Section 23855 Of Chapter 23. Active Death Benefits: Survivor Benefits From California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 13. >> Chapter 23.
23855
. (a) The survivor benefit allowance is a monthly allowance
equal to one-half of the modified retirement allowance the member
would have received at normal retirement age, if the member had
retired and elected Option 3 pursuant to Section 24300, as that
section read on December 31, 2006, naming the spouse as the option
beneficiary.
(b) The allowance payable under this subdivision shall be based on
the member's actual service credit and final compensation as of the
date of his or her death, the retirement factor at normal retirement
age, and the member's and spouse's ages as of the date the member
would have attained normal retirement age. If the member's death
occurs after he or she attains normal retirement age, his or her
actual final compensation, the retirement factor at normal retirement
age, and the member's and spouse's ages as of the date of the member'
s death shall be used in the allowance calculation.
(c) 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 unused sick leave
service credit and the calculation of that service credit shall be
determined pursuant to Section 22717.
(d) (1) The allowance calculation shall not include either of the
following:
(A) The increase in the percentage of final compensation pursuant
to Section 24203.5.
(B) The increase of the monthly allowance pursuant to Section
24203.6.
(2) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this
paragraph do not constitute a change in, but are declaratory of,
existing law.
(e) The surviving spouse may elect to begin receiving the survivor
benefit allowance immediately as of the date of the member's death
or to defer receipt of the allowance to the date the member would
have attained normal retirement age. If allowance payments to the
surviving spouse commence prior to the date the member would have
attained normal retirement age, the allowance payable shall be
actuarially reduced.
(f) If the spouse elects, pursuant to Section 23852, to receive
the survivor benefit allowance, an additional 10 percent of final
compensation shall be payable for each dependent child who is under
21 years of age, up to a maximum of 50 percent of final compensation.
The child's portion shall begin to accrue on the day following the
member's date of death and shall be payable even if the spouse elects
to postpone receipt of the spouse's survivor benefit allowance until
the date the member would have attained normal retirement age.
(g) If there is no surviving spouse, an allowance in an amount
equal to 10 percent of the deceased member's final compensation shall
be paid to each dependent child who is under 21 years of age, up to
a maximum of 50 percent of final compensation. If there are more than
five dependent children, they shall receive allowances in equal
shares of the 50 percent of final compensation. A child's portion of
the survivor benefit allowance shall begin to accrue on the day
following the member's date of death.