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Retired Sheriff 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 Sheriff Plan, 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 cause of death (work-related or non-work-related); and
  2. 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?

Applies to members hired on or after January 7, 2012

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

  • An unmarried child under age 18 or;
  • Dependent child of any age or;
  • Dependent parent(s)

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).

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Lum-Sum Benefit

SFERS will 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.

What is a Beneficiary?

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

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.

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