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Retired Safety Survivor Benefits

In the event of your death, the SFERS Pension Plan provides for a continuation allowance to your qualified survivor and a lump sum benefit to your designated beneficiary or beneficiaries.

Continuation Allowance

Under the Safety Plans, if you die while retired, SFERS will pay a continuation allowance to a qualified survivor. The type and amount of the survivor benefit are primarily dependent upon:

  1. the member’s Plan (old or new);
  2. the member’s cause of death (work-related or non-work-related);
  3. the member’s membership status at the date of death (active or retired); and
  4. the status of the member’s survivor at the date of death (qualified survivor and/or designated beneficiary).

A qualified spouse/domestic partner must also be designated as your sole primary beneficiary to receive a continuation allowance upon your death.

What is a Qualified Survivor?

 Old Plans (members hired prior to November 2, 1976)

A qualified survivor is an eligible Spouse/Domestic Partner: Your spouse/domestic partner who was your spouse/domestic partner continuously for at least one full year immediately prior to your date of death.

SFERS recognizes domestic partnerships that have been established by filing a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the San Francisco County Clerk, domestic partnerships registered with the State of California or other California jurisdictions, as well as domestic partnerships or similar legal relationships formed and recognized in other jurisdictions; or

  1. An unmarried child under age 18 or;
  2. Dependent child of any age or;
  3. Dependent parent(s)

New Plans (members hired on or after November 2, 1976)

A qualified survivor is an eligible Spouse/Domestic Partner. Your spouse/domestic partner who was your spouse/domestic partner continuously for at least one full year immediately prior to your date of retirement and who remains your spouse/domestic partner continuously during retirement until your death.

SFERS recognizes domestic partnerships that have been established by filing a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the San Francisco County Clerk, domestic partnerships registered with the State of California or other California jurisdictions, as well as domestic partnerships or similar legal relationships formed and recognized in other jurisdictions); or

  1. An unmarried child under age 18 or;
  2. Dependent child of any age or;
  3. Dependent parent(s)

If you do not have a qualified survivor, then a lump sum benefit will be paid to your designated beneficiary or beneficiaries.

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Lump-Sum Benefit

SFERS will pay a lump sum benefit to your designated beneficiary equal to $100 for each year of service credit you have at retirement up to a maximum of $3,000.

If you do not have a qualified survivor and you do not designate a beneficiary, a lump sum benefit will be paid to your estate.

What is a Beneficiary?

A person or persons, a trust, or an estate designated to receive a lump sum benefit upon your death.  

Please refer to “Death after Retirement” in your “Summary of Key Plan Provisions” for a detailed description of survivor benefits.