§ 14-128 — Occupational death benefit

An occupational death benefit is provided for a member of the System whose death, prior to retirement, is the proximate result of bodily injuries sustained or a hazard undergone while in the performance and within the scope of the member's duties. (a) Conditions for payment. Exclusive of the lump sum payment provided for herein, all annuities under this Section shall accrue and be payable for complete calendar months, beginning on the first day of the month next following the month in which the initiating event occurs and ending on the last day of the month in which the terminating event occurs. The following named survivors of the member may be eligible for an annuity under this Section: (i) The member's spouse. (ii) An unmarried child of the member under age 18 (under age 22 if a full-time student); an unmarried stepchild under age 18 (under age 22 if a full-time student) who has been such for at least one year at the date of the member's death; an unmarried adopted child under age 18 (under age 22 if a full-time student); and an unmarried child over age 18 who is dependent by reason of a physical or mental disability, for so long as such physical or mental disability continues. For the purposes of this Section disability means inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. (iii) If no spouse or eligible children survive: a dependent parent of the member; a dependent step-parent by a marriage contracted before the member attained age 18; or a dependent adopting parent by whom the member was adopted before he or she attained age 18. The term "dependent" relating to an occupational death benefit means a survivor of the member who was receiving from the member at the date of the member's death at least 1/2 of the support for maintenance including board, lodging, medical care and like living costs. Payment of the annuity shall continue until the occurrence of the following: (1) remarriage before age 55 that occurs before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly or death, in the case of a surviving spouse; (2) attainment of age 18 or termination of disability, death, or marriage, in the case of an eligible child; (3) remarriage before age 55 or death, in the case of a dependent parent. If none of the aforementioned beneficiaries is living at the date of death of the member, no occupational death benefit shall be payable, but the nonoccupational death benefit shall be payable as provided in this Article. The change made to this subsection by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly (pertaining to remarriage prior to age 55) applies without regard to whether the deceased member was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act. (b) Amount of benefit. The member's accumulated contributions plus credited interest shall be payable in a lump sum to such person as the member has nominated by written direction, duly acknowledged and filed with the Board, or if no such nomination to the estate of the member. When an annuitant is re-employed by a Department, the accumulated contributions plus credited interest payable on the member's account shall, if the member has not previously elected a reversionary annuity, consist of the excess, if any, of the member's total accumulated contributions plus credited interest for all creditable service over the total amount of all retirement annuity payments received by the member prior to death. In addition to the foregoing payment, an annuity is provided for eligible survivors as follows: (1) If the survivor is a spouse only, the annuity shall be 50% of the member's final average compensation. (2) If the spouse has in his or her care an eligible child or children, the annuity shall be increased by an amount equal to 15% of the final average compensation on account of each such child, subject to a limitation on the combined annuities to a surviving spouse and children of 75% of final average compensation. (3) If there is no surviving spouse, or if the surviving spouse dies or remarries while a child remains eligible, then each such child shall be entitled to an annuity of 15% of the deceased member's final average compensation, subject to a limitation of 50% of final average compensation to all such children. (4) If there is no surviving spouse or eligible children, then an annuity shall be payable to the member's dependent parents, equal to 25% of final average compensation to each such beneficiary. If any annuity payable under this Section is less than the corresponding survivors annuity, the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the annuity under this Section may elect to receive the survivors annuity and the nonoccupational death benefit provided for in this Article in lieu of the annuity provided under this Section. (c) Occupational death claims pending adjudication by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission or a ruling by the agency responsible for determining the liability of the State under the "Workers' Compensation Act" or "Workers' Occupational Diseases Act" shall be payable under Sections 14-120 and 14-121 until a ruling or adjudication occurs, if the beneficiary or beneficiaries: (1) meet all conditions for payment as prescribed in this Article; and (2) execute an assignment of benefits payable as a result of adjudication by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission or a ruling by the agency responsible for determining the liability of the State under such Acts. The assignment shall be made to the System and shall be for an amount equal to the excess of benefits paid under Sections 14-120 and 14-121 over benefits payable as a result of adjudication of the workers' compensation claim computed from the date of death of the member. (d) Every occupational death annuity payable under this Section shall be increased on each January 1 occurring on or after (i) January 1, 1990, or (ii) the first anniversary of the commencement of the annuity, whichever occurs later, by an amount equal to 3% of the current amount of the annuity, including any previous increases under this Article, without regard to whether the deceased member was in service on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 95-279, eff. 1-1-08.)