Teachers’ eligible survivors receive monthly benefits tied to past salary

The teachers’ retirement system pays eligible survivors minimum monthly benefits based on the deceased member’s highest annual salary. Payments cover eligible spouses, domestic partners, and divorced former spouses from age 60. Monthly minimums by highest annual salary are $1,025 for $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. At the member’s death, the survivor must have shared the member’s household, received support from the member, or had a court order requiring the member to provide support. Remarriage or forming a domestic partnership ends eligibility for current and future benefits. A divorced former spouse qualifies only if no dependent children, parents, other spouse, or domestic partner are entitled to benefits. The law takes effect upon passage.

The retirement system bases yearly adjustments to the base benefit and for living costs on the annual Social Security adjustment. The adjustment rule covers benefits for eligible surviving spouses, divorced former spouses, and domestic partners. The law takes effect upon passage and calls for adjustments each year.