The one-time death benefit
Every member, working or retired, can leave $800 for each year of completed service, up to $16,000. So 10 years is $8,000, and 20 or 30 years is $16,000. Handbook, p. 40, How much is the death benefit my beneficiary will receive? / If I pass away before I retire; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 36-10-21, 36-10-24
After you retire it goes down by 25% of the original amount each year, but never below $4,000: a $16,000 benefit is $8,000 after 2 years and $4,000 from the 3rd year on. Handbook, p. 40, How much is the death benefit ...; What if I pass away shortly after I retire?; R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-10-23(a)-(b)
If you don't name a beneficiary, the death benefit goes to your estate. Name one with a notarized Beneficiary Designation Form. Handbook, p. 40, Death and Survivor Benefits (second paragraph)
A monthly survivor pension
If you die after retiring, your beneficiary gets a monthly check only if you chose Option #1 (100%) or Option #2 (50%). See payment options for what each costs you.
If you die before retiring: If you die before retiring and are vested, an Optional Annuity Protection (OAP) beneficiary can take a monthly annuity instead of the refund (plus the death benefit). A spouse or domestic partner who is the primary beneficiary is offered it automatically. If death occurs while inactive, it starts when the beneficiary reaches 60. Handbook, p. 40, If I pass away before I retire ... and note 68; R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-10-19.1(a)-(c)
How that pre-retirement annuity is reduced if you weren't yet eligible to retire comes only from a 2013 actuarial report. Ask ERSRI for the current method.
What would settle it: ERSRI or a current valuation.
Teachers' Survivors Benefit (TSB)
Teachers in school districts that do not participate in Social Security. These sections 'shall not apply to teachers of any city, town, or regional school district who have elected coverage under the federal Social Security Act'. Handbook, p. 20, Teacher Survivors' Benefit; R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-38 If your district takes part in Social Security, this doesn't apply to you (see Social Security).
You and your employer each pay $115 a year. Handbook, p. 20, Teacher Survivors' Benefit, note 30; R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-35(a) You must have taught in a TSB district and paid into the TSB plan for at least six calendar months before you die, retire or leave. A surviving spouse or domestic partner must have lived with you and be 60 or older (payments start at 60). Handbook, p. 20, To qualify for TSB; Who is eligible (1); R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-25
Monthly spouse benefit
| Your highest annual salary | At least, a month |
|---|---|
| Up to $17,000 | $825 |
| $17,001 to $25,000 | $963 |
| $25,001 to $33,000 | $1,100 |
| $33,001 to $40,000 | $1,238 |
| Over $40,000 | $1,375 |
Families with children
| Who receives | Share of the spouse amount |
|---|---|
| Spouse or partner and 1 child | 150% |
| Spouse or partner and 2 or more children | 175% |
| 1 child alone | 75% |
| 2 children alone | 150% |
| 3 or more children alone | 175% |
Unmarried dependent children under 18 (or under 23 if full-time students), or disabled before 18.
Handbook, p. 21, Recipients / Multiplier; R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-27(b)Remarriage or a new domestic partnership ends spouse and family benefits. Handbook, p. 20, note 31; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 16-16-26(d), 16-16-27(d) TSB spouse benefits get a yearly cost-of-living adjustment based on the annual Social Security adjustment. Handbook, p. 21, Is there a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to the TSB?; ERSRI 2026 COLA Information page (saved 2026-11-12) (All Other Plans: 2.8% in January 2026)
The list of TSB districts below is from the 2020 handbook. Ask your district whether it still applies.
What would settle it: ERSRI or the school district.
TSB districts (2020): Barrington, Bristol Warren Regional, Burrillville, Central Falls Collaborative, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Foster-Glocester, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, North Smithfield, Portsmouth, Scituate, Smithfield, Tiverton, Westerly. Handbook, p. 20, Teacher Survivors' Benefit ('Teachers in the following school districts participate in TSB')
What the handbook says
- Every member, working or retired, can leave a one-time death benefit of $800 for each year of completed service, up to $16,000.Handbook, p. 40, How much is the death benefit?
- After you retire, the death benefit drops by 25% a year, but never below $4,000.Handbook, p. 40
- If you die before retiring and are not vested, your beneficiary also gets your contributions back. If you are vested, an Optional Annuity Protection (OAP) beneficiary can choose a monthly annuity instead; a spouse or domestic partner who is your primary beneficiary is offered this automatically.Handbook, p. 40, note 68
- With the SRA Plan or SRA PLUS, if you die before getting back your contributions in payments, your beneficiary gets the rest, plus the death benefit.Handbook, p. 40, What if I pass away shortly after I retire?
- Teachers in districts without Social Security pay into the Teachers' Survivors Benefit (TSB) plan: you and your employer each pay $115 a year. A spouse or partner 60 or older (who lived with you) gets a monthly benefit of $825 to $1,375 depending on your highest salary; children under 18 (23 if full-time students) can qualify.Handbook, pp. 20-21, Teacher Survivors' Benefit
- Check with ERSRIThe TSB districts listed in 2020: Barrington, Bristol Warren, Burrillville, Central Falls Collaborative, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Foster-Glocester, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, North Smithfield, Portsmouth, Scituate, Smithfield, Tiverton and Westerly.Handbook, p. 20The list is from 2020; check with your district.
- If you don't name a beneficiary, the death benefit goes to your estate. Use a notarized Beneficiary Designation Form.Handbook, p. 40
Questions
What does ERSRI pay when a teacher dies?
A one-time death benefit of $800 for each year of completed service, up to $16,000, for active and retired members. After retirement it drops 25% a year but never below $4,000. A monthly survivor benefit depends on the payment option or, before retirement, on Optional Annuity Protection.
What is the Teachers' Survivors Benefit (TSB)?
A survivor plan for teachers in districts without Social Security. You and your employer each pay $115 a year. A spouse or partner 60 or older can get $825 to $1,375 a month, by your highest salary.
Source: ERSRI Membership and Retirement Handbook, 10th edition, June 2020 (with the 2024 Article 12 changes from the Treasurer's guide, July 1, 2024), pp. 20, 21, 40. Also: Rhode Island General Laws; ERSRI's COLA Information pages (saved Nov. 12, 2026). Last reviewed .