Qualified Survivor

Retired Sheriff Member
(members hired on or after January 7, 2012)

A Qualified Survivor is:

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

Continuation Allowance

If you die while retired on a Service, Deferred Retirement, or Ordinary Disability (non-work-related) Retirement

• SFERS will pay a monthly continuation allowance to a qualified survivor equal to 50% of the monthly retirement benefit you were receiving on the date of your death.

If you die while retired on an Industrial Disability Retirement (and disability did not cause your death)

• The Retirement System will pay a monthly continuation allowance to a qualified survivor equal to 75% of the monthly retirement benefit you were receiving on the date of your death.
• If you retired for industrial disability not qualified for service retirement, effective on the date you would have qualified for service retirement, the monthly continuation allowance will be recalculated to equal 75% of the monthly service retirement benefit you would have received had you retired for service on that date.

If you die while retired on an Industrial Disability Retirement (and disability did cause your death)

• The Retirement System will pay a monthly continuation allowance to a qualified survivor equal to 100% of the monthly retirement benefit you were receiving on the date of your death.
• If you retired for industrial disability not qualified for service retirement, effective on the date you would have qualified for service retirement, the monthly continuation allowance will be recalculated to equal 100% of the monthly service retirement benefit you would have received had you retired for service on that date.

A continuation allowance may be paid to your qualified survivor, but only for the period that the survivor remains qualified (e.g. the earlier of age 18 or date of marriage for an unmarried child under age 18, or until remarriage for a spouse).

Lump Sum Benefit

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