Rhode Island sets monthly survivor payments for teachers’ families

The teachers’ retirement system provides minimum monthly payments based on the deceased member’s highest annual salary. Payments cover eligible spouses, domestic partners, and former spouses of deceased teachers’ retirement members once the survivor reaches age 60. Survivors must have shared the member’s household or received support at the member’s death, or the member must have been under a court order to provide support. Former spouses qualify only if no dependent child, parent, other spouse, or domestic partner is entitled to benefits. Remarriage or starting a domestic partnership ends eligibility. The monthly minimum is $1,025 for salaries of $17,000 or less; $1,200 for $17,001–$25,000; $1,375 for $25,001–$33,000; $1,550 for $33,001–$40,000; and $1,725 for $40,001 or more. Benefits follow the member’s death. The act takes effect upon passage.

Base benefits and cost-of-living adjustments follow the annual Social Security adjustment. The adjustments apply to benefits for eligible spouses, former spouses, and domestic partners. Both adjustments occur yearly. The act takes effect upon passage.