Any active member's spouse and dependent children may qualify for survivor benefits. Inactive members do not have survivor benefit protection.

Spouse Benefits

Upon the death of an active member with at least five or more years of actual and reciprocal service, the surviving spouse, who was married to the member for a least two years immediately preceding the member's death, shall receive survivor benefits as if the member had retired under annuity option A to provide 100% survivor benefits. The surviving spouse benefits shall become payable in the month following the member's death if the member had:

• reached age 60; or
• accumulated 28 or more years of actual and reciprocal service credit; or
  
• accumulated 25 to 27.75 years of service, which would qualify for an early retirement benefit with applicable reduction

In all other cases, the benefits become payable to the surviving spouse the month following the member's 60^th birthday. The benefits are payable for the surviving spouse's lifetime. Remarriage does not cancel the spouse's survivor benefits.

Dependent Children

Dependent children are minors under the age of 18 or children deemed mentally or physically disabled or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, regardless of age.Surviving dependent children shall each receive an annuity equal to 20% of the member's highest salary year received in covered employment; unless there are more than three surviving dependent children. If there are more than three dependent surviving children, 60% of the member's highest salary year shall be divided equally. The benefits are payable until the dependent child reaches 18 years of age and continues consecutively as a full-time student at an accredited secondary school, college, or university up to the age of 23.