Chapter 22. Active Death Benefits: Family Allowance of California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 13. >> Chapter 22.
(a) This chapter governs the eligibility provisions, benefit
provisions, allowance computations, and related provisions for the
benefits payable under this part with respect to the Defined Benefit
Program upon the death of eligible members. "Members," as used in
this chapter, means all members who were receiving a disability
allowance on October 15, 1992, and all persons who were members of
the plan under this part on October 15, 1992, who were not receiving
an allowance and who did not elect, pursuant to Chapter 21.5
(commencing with Section 23700), to be covered under Chapter 23
(commencing with Section 23850).
(b) This chapter also contains three sections related to survivor
benefits payable on account of deaths that occurred prior to July 1,
1972.
(a) A death payment of no less than five thousand dollars
($5,000) shall be paid to the beneficiary upon receipt of proof of
death of a member who had one or more years of credited service,
including service deemed to the member under subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 22851, at least one of
which had been earned subsequent to the most recent refund of
accumulated retirement contributions, if the member died during any
one of the following periods:
(1) While in employment for which creditable compensation is paid.
(2) While disabled, if the disability had been continuous from the
last day for which creditable compensation had been paid.
(3) Within four months after termination of creditable service or
termination of employment, whichever occurs first.
(4) Within four months after termination of a disability allowance
if no service was performed after the termination.
(5) Within 12 months of the last day for which creditable
compensation was paid, if the member was on an approved leave of
absence without compensation for reasons other than disability.
(6) While on a leave of absence to perform qualified military
service, if the death occurred on or after January 1, 2007.
(b) A death payment pursuant to this section shall not be payable
for the death of a member that occurs within one year commencing with
the effective date of reinstatement from service retirement pursuant
to Section 24208.
(c) The board may adjust the death payment amount following each
actuarial valuation based on changes in the All Urban California
Consumer Price Index and adopt any adjusted amount as a plan
amendment.
(d) A beneficiary may waive his or her right to the death payment
in accordance with the requirements established by the system.
(a) Upon receipt of proof of death of a member who has no
preretirement option in effect, and who either does not meet the
eligibility requirements set forth in Section 23804, or meets the
eligibility requirements set forth in Section 23804 but has no
eligible survivors for a family allowance as specified in Section
23805 or 23806, there shall be paid to the beneficiary both of the
following:
(1) The accumulated retirement contributions after July 1, 1935.
(2) The accumulated annuity deposit contributions.
(b) Accumulated contributions include credited interest through
the date of payment.
Notwithstanding Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13100) of
Part 1 of Division 8 of the Probate Code, or any other provision of
law, death payments and return of contributions pursuant to Sections
23801 and 23802, if any, may be requested by the beneficiary and paid
by the system as soon as practicable after receipt of proof of
death.
(a) A family allowance is payable upon the death of an
active member or a disabled member who was receiving a disability
allowance that began to accrue after June 30, 1972.
(b) (1) For the family allowance to be payable upon the death of
the member, all of the following conditions shall be met at the time
of death:
(A) Death occurred after June 30, 1972.
(B) A preretirement election of an option is not in effect.
(C) The provisions for the death payment under this part have been
met.
(2) In addition to the conditions specified in paragraph (1), at
least one-half year of credited service had been performed subsequent
to the end of the last break, if a break in service of more than one
year had occurred.
(3) In addition to the conditions specified in paragraph (1), at
least one year of credited service had been performed subsequent to
the last reinstatement date, if reinstated from service or disability
retirement.
(c) The family allowance shall be paid in lieu of the return of
the member's accumulated retirement contributions.
(d) The family allowance may be terminated, if all eligible
beneficiaries formally waive their rights in accordance with the
requirements established by the system.
A family allowance is payable in the amount and to the
specified persons in the following order of priority:
(a) To the deceased member's surviving spouse who has financial
responsibility for at least one dependent child, an amount equal to
40 percent of the member's final compensation or the disabled member'
s projected final compensation plus 10 percent of the member's final
compensation or the disabled member's projected final compensation
for each child, up to a maximum allowance of 90 percent.
(b) If there is no surviving spouse or upon the death of the
surviving spouse, to each dependent child, an amount equal to 10
percent of the deceased member's final compensation or the disabled
member's projected final compensation, up to a maximum allowance of
50 percent. If there are more than five dependent children, they
shall share equally in the maximum allowance of 50 percent.
(c) To the surviving spouse at 60 years of age or over if there is
no dependent child, a monthly allowance equal to the amount that
would have been payable to the spouse as beneficiary under Option 3
pursuant to Section 24300, as that section read on December 31, 2006,
that provides an allowance equal to one-half of the modified
retirement allowance the member would have received at 60 years of
age, computed on the member's projected final compensation and
projected service to normal retirement age. The allowance payable
under this subdivision shall be increased by application of the
benefit improvement factor for time that elapses between the date the
member would have attained normal retirement age and the date the
family allowance under this subdivision begins to accrue. The
allowance calculation shall include service credit for the unused
sick leave that had accrued to the member as of the date of his or
her death. Eligibility for the inclusion of service credit for unused
sick leave credit and the calculation of that service credit shall
be determined pursuant to Section 22717.
