FAQ Category: Active Members

It depends on your tier. Most members need at least five years of service credit and must meet the minimum age for their tier.

SCERS may pay either a lump-sum or monthly survivor benefit, depending on your service credit, the cause of death, and survivor eligibility.

No. You can continue working beyond your eligibility date. Your benefit will grow as you earn more service credit and reach older retirement ages.

Use the Report a Death tool under Member Resources on scers.gov. This is SCERS’s preferred method and initiates the follow-up process.

Eligible survivors (spouse, registered domestic partner, minor children) have legal priority. If none exist, the benefit is paid to your named beneficiary or estate.