If a member dies before retirement, the appropriate death benefit is paid to the beneficiary or beneficiaries the member designated when the member joined SBCERA or, subsequently, on an SBCERA Beneficiary Designation/Change form.

A beneficiary is the person the member has named to receive various SBCERA death benefits upon the member’s passing. The primary beneficiary is the first person listed to get the survivor benefits from SBCERA if the member passes away. The alternate beneficiary is the person who would receive the survivor benefits if the primary beneficiary has passed away.

If a loved one has died and you need assistance with any questions you have as a beneficiary, please refer to the Beneficiary Checklist for assistance or contact SBCERA.

Click play below to watch our 2 minute Quick Tip video on Designating a Beneficiary.

Spouses, Children, and Estates

A surviving spouse or minor children, even if not the named beneficiary, may have certain rights superseding the rights of the named beneficiary. If the member does not leave a surviving spouse when the member dies but does leave surviving unmarried children under the age of 18, a legally-appointed guardian of the children shall make an election for all death benefits. The court must appoint a legal guardian over the estate of the minor children. If a biological parent exists, that parent still must be appointed the guardian of the estate of the minor children.

If a member has not designated a beneficiary, or if the beneficiary is no longer living, the benefit will be paid to the member’s estate.

Please be aware that a member cannot designate a charity as a beneficiary to receive SBCERA death and/or survivor benefits.

How Employment Status Affects Beneficiary Benefits

If the member was a deferred vested member at the time of death, the designated beneficiary is only eligible for a lump-sum refund/rollover of the refundable contributions and interest. If the member was a deferred reciprocal member, the benefit options available will be coordinated between SBCERA and the reciprocal system.

A person who has terminated employment and taken a refund of accumulated contributions is considered a terminated member. As such, said person has ceased to be a member of SBCERA’s retirement plan and no death benefits will be payable to the beneficiary.

How Retirement Options Affect Beneficiary Benefits

When the member applies for retirement, the member will designate a beneficiary. This will supersede any previous beneficiary designation. The post-retirement death benefits depend on which retirement option the member chooses and who is designated as the beneficiary for a continuance of the retirement benefit.

Burial Allowance

Regardless of which payment option is selected, a lump-sum burial allowance of $1,000 will be paid to the beneficiary or estate. If the member was a retiree with reciprocity, only one such benefit is payable, and it will be paid by the retirement system the member was with last as an active member. Check with the reciprocal system to verify the lump-sum burial allowance amount that it will pay.