Staff Handbook

Death

Survivor Benefits

If you die while employed at NYU, your family may continue certain benefits coverage as described below. Continuation of Medical Benefits depends on your length of NYU service.

• If, at the time of death, you met the criteria to qualify for benefits as a retiree of the University, then your surviving spouse or registered domestic partner and eligible dependent children who were covered under your medical plan at the time of death may continue benefits under the provisions available to spouses and children of retirees. Contributions toward the cost of continuing coverage may be required.
• If you do not meet the criteria to qualify for benefits as a retiree of the University, your surviving spouse or registered domestic partner and eligible dependent children may continue NYU group health insurance benefits for the continuation period allowed by COBRA law. Generally, your dependents may continue group health coverage for up to 36 months after your death. See COBRA Continuation of Health and Dental Coverage. For more detailed information, request a copy of Your COBRA Rights: Continuing Your Coverage, available from the Benefits Office.

Conversion

Rather than electing COBRA continuation coverage, survivors may elect to convert to an individual (non-group) policy that will be issued by the plan that provided them with coverage immediately prior to your death. Survivors may also convert at the end of the COBRA continuation period. Such individual policies generally offer more limited coverage at a higher cost than the group coverage offered through NYU. Therefore, it usually makes sense to extend group coverage through COBRA if you are eligible. A conversion kit will be mailed to your home address on record when the Benefits Office receives notification of death.

Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

In the event of your death, your family should notify the Benefits Office and furnish a copy of the death certificate bearing a raised seal so that the proceeds of the Group Term Life Insurance program and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance provided by NYU can be paid to your beneficiary.

Supplemental Life Insurance

If you participated in the Supplemental Life Insurance Plan, your beneficiary will need to complete a portion of the form and furnish a copy of the Death Certificate bearing the raised seal before proceeds can be paid.

Retirement Plans

If you participated in the NYU Staff Pension Plan, and/or the Supplemental Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan, death benefits may be payable to your surviving spouse or designated beneficiary. Check with the Benefits Office for further details.

Tuition Remission

Whether or not tuition remission benefits continue for your survivors depends on your length of continuous, full-time service with the University. The criteria for eligibility are described below:

• If you die and have met the Eligibility to Retire with Health and Life Insurance Benefits conditions, entitlement to tuition remission benefits for survivors extends up through the doctoral degree.
• If you die and did not meet the Eligibility to Retire with Health and Life Insurance Benefits conditions, but completed five or more years of continuous, full-time employment, entitlement for your spouse or registered domestic partner and dependent children continues until completion of the degree program in which they are enrolled at the time of death. Children who are under college-age at the time of your death will be eligible for four years of tuition remission toward completion of a bachelor’s degree when they reach college-age.
• If you die, did not meet the Retirement Eligibility Rules, and did not have five years of service, entitlement for your spouse or registered same-sex domestic partner and dependent children continues until completion of the degree program in which they are enrolled at the time of death.

University Pay

If you die, any pay owed to you is normally paid to your estate. However, if your estate, including the pay due from the University, is less than $10,000, the pay from the University may be made directly to your surviving spouse or relative. Inquiries should be addressed to the Payroll Department.

Social Security Death Benefit

If you die, a lump sum Social Security benefit may be paid to his or her eligible surviving spouse or child. The eligible survivor must apply for the benefit through the Social Security Office. The deceased need not have been receiving Social Security disability or retirement benefits. Social Security will make the final determination of eligibility for this benefit. Contact your local Social Security Office for more information.

back to top