> Non-Work-Related Cause of Death

Non-Work Related Cause of Death

If you die while you are an active member of a non-work related cause, your named beneficiary is eligible for a lump-sum payment of any retirement contributions and interest in your member contribution account. If your named primary beneficiary or one of your primary beneficiaries is your spouse, minor child or parent, he or she may be eligible to choose a lifetime monthly benefit instead of a lump-sum payment.

Note: If you have more than one named primary beneficiary and one or more of those named is your spouse, minor child or parent, the latter would be eligible for a payment of your retirement contributions and interest to the exclusion of all other primary beneficiaries.

Non-Work Related Monthly Benefit Calculation

The non-work related monthly benefit is calculated using the following factors:

Your average final compensation at the time of your death.
Your total service credit at the time of your death.
Your age and the age of your eligible named beneficiary at the time of your death as follows:
- If you die before age 55 (before age 50 if you are an eligible hazardous duty member), you are presumed to be age 55 for purposes of calculating the benefit. If your beneficiary is younger than you, the age difference is subtracted from age 55 to arrive at his or her adjusted age. If your beneficiary is older than you, the age difference is added to age 55 to arrive at his or her adjusted age.
- If you die at age 55 or older (age 50 or older if you are an eligible hazardous duty member), your age and the actual age of your beneficiary are used to calculate the benefit.

If There is No Beneficiary

If there is no valid beneficiary designation on file or your beneficiary is deceased at the time of your death, VRS is required by law to pay any retirement contributions and interest in your member contribution account as well as any life insurance benefits according to the following order of precedence.

Note: The Designation of Beneficiary (VRS-2) pdf icon 42kb allows you to elect the order of precedence instead of designating a beneficiary.

Your eligible spouse may choose a lump-sum payment of any retirement contributions and interest in your member contribution account or a monthly benefit. The monthly benefit ends when your spouse dies.

Your eligible minor child may choose a lump-sum payment of any retirement contributions and interest in your member contribution account or a monthly benefit.

If you have more than one eligible minor child, each child receives an equal share of the lump-sum payment or monthly benefit. The youngest child’s age is used to calculate the monthly benefit. As each child reaches age 18, his or her share of the monthly benefit is redistributed equally among the remaining minor children. The benefit ends when the last child reaches age 18.

Your eligible parent may choose a lump-sum payment of any retirement contributions and interest in your member contribution account or a monthly benefit.

If both parents are living, each parent receives an equal share of the lump-sum payment or monthly benefit. The youngest parent’s age is used to calculate the monthly benefit. When one of your parents dies, the other parent receives his or her share of the monthly benefit. The benefit ends when your surviving parent dies.

Any retirement contributions and interest in your member contribution account are paid in a lump sum accordingly:

To your eligible adult child or children;
If none, to the descendents of your deceased children;
If none, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of your estate;
If none, to your next of kin under the laws of the state where you resided at the time of your death.

Non-Work Related Cause of Death

Non-Work Related Monthly Benefit Calculation

If There is No Beneficiary

First, to your spouse

If no spouse, to your minor child or children

If no spouse or minor child or children, to your parent or parents

If none of the above