Death benefits for in-service members

In the event of a member’s death, the UFT Welfare Fund provides a benefit which is payable on a decreasing scale to the beneficiary(ies) of in-service members [see box at right]. This benefit is in addition to any privately held insurance coverage the member may have.

The reason the death benefit decreases as members age is that it takes into account the equity that older members have in the retirement system. [To see what benefits are available from your retirement system — and that applies to retired teachers, as well — check the Annual Benefits Statement you received in the mail. In some cases the retirement system’s death benefits are quite substantial.]

Welfare Fund death benefits are paid to the beneficiary(ies) members designated when they enrolled in the Welfare Fund. If a member has had a change in marital status or dependents, it is important to file an Update Your Information form with the Welfare Fund. It is essential to keep this form current in order to avoid complications for the intended beneficiary(ies) at a stressful time. A member can easily complete an Update Your Information (Change of Status) form online and forms are also available from chapter leaders and the Welfare Fund.

When the Welfare Fund has been notified of a member’s death, it will send a Death Benefit Notification Form to the beneficiary(ies). This form must be returned to the Fund with certified copies of the member’s birth and death certificates.

The Welfare Fund will then send a Death Benefit Claim Form to the beneficiary(ies) after verification of the information received on the notification form. This claim form must be completed, notarized and returned to the Welfare Fund. Upon completion of claim processing, a check in the appropriate amount will then be sent to the beneficiary(ies).

If only one beneficiary is on file at the Welfare Fund office, he or she will receive the entire benefit. If more than one beneficiary is named, the benefit will be shared equally unless otherwise indicated by percentage.

Should the last named beneficiary predecease the member, or should no beneficiary be named, the death benefit will be paid to the first surviving class of the following classes of successive preference beneficiaries:

• the member’s widow/widower or domestic partner;
• surviving child(ren);
• the member’s estate.

It should be noted that the UFT Welfare Fund does not operate under the supervision of the New York State Insurance Department and there are no conversion privileges with the self-insured death benefit offered by the Fund.

As you see, if the time comes for the Welfare Fund to pay out a death benefit, it is limited to the beneficiary(ies) the member has indicated. To be sure that their wishes are followed, all members should keep their designation of beneficiary(ies) current by using the Fund’s Update Your Information form.

Dependent survivor coverage

(in-service and retired members)

The Welfare Fund extends dependent coverage three months following the month in which a member dies.