or 50 percent coverage). 
• If you get divorced after your pension begins, and your spouse is your pension beneficiary, you can change your survivor option to the straight life option only if ordered by the court.
• If you take the early reduced pension and also choose a survivor option, your early reduced pension is calculated first. This amount then becomes the basis for figuring your survivor option payment.
• If you qualify for a supplemental pension as a covered employee and also choose a survivor option, the supplemental portion of your pension is for your lifetime only and cannot be transferred to a survivor.