PURPOSE: This rule describes the benefits available to the beneficiaries of participants who die before receiving a retirement benefit.

1. (1) Lump Sum Death Benefit. A death benefit of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be paid to the beneficiary of every active participant upon his or her death or, if the participant fails to designate a beneficiary, then to the participant’s surviving spouse or, if there is no spouse, then in equal shares to the participant’s surviving children. If there is neither a surviving spouse nor surviving children, then the benefit shall be paid to the active participant’s estate.

   1. (A) Designation of Beneficiary. Each participant may name a beneficiary on a form provided by the board and delivered to the board. Such designation may include more than one (1) person with one (1) or more secondary or contingent beneficiaries and shall be subject to change upon written request of such participant in the same manner as the original designation. 16 CSR 50-2
   2. (B) If the participant executes a beneficiary designation form and lists more than one
2. (1) beneficiary but fails to list the percentage of benefit that each beneficiary should receive, then the benefit shall be divided equally among the named beneficiaries.
3. (2) Spousal Death Benefit. If a participant dies before his or her annuity starting date but after completing eight (8) or more years of creditable service, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to survivorship benefits under the fifty percent (50%) annuity option as set forth in subsection 16 CSR 50- 2.035(1)(C). If the participant was age sixtytwo (62) or older at death, the surviving spouse’s benefit shall begin to accrue on the first day of the month following the participant’s death. If the participant was under age sixty-two (62) at death, the surviving spouse’s benefits shall begin to accrue on the first day of the month following the date the participant would have attained age sixty-two
4. (62) had the participant lived. In the event that a delay in the submission or processing of paperwork or some other delay results in the first payment of survivorship benefits commencing after the month in which the survivorship benefits began to accrue, such survivorship benefits shall be retroactive to the date on which the survivorship benefits began to accrue. Alternatively, the surviving spouse may elect to receive the reduced actuarially equivalent benefit payable on the first day of any month following the date of the participant’s death and prior to the date the participant would have attained age sixty-two (62).
5. (3) No Benefits Payable to Beneficiary Who Intentionally Kills Participant. The board shall cease paying benefits to any survivor annuitant or beneficiary who is charged with the intentional killing of a participant without legal excuse or justification. A survivor annuitant or beneficiary who is convicted of such charge shall no longer be entitled to receive benefits. If the survivor annuitant or beneficiary is not convicted of such charge, the board shall resume payment of benefits and shall pay the survivor annuitant or beneficiary any benefits that were suspended pending resolution of such charge.
6. (4) The death benefit will only be extended to part-time and seasonal employees in months for which they receive pay.

AUTHORITY: section 50.1032, RSMo Supp. 1999.* Original rule filed Sept. 29, 2000, effective March 30, 2001. *Original authority: 50.1032, RSMo 1995.