Miscellaneous Survivor Benefits
If you should die before you retire, and Miscellaneous Members are qualified to retire for service on the date of your death, your qualified survivor may choose between a monthly continuation or a lump-sum benefit.
Benefit Options
Monthly Continuation: A monthly continuation allowance equal to 50% of the monthly service retirement benefit you would have received had you retired on the date of your death
Lump-Sum: A lump-sum benefit equal to your account balance (contributions and interest) plus six months’ salary
A qualified spouse/domestic partner must also be designated as your sole primary beneficiary to receive a continuation allowance upon your death.
Survivor Benefits
Below are the survivor benefits for Miscellaneous Plans: New Plan Tier III – A8.603, New Plan Tier II – A8.600, and New Plan Tier I – A8.587.
| Member is Qualified to Retire for Service on Date of Death | Paid to Qualified Survivor: Monthly continuation allowance equal to 50% of the monthly benefit you would have received had you retired for service on the date of your death or Lump-sum benefit equal to your account balance plus 6 months of salary |
| Member is Not Qualified to Retire for Service on Date of Death | Paid to Designated Beneficiary(ies) or Estate: Lump-sum benefit equal to your account balance plus 6 months of salary |
Qualified Survivor
A continuation allowance is paid to your qualified survivor only for the period that the survivor remains qualified. For an eligible spouse/domestic partner that is until they marry or establish a new domestic partnership, and for an unmarried child under age 18, the earlier of reaching age 18 or marrying.
If you should die before you retire and you are not qualified to retire for service on the date of your death, a lump sum* will be paid to your designated beneficiary(ies), or your estate if you do not designate a beneficiary(ies).
A lump sum benefit is equal to your account balance (contributions and interest) plus six months’ earnable salary.
Who is a Qualified Survivor?
A Qualified Survivor is an Eligible Spouse/Domestic Partner to whom you were married/partnered continuously for at least one full year immediately prior to your death and was your spouse/domestic partner continuously until your death and designated as sole primary beneficiary on SFERS beneficiary form.
SFERS recognizes domestic partnerships that have been established by filing a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the San Francisco County Clerk, domestic partnerships filed with the State of California or other California jurisdictions, as well as domestic partnerships or similar legal relationships formed and recognized in other jurisdictions.
SFERS does not recognize domestic partnerships certified only by a notary.
or
An unmarried child under the age of 18
Beneficiary
It’s important to designate a beneficiary for your SFERS benefits and to keep your beneficiary(ies) up to date. To designate a beneficiary, or to update your beneficiary after a life event such as marriage, divorce, or the birth/adoption of a child, log in to mySFERS member portal and add/edit beneficiary(ies) from your Beneficiary Dashboard.
Or, you can download and complete a SFERS Designation of Beneficiary Form and mail your completed form to SFERS or drop it off in our lock box located on the 6th floor of our building. Please have the completed form notarized before submitting it to our office.
What is a Beneficiary?
A person or persons, a trust, or an estate designated to receive a lump sum benefit upon your death
For a detailed description of survivor benefits, refer to “Death prior to Retirement” in your Summary of Key Plan Provisions.
