CHAPTER 23. Active Death Benefits: Survivor Benefits [23850. - 23859.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 23.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23850. Section 23850.

This chapter governs the eligibility provisions, benefit provisions, allowance computations, and related provisions for the benefits payable under this part with respect to the Defined Benefit Program upon the death of eligible members. “Member,” as used in this chapter, means all persons who become members of the plan under this part on or after October 16, 1992, and all persons who were members as of October 15, 1992, who elected, pursuant to Chapter 21.5 (commencing with Section 23700), to be covered under the death benefit provisions of this chapter.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23851. Section 23851.

(a) A death payment of not less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) shall be paid to the beneficiary, as designated pursuant to Section 23300, upon receipt of proof of death of a member, who had one or more years of credited service, including service deemed to the member under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 22851, at least one of which had been earned subsequent to the most recent refund of accumulated retirement contributions, if the member died during any one of the following periods: (1) While in employment for which creditable compensation is paid. (2) Within four months after termination of creditable service or termination of employment, whichever occurs first. (3) Within 12 months of the last day for which creditable compensation was paid, if the member was on an approved leave of absence without creditable compensation for reasons other than disability. (4) While on a leave of absence to perform qualified military service, if the death occurred on or after January 1, 2007. (b) A death payment pursuant to this section shall not be payable for the death of a member that occurs within one year commencing with the effective date of termination of the service retirement allowance pursuant to Section 24208 or during the six calendar months commencing with the effective date of termination of the disability retirement allowance pursuant to Section 24117. (c) The board may adjust the death payment amount following each actuarial valuation based on changes in the All Urban California Consumer Price Index and adopt as a plan amendment with respect to the Defined Benefit Program any adjusted amount. (d) A designated beneficiary may waive the right to the death payment in accordance with the requirements established by the system. The waiver shall be submitted on a properly executed form prescribed by the system. The filing of a waiver by a beneficiary constitutes a complete and immediate discharge of all obligations of the board, the system, or the plan to or on behalf of the beneficiary.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23852. Section 23852.

Upon receipt of proof of death of a member who has no preretirement option in effect: (a) The surviving spouse may elect to receive either of the following: (1) The member’s accumulated retirement contributions in a lump sum. (2) If the member meets the provisions set forth in Section 23854, the survivor benefit allowance pursuant to Sections 23854 and 23855. (b) If there is no surviving spouse, and the member meets the provisions set forth in Section 23854, then each dependent child shall receive the child’s portion of the survivor benefit allowance pursuant to Sections 23854, 23855, and 23856. The child’s portion of the survivor benefit allowance shall be paid in lieu of the return of the member’s accumulated retirement contributions. (c) If there is no surviving spouse or dependent child to receive a benefit under subdivision (a) or (b), the member’s accumulated retirement contributions shall be paid to the member’s beneficiary in a lump sum. (d) The member’s accumulated annuity deposit contributions shall be paid to the member’s beneficiary in a lump sum. (e) The payment of accumulated contributions in a lump sum shall include credited interest through the date of payment. (f) A beneficiary may waive the right to the lump-sum payment or survivor benefit allowance in accordance with the requirements established by the system. The waiver shall be submitted on a properly executed form prescribed by the system. All waiver forms for an ongoing benefit shall include an acknowledgment on the part of the waiving beneficiary that the benefit being waived is an ongoing benefit, which may exceed the total amount of contributions and interest payable from the member’s account as a result of the waiver. The filing of a waiver by a beneficiary constitutes a complete and immediate discharge of all obligations of the board, the system, or the plan to, or on behalf of, the beneficiary.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23853. Section 23853.

Notwithstanding Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13100) of Part 1 of Division 8 of the Probate Code or any other provision of law to the contrary, death payments and return of contributions pursuant to Sections 23851 and 23852, if any, may be requested by the surviving spouse or beneficiary and paid by the system as soon as practicable after receipt of proof of death.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23854. Section 23854.

