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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 4Pt. 3Ch. 4Art. 7§ 32056 Survivor Pension Benefits

§ 32056 Survivor Pension Benefits

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

§ 32056 Survivor Pension Benefits

Key Takeaways

  • •If a worker dies because of their job or gets sick from work and later dies, their family gets money every month.
  • •The spouse gets half of the worker's last salary, but no more than $250 a month. They get this until they die or remarry.
  • •If there's no spouse or the spouse remarries, the kids under 18 get the money instead. One kid gets $50, two kids get $75 total, and three or more kids get $100 total.
  • •The spouse only gets the money if they were married to the worker for at least 5 years before the worker retired.

Example

A firefighter dies while putting out a fire. He was making $600 a month before he died.

His wife will get half of his last salary, which is $300, but the law says she can't get more than $250. So, she gets $250 every month until she dies or remarries. If she remarries, and they have two kids under 18, the kids will get $75 total every month instead.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 32056 Survivor Pension Benefits

Whenever any member or pensioner is killed, or dies as a result of any injury received during the performance of his duty, or from sickness caused by the discharge of such duty, or after retirement for service connected disability, an annual pension shall be paid in equal monthly installments to his widow or widower in an amount equal to one-half of his terminal salary, not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) a month. The pension shall be paid to the widow or widower during her or his lifetime or until he or she remarries. Thereafter, or if there is no widow or widower entitled to receive the pension, it shall be paid to such of his children, through their guardian, as are under eighteen years of age, to be equally divided among them in the following amounts: For one child  ........................  $50 For two children  ........................  $75 For three or more children  ........................ $100 A widow or widower of a pensioner is not entitled to a pension unless she or he was married to the deceased pensioner at least five years prior to the date of his retirement. If the widow, widower, child, or children marry, the pension paid to the person so marrying shall cease. (Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1367.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

retirementdisabilityperformancesafetyspousepensiondutyfire

Related Statutes

  • § 50872 Disability Retirement For Injured Members
  • § 50879 Survivor Pension For Families
  • § 32053 Disability Retirement For Officers
  • § 32055 Disability Retirement Pension Limits
  • § 32057 Disability Retirement Pension Rates

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 32056.
View Official Source