When a retired member dies, two benefits are potentially payable:

• $3,000 lump sum death benefit is payable to the member’s beneficiary(ies)
• Surviving spouse pension is payable to the member’s spouse if the spouse is eligible.

If you were:

Single or married/in a civil union less than one year when you retired

You received a refund of your surviving spouse contributions with interest when you retired. A surviving spouse pension is not payable.

Married or in a civil union when you retired, but you later divorce

If you were married or in a civil union when you retired and for at least one year before you stopped participating in IMRF but you divorce after your pension began, your former spouse remains eligible for a surviving spouse pension.

Married or in a civil union when you retired, but you later divorce and remarry or enter into a new civil union

If you were married or in a civil union when you retired and for at least one year before you stopped participating in IMRF but you divorce after your pension began, your former spouse remains eligible for a surviving spouse pension.

Married or in a civil union when you retired, but your spouse predeceases you

If you were married or in a civil union when you retired and for at least one year before you stopped participating in IMRF but your spouse predeceases you, a surviving spouse pension is not payable.

However, if you remarry or enter into a new civil union, your current spouse could be eligible for an IMRF spouse pension. Upon your death, IMRF will pay a spouse pension to your current spouse if:

• your previous eligible spouse is deceased and
• the date of marriage or civil union to your current spouse is at least one year prior to your death and
• you terminated IMRF participation on or after March 26, 1992.