(a) A survivor benefit allowance is payable upon receipt of proof of death of a member, as defined in Section 23850, who had one or more years of credited service, including deemed service under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 22851, at least one of which had been earned subsequent to the most recent refund of accumulated retirement contributions. (b) For the survivor benefit allowance to be payable upon the death of a member, all of the following conditions shall be met at the time of death: (1) Death occurred after October 15, 1992. (2) A preretirement election of an option is not in effect. (3) Death occurs during any one of the following periods: (A) While in employment for which compensation is paid. (B) Within four months after termination of service or termination of employment, whichever occurs first. (C) Within four months after reinstatement from disability retirement. (D) Within 12 months following the last day for which compensation was paid if the member was on an approved leave of absence without compensation for reasons other than disability. (E) While on a leave of absence to perform qualified military service, if the death occurred on or after January 1, 2007. (4) At least one-half year of credited service had been performed subsequent to the end of the last break in service, if a break in service of more than one year had occurred. (5) At least one year of credited service had been performed subsequent to the last reinstatement date, if reinstated from service retirement. (c) The survivor benefit allowance shall be paid in lieu of the return of the member’s accumulated retirement contributions. (d) The survivor benefit allowance may be terminated, if all eligible beneficiaries formally waive their rights in accordance with the requirements established by the system. The waiver shall be submitted on a properly executed form prescribed by the system. All waiver forms for an ongoing benefit shall include an acknowledgment on the part of the waiving beneficiary that the benefit being waived is an ongoing benefit, which may exceed the total amount of contributions and interest payable from the member’s account as a result of the waiver. The filing of a waiver by a beneficiary constitutes a complete and immediate discharge of all obligations of the board, the system, or the plan to or on behalf of the beneficiary.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23855. Section 23855.

(a) The survivor benefit allowance is a monthly allowance equal to one-half of the modified retirement allowance the member would have received at normal retirement age, if the member had retired and elected Option 3 pursuant to Section 24300, as that section read on December 31, 2006, naming the spouse as the option beneficiary. (b) The allowance payable under this subdivision shall be based on the member’s actual service credit and final compensation as of the date of his or her death, the retirement factor at normal retirement age, and the member’s and spouse’s ages as of the date the member would have attained normal retirement age. If the member’s death occurs after he or she attains normal retirement age, his or her actual final compensation, the retirement factor at normal retirement age, and the member’s and spouse’s ages as of the date of the member’s death shall be used in the allowance calculation. (c) The allowance calculation shall include service credit for the unused sick leave that had accrued to the member as of the date of his or her death. Eligibility for the inclusion of unused sick leave service credit and the calculation of that service credit shall be determined pursuant to Section 22717. (d) (1) The allowance calculation shall not include either of the following: (A) The increase in the percentage of final compensation pursuant to Section 24203.5. (B) The increase of the monthly allowance pursuant to Section 24203.6. (2) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this paragraph do not constitute a change in, but are declaratory of, existing law. (e) The surviving spouse may elect to begin receiving the survivor benefit allowance immediately as of the date of the member’s death or to defer receipt of the allowance to the date the member would have attained normal retirement age. If allowance payments to the surviving spouse commence prior to the date the member would have attained normal retirement age, the allowance payable shall be actuarially reduced. (f) If the spouse elects, pursuant to Section 23852, to receive the survivor benefit allowance, an additional 10 percent of final compensation shall be payable for each dependent child who is under 21 years of age, up to a maximum of 50 percent of final compensation. The child’s portion shall begin to accrue on the day following the member’s date of death and shall be payable even if the spouse elects to postpone receipt of the spouse’s survivor benefit allowance until the date the member would have attained normal retirement age. (g) If there is no surviving spouse, an allowance in an amount equal to 10 percent of the deceased member’s final compensation shall be paid to each dependent child who is under 21 years of age, up to a maximum of 50 percent of final compensation. If there are more than five dependent children, they shall receive allowances in equal shares of the 50 percent of final compensation. A child’s portion of the survivor benefit allowance shall begin to accrue on the day following the member’s date of death.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23856. Section 23856.

(a) A dependent child who is not in the care of the surviving spouse shall be included in the calculation of the children’s portion of the survivor benefit allowance. That child’s portion of the allowance shall be paid to the guardian of the estate of the child, the natural or adoptive parent having custody of the child, or if none, then to the trustee of the trust established for the benefit of the child. (b) In the case of a dependent child who is age 18 years or older, the child’s portion of the allowance shall be paid to the guardian of the estate of the child, trustee of the trust established for the benefit of the child, or if none, then to the child.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23858. Section 23858.

If the person or persons to whom a survivor benefit allowance is payable dies or no longer qualifies for the allowance, the allowance shall be terminated on the day of the event except as provided in Section 24600.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 23859. Section 23859.

(a) Upon termination of a survivor benefit allowance pursuant to this chapter, if the total allowance paid or payable is less than the amount of the member’s accumulated retirement contributions at the time of death, the remaining balance of accumulated retirement contributions shall be paid to the estate of the spouse. (b) If there is no spouse, and if there is a designated beneficiary pursuant to Section 23300, then upon termination of the survivor benefit allowance payable to all eligible dependent children pursuant to Section 23852, if the total allowance paid or payable is less than the amount of the member’s accumulated retirement contributions at the time of death, the remaining balance of the accumulated retirement contributions shall be paid to the member’s designated beneficiary pursuant to Section 23300. (c) Payments provided under this section shall include credited interest on the unpaid balance calculated from the date the last survivor benefit allowance payment was made or from the date of death of the member, if no survivor benefit allowance payments were made, to the date the balance is paid.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026