Lump Sum Death Benefit

Upon the death of a retired member, IMRF will pay a $3,000 employer death benefit to the primary beneficiary, or if no primary beneficiary survives, to the secondary beneficiary designated by the member.

Surviving spouse benefits

You were married for more than one year

A surviving spouse pension will be payable if you and your spouse were married for at least one year prior to the date you stopped participating in IMRF. If you have questions about your eligible spouse, see "Changes in Marital Status".

You were married for less than one year

If you and your spouse were married for less than one year prior to the date you stopped participating in IMRF, your surviving spouse will not receive a surviving spouse pension. Upon retirement, you were refunded your contributions designated for a surviving spouse pension. Instead, your designated beneficiary(ies) would receive any unpaid member contributions plus interest and the $3,000 death benefit.

If you do not have a valid Designation of Beneficiary form on file with IMRF, the $3,000 will be paid to your estate.

You are not married

If there is no surviving spouse, your beneficiary would receive any unpaid member contributions plus interest and the $3,000 death benefit.

Examples:

1. John and Jane were married in 1955. John stopped participating in IMRF on June 15, 1994; his pension was effective July 1, 1994. John dies in 1997.

   Jane is eligible for a surviving spouse pension. The $3,000 death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary(ies) John named on his Designation of Beneficiary form on file with IMRF.

   Explanation: John and Jane were married for more than one year prior to the date John stopped participating in IMRF, and they were married at the time of John's death.

2. John stopped participating in IMRF on June 15, 1998; his pension was effective July 1, 1998. John and Jane married the following year, on September 15, 1999. John dies two years later, in 2001.

   Jane is not eligible to receive a surviving spouse pension.

   Explanation: John and Jane were married after John stopped participating in IMRF.

3. John and Jane were married October 1, 1988. John stopped participating in IMRF on June 15, 1989; but chose a start date for his pension of January 1, 1991. John dies November 10, 1997.

   Jane is not eligible to receive a surviving spouse pension.

   Explanation: Although John and Jane were married for more than a year prior to the effective date of his pension, they were not married for more than one year prior to when he stopped participating in IMRF

Related Pages:

Retired members: How divorce and remarriage affect your death benefits.

Surviving Spouse Pension

Surviving Spouse Pension: How divorce and remarriage affect your pension.

Reporting a death to IMRF