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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 14Art. 2§ 21543 Special Death Benefit Payment

§ 21543 Special Death Benefit Payment

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 21543 Special Death Benefit Payment

Key Takeaways

  • •If a family member who was getting monthly death benefits dies, gets married, or turns 22 before the total payments equal the basic death benefit, the remaining money is paid as a lump sum to the surviving kids or the estate.
  • •The lump sum is the difference between the basic death benefit and what has already been paid out.
  • •Any extra money the deceased person put in (plus interest) is also paid out, minus what was already given as part of the monthly payments.
  • •If there are no kids, the money goes to the estate of the last person who was getting the payments.

Example

A dad dies and leaves behind a wife and two kids. The wife gets monthly payments, but she dies before the total payments reach the basic death benefit. The kids will get the remaining money as a lump sum.

The law makes sure the kids still get the money their dad was supposed to leave them, even if the wife dies before all the payments are made.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 21543 Special Death Benefit Payment

If payment of the special death benefit is stopped because of death of the surviving spouse or death, marriage, or attainment of the age of 22 years by a child before the sum of the monthly payment made, exclusive of the annuity derived from the accumulated additional contribution of the deceased, equals the basic death benefit, a lump sum equal to the difference shall be paid to the surviving children of the deceased member, share and share alike, or if there are no children, to the estate of the person last entitled to the allowance. In that event, the accumulated additional contributions of the deceased, as they were at his or her death, less the annuity paid as derived from those contributions, and plus interest credited to the accumulated additional contributions, shall be paid in the manner provided in this article for the payments of amounts due in the absence of a designated beneficiary. (Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 231, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

special death benefitbasic death benefitaccumulated additional contributionsdesignated beneficiary

Related Statutes

  • § 21542 Special Death Benefit Payment
  • § 21546 Surviving Spouse Children Allowance
  • § 21505 Retirement Death Benefit Eligibility
  • § 21531 Death Benefit Payment Rules
  • § 21532 Basic Death Benefit Eligibility

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 21543.
View Official Source