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353.657 SURVIVOR BENEFITS.
    Subdivision 1. Generally. In the event a member of the police and fire fund dies from
any cause before retirement or after becoming disabled and receiving disability benefits, the
association shall grant survivor benefits to a surviving spouse, as defined in section 353.01,
subdivision 20
, and who was married to the member for a period of at least one year, except that if
death occurs in the line of duty no time limit is required. For purposes of this section, line of duty
also includes active military service, as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5. The association
shall also grant survivor benefits to a dependent child or children, as defined in section 353.01,
subdivision 15
.
Notwithstanding the definition of surviving spouse, a former spouse of the member, if any, is
entitled to a portion of the monthly surviving spouse benefit if stipulated under the terms of a
marriage dissolution decree filed with the association. If there is no surviving spouse or child or
children, a former spouse may be entitled to a lump-sum refund payment under section 353.32,
subdivision 1
, if provided for in a marriage dissolution decree but not a monthly surviving spouse
benefit despite the terms of a marriage dissolution decree filed with the association.
The spouse and child or children are entitled to monthly benefits as provided in the following
subdivisions.
    Subd. 2. Benefit amount. The spouse, for life, shall receive a monthly benefit equal to 50
percent of the member's average full-time monthly salary rate as a police officer or firefighter in
effect over the last six months of allowable service preceding the month in which death occurred.
If the member was a part-time police officer or firefighter, the monthly survivor benefit is based on
the salary rate in effect for that member's part-time service during the last six months of allowable
service. If the member's status changed from full time to part time for health reasons during the
last year of employment, the monthly survivor benefit is based on the full-time salary rate of a
police officer or firefighter in effect over the last six months of allowable service preceding the
month in which the death occurred.
    Subd. 2a. Death while eligible survivor benefit. If a member or former member who has
attained the age of at least 50 years and has credit for not less than three years allowable service or
who has credit for at least 30 years of allowable service, regardless of age attained, dies before the
annuity or disability benefit becomes payable, notwithstanding any designation of beneficiary to
the contrary, the surviving spouse may elect to receive a death while eligible survivor benefit.
Notwithstanding the definition of surviving spouse in section 353.01, subdivision 20, a
former spouse of the member, if any, is entitled to a portion of the death while eligible survivor
benefit if stipulated under the terms of a marriage dissolution decree filed with the association. If
there is no surviving spouse or child or children, a former spouse may be entitled to a lump-sum
refund payment under section 353.32, subdivision 1, if provided for in a marriage dissolution
decree but not a death while eligible survivor benefit despite the terms of a marriage dissolution
decree filed with the association.
The benefit may be elected instead of a refund with interest under section 353.32, subdivision
1
, or surviving spouse benefits otherwise payable under subdivisions 1 and 2. The benefit must
be an annuity equal to the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity which the member could have
qualified for on the date of death, computed as provided in sections 353.651, subdivisions 2 and 3,
and 353.30, subdivision 3. If there is a dependent child or children, and the 100 percent joint and
survivor optional annuity for the surviving spouse, when added to the benefit of the dependent
child or children under subdivision 3, exceeds an amount equal to 70 percent of the member's
specified average monthly salary, the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity must be reduced by
the amount necessary so that the total family benefit does not exceed the 70 percent maximum
family benefit amount under subdivision 3. The 100 percent joint and survivor optional annuity
must be restored to the surviving spouse, plus applicable postretirement fund adjustments under
section 356.41, as the dependent child or children become no longer dependent under section
353.01, subdivision 15. The surviving spouse may apply for the annuity at any time after the date
on which the deceased employee would have attained the required age for retirement based on the
employee's allowable service. Sections 353.34, subdivision 3, and 353.71, subdivision 2, apply to
a deferred annuity payable under this subdivision. No payment shall accrue beyond the end of the
month in which entitlement to such annuity has terminated. An amount equal to the excess, if any,
of the accumulated contributions which were credited to the account of the deceased employee
over and above the total of the annuities paid and payable to the surviving spouse must be paid
to the deceased member's last designated beneficiary or, if none, to the legal representative of
the estate of such deceased member. Any member may request in writing that this subdivision
not apply and that payment be made only to the designated beneficiary, as otherwise provided
by this chapter. For a member who is employed as a full-time firefighter by the Department of
Military Affairs of the state of Minnesota, allowable service as a full-time state Military Affairs
Department firefighter credited by the Minnesota State Retirement System may be used in
meeting the minimum allowable service requirement of this subdivision.
    Subd. 3. Dependent children. A dependent child, as defined in section 353.01, subdivision
15
, shall receive a monthly benefit equal to ten percent of the member's average full-time monthly
salary rate as a police officer or firefighter in effect over the last six months of allowable service
preceding the month in which death occurred. Payments for the benefit of a dependent child must
be made to the surviving parent, or to the legal guardian of the child or to any adult person with
whom the child may at the time be living, provided only that the parent or other person to whom
any amount is to be paid advises the board in writing that the amount will be held or used in trust
for the benefit of the child. The maximum monthly benefit for one family must not exceed an
amount equal to 70 percent of the member's specified average monthly salary, and the minimum
benefit per family, including the joint and survivor optional annuity under subdivision 2a, and
section 353.656, subdivision 1a, must not be less than 50 percent of the member's specified
average monthly salary.
    Subd. 4. Relation to workers' compensation law. If the member shall die under
circumstances which entitle a surviving spouse and dependent children to receive benefits under
the workers' compensation law, the amounts so received by them shall not be deducted from the
benefits payable under this section.
History: 1971 c 297 s 4; 1973 c 753 s 75-77; 1974 c 229 s 20; 1975 c 102 s 22; 1975 c 359 s
23; 1978 c 471 s 7; 1978 c 796 s 39; 1980 c 607 art 15 s 3; 1981 c 180 s 17; 1982 c 404 s 9;
1Sp1985 c 7 s 16; 1986 c 444; 1986 c 458 s 13; 1987 c 284 art 5 s 16; 1987 c 372 art 1 s 8; art 9
s 22; 1989 c 319 art 13 s 45; art 17 s 16,17; 1990 c 570 art 11 s 11; 1991 c 269 art 2 s 7; 1991
c 341 s 24; 1992 c 432 art 2 s 20-22; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 4 s 97

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes