If I should die in service. . .
When an active and contributing member of the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) dies while in service, beneficiaries are entitled to three financial resources:
- Death benefit from the TRS
- Payment for unused sick leave
- Dues Tab from NEA
Death Benefit from TRS
The beneficiary of a member who is deceased while employed under the Teachers' Retirement System is entitled to compensation as defined in the TRS Member Handbook. Death benefits are calculated based on the deceased member's age, service credit, employment status and eligibility for retirement. Click the link to view and print out the
Preretirement Death Benefit section of the Handbook.
Payment for unused sick leave
"When an active and contributing member of the Teachers' Retirement System dies while in service, the beneficiary or estate of the deceased member shall receive a monetary payment of 100 percent of the member's accrued and unused sick leave," according to section 16-1-18.2 of the Alabama Code. The superintendent of the system in which the member was employed must file a certification of death form with the State Comptroller. The State Comptroller then makes the disbursement to the designated beneficiary or estate within 30 days after receiving the appropriate documentation.
DUES-TAB from NEA
The DUES-TAB program, provided since 1985, offers free life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance to Active, Reserve, and Staff AEA/NEA members, as well as to Life members who are actively employed in the fields of education. Coverage is paid for by the NEA Members Insurance Trust. It provides four levels of coverage:
- basic life insurance coverage, the amount of which depends on the member’s continuous Association membership, up to $1,000
- accidental death & dismemberment insurance coverage equal to five times the basic life insurance coverage, up to $5,000
- special benefit that pays $50,000 for accidental death or dismemberment that occurs on the job or while acting on Association business in the capacity of an Association leader (NEA-Retired members are now also eligible to receive a $50,000 benefit for covered events while acting on Association business in the capacity of an Association leader)
- $150,000 unlawful homicide benefit
For more information, beneficiary registration, or claims forms, write:
NEA Member Benefits
Member Service Center
900 Clopper Road, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878-1356
Or Call toll free: 1-800-637-4636 |
Or,
for current policy information, write:
NEA Insurance Operations
P. O. Box 9389
Des Moines, IA 50306-9389
Or Call toll free: 1-800-523-5877
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