(d) If there is no surviving spouse or dependent child, to the
dependent parent, 60 years of age or over, a monthly allowance equal
to the amount that would have been payable to the dependent parent as
beneficiary under Option 3 pursuant to Section 24300, as that
section read on December 31, 2006, that provides an allowance equal
to one-half of the modified retirement allowance the member would
have received at 60 years of age, computed on the member's projected
final compensation and projected service to normal retirement age.
The allowance calculation shall include service credit for the unused
sick leave that had accrued to the member as of the date of his or
her death. Eligibility for the inclusion of service credit for unused
sick leave and the calculation of that service credit shall be
determined pursuant to Section 22717. If there are two dependent
parents, only one family allowance shall be payable under this
subdivision and that allowance shall be computed on the assumption
that the younger parent is the option beneficiary and the allowance
shall be divided equally for as long as there are two dependent
parents. Thereafter, the full allowance shall be payable to the
surviving dependent parent.
(e) The surviving spouse or dependent parent may elect to begin
receiving the family allowance payable under subdivision (c) or (d)
immediately upon the later of the death of the member or when there
is no dependent child, or to defer receipt of the allowance to the
date the surviving spouse or dependent parent attains 60 years of
age. If allowance payments commence prior to the date the surviving
spouse or dependent parent attains 60 years of age, the allowance
payable shall be actuarially reduced.
(f) If there is no dependent child, a surviving spouse or
dependent parent or parents may elect, prior to receipt of the first
payment under subdivision (c) or (d), to receive the member's
accumulated retirement contributions in a lump sum subject to a
reduction for any disability allowance or family allowance payments
previously made.
(g) (1) The allowance calculated under this section shall not
include either of the following:
(A) The increase in the percentage of final compensation pursuant
to Section 24203.5.
(B) The increase in the monthly allowance pursuant to Section
24203.6.
(2) This subdivision does not constitute a change in, but is
declaratory of, the existing law.
(a) A parent claiming a benefit under Section 23805 is
dependent if all of the following apply:
(1) The parent was receiving one-half or more of his or her
support from the member for the tax year preceding the member's
death.
(2) The parent was declared as a dependent on the income tax
return of the member for at least one of the two tax years preceding
the member's death.
(3) No one else has assumed at least one-half of the parent's
support in the tax year of the member's death.
(4) The parent has net assets of not more than twenty-five
thousand dollars ($25,000), excluding his or her personal residence
and personal property therein.
(b) A person claiming a benefit under Section 23805 or his or her
guardian shall furnish the board a state or federal income tax return
and any other evidence regarding his or her financial status as the
board may require.
(a) A dependent child who is not in the care of the
surviving spouse shall be included in the calculation of the family
allowance. That child's portion of the allowance shall be paid to the
guardian of the estate of the child, the natural or adoptive parent
having custody of the child, or if none, then to the trustee of the
trust established for the benefit of the child.
(b) In the case of a dependent child age 18 years or older, the
child's portion of the allowance shall be paid to the guardian of the
estate of the child, trustee of the trust established for the
benefit of the child, or if none, then to the child.
The family allowance payable to the surviving spouse who has
financial responsibility for at least one dependent child, or the
family allowance payable to a dependent child, shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the unmodified benefits paid or payable from other
public systems for the same event which qualified the surviving
spouse or dependent child for the family allowance.
If the person or persons to whom a family allowance is
payable dies or no longer qualifies for the allowance, the allowance
shall be terminated on the day of that event except as provided in
Section 24600.
(a) Upon termination of family allowances under this part
and prior to the payment of allowances equal to the amount of the
member's accumulated retirement contributions at the time of death,
the balance shall be paid to the member's beneficiary.
(b) Payments provided under this section shall include credited
interest on the unpaid balance calculated from the date family
allowances were last paid or from the date of death, if no family
allowance payments were made, to the date the balance is paid.
(a) The surviving spouse of a deceased member who previously
lost entitlement to benefits prescribed by this part due to
remarriage shall be entitled to resume payment of the benefits
effective either on January 1, 2000, or the first day of the month
following receipt by the board of a written application for
resumption of benefits, whichever date is later. The amount of the
benefits payable shall be calculated as though the benefits had been
paid without interruption from the date of remarriage through the
benefits resumption effective date.
(b) The board shall be under no requirement to identify, locate,
or notify a remarried spouse of a deceased member who previously lost
entitlement as a result of remarriage about the resumption of
benefits provided in this section. The board shall be under no
requirement to provide the name or address or any other information
concerning any remarried spouse of a deceased member to any person,
agency, or entity for the purpose of notifying those who may be
eligible for the resumption of benefits under this section.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to imply or
interpreted to mean that the benefits addressed shall be required to
be paid retroactively.
(d) This section does not apply to the surviving domestic partner
of a member.