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Home  General Information  Account Online  Online Forms  Unclassified Plan    Eligibility  Benefit Calculation  Survivor Benefits  Investment Options  Benefit Options  Combined Service  Re-Employment  Disability Benefit Eligibility  Converting to General Plan  How to Apply  Forms  Direct Deposit  Address Changes  Notification of Death  Benefit Increases  Preparing to Retire  Pre-Retirement Checklist  1099-R Form  Tax Information  Plan Handbook       Last Updated: 05/27/2009	Home >> Unclassified Plan >> Survivor Benefits    Survivor Benefits   If you die before you draw a benefit from the Unclassified Plan, your marital status determines the type of survivor benefits. All surviving spouse benefits continue upon remarriage. Surviving Spouse Coverage Your surviving spouse will receive: A lifetime benefit based on your spouse's age and your account value A lifetime payment mentioned above may be converted to payment that would last for 5, 6, 15, or 20 years A lump-sum payment of a portion of the value of your account and a lifetime benefit based on the remaining value A lump-sum payment of the cash value of your account If after your death your spouse dies, the value of your account would be paid to your spouse's children in equal shares or your spouse's estate. Surviving spouse's coverage is automatic. If you do not want this coverage for your spouse, you and your spouse must make a joint specification in writing to MSRS waiving the coverage. Beneficiary If there is no surviving spouse the value of your account will be paid to your designed beneficiary. If there is no beneficiary or the beneficiary dies before receiving the payment, the value of your account becomes payable to your children in equal shares, if no children, to your parents in equal shares, if no parents, to your estate. There may be more value in the General Plan's death benefit, if you have long service and are close to retirement. Under that plan, your surviving spouse can begin immediately receiving a monthly payment. The payment is the 100 percent Joint-and-Survivor benefit. Your spouse is eligible for the General Plan's death benefit only if you switch to the General Plan. For more information please see Converting to the General Plan. If you are in your mid 50s with 15 years or more of service, you may want to call MSRS to receive information about switching from the Unclassified Plan to the General Plan.