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All of the benefit information below has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Rev. 09/04
STATE OF ALASKA
DEATH BENEFITS
To obtain certified copies of registered personal documents, contact the Bureau of Vital
Statistics, Box H, Juneau, AK 99811-0675, (907)465-3391.
STATE DEATH BENEFIT PAYMENTS
(Based on Employee System)
Beneficiary to receive a $2,000 basic life insurance benefit or a $5,000 benefit for an
accidental death for State Patrolmen.
BENEFICIARY
The spouse is automatically deemed the beneficiary to receive the PERS Death Benefit (see
below); regardless of written beneficiary unless the couple has been married less than two
years and/or not living together when designation was changed.
DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Children are considered to be dependent if unmarried child; including adopted, dependent for
support under 19 years of age; 23 if full time student. There are no restrictions if the child
is disabled.
PENSION PAYMENTS
When a member dies from occupational causes before retiring, the spouse or other eligible
beneficiary is entitled to a death benefit.
Under the current law, which applies to the survivors of members first hired after June 30,
1976, the monthly survivor’s pension is equal to 40 percent of the member’s gross salary at
the time of death or termination of employment because of occupational disability.
The pension amount will change on the date the member would have been eligible for normal
retirement. The new benefit will be based on the member’s average monthly compensation at
the time of death and total Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) service, including
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service that would have accrued if the member had lived and continued to work until eligible
for normal retirement.
Benefits under this provision accrue from the first day of the month following the member’s
death and are payable at the end of the month. Benefits will cease when there is no longer a
surviving spouse or eligible dependent child.
In addition, survivors of State Patrolmen would be eligible to receive a $2,000 Basic Life
insurance benefit, plus a $5,000 Accidental Death benefit. (Listed above under STATE
DEATH BENEFIT PAYMENTS.)
REMARRIAGE CLAUSE CONCERNING PENSION PAYMENTS
Remarriage does not cancel spouse’s pension payment, but the portion is reduced to 50
percent. 16 2/3 percent is reverted to dependent children.
ALASKA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM
(PERS)
On January 1, 1961, the legislature established the Public Employees’ Retirement System
(PERS) to attract qualified people into public service employment. Since that time, the PERS
has undergone many improvements and is now one of the best plans in the nation.
The PERS offers a variety of benefits to its members and their survivors. These benefits,
when combined with other income, are designed to provide members with financial security
during their retirement years.
PERS membership is required for all permanent full-time and part-time employees of the
state of Alaska and political subdivisions participating in the PERS, unless specific employees
are excluded by Alaska Statutes or participation agreements. Contact: Alaska Public
Employees’ Retirement System, State of Alaska, Department of Administration, The
Division of Retirement and Benefits:
P.O.Box CR,
Juneau, AK 99811-0203
(907) 465-4460
701 E. Tudor Road, Suite 240
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 563-5885
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OCCUPATIONAL DEATH UNDER PERS
When a member dies from occupational causes before retiring, the spouse or other eligible
beneficiary is entitled to the death benefit described.
When the spouse is the designated beneficiary, he or she will receive a monthly survivor’s
pension. If there is no surviving spouse, but the member has dependent children who are
designated as the beneficiaries, the survivor’s pension will be divided equally among those
children.
Under the current law which applies to the survivors of members first hired after June 30,
1976, the monthly survivors’ pension is equal to 40 percent of the member’s gross salary at
the time of death or termination of employment because of occupational disability.
For the survivors of members hired before July 1, 1976, the pension amount will depend on
whether the members are classified as peace officers/fire fighters or “all other” members and
their hire dates. These survivors will be allowed to choose whether they want to receive
benefits under the current law (above) or pre-July 1, 1976, law. The pension amount will
change on the date the member would have been eligible for normal retirement. The new
benefit will be based on the member’s average monthly compensation at the time of death and
total PERS service, including service that would have accrued if the member had lived and
continued to work until eligible for normal requirement.
If there is no surviving spouse or dependent child or if someone else is the designated
beneficiary, that person will receive the following lump sum amount:
(1) The balance of the employee contribution account, which includes
mandatory contributions, any voluntary contributions or
indebtedness principal and interest payments, and interest that has
accrued on the account; and
(2) a lump sum payment of $1,000; and
(3) $100 times the number of years of PERS service that the member had
at the time of death.
You may also be entitled to Cost of Living Allowances when you begin receiving monthly
benefits while residing in Alaska. The allowance is added to your regular monthly benefit
amount.
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WHEN THERE IS NO BENEFICIARY
If no beneficiary is designated, or the beneficiary is deceased, the benefits shall be paid:
� to the surviving spouse; or, if there is none,
� in equal parts to the surviving children; or, if there are none,
� in equal parts to the surviving parents; or, if there are none,
� to the member’s estate
MEDICAL BENEFITS
Besides the other benefits described, major medical insurance coverage is available to
survivors who are receiving monthly PERS benefits and their dependents. This coverage ends
when the benefit recipient dies or is no longer eligible to receive monthly PERS benefits.
Members first hired under the PERS after June 30, 1986, and their survivors can obtain the
coverage for themselves and their spouses and eligible dependents by electing to be covered
and paying:
� the full monthly premium, if the member or survivor is under age 60; or
� one-half of the monthly premium, if the member or survivor is over age 60, but under
age 65.
Coverage is provided at no cost for members and their survivors if they were first hired under
PERS before July 1, 1986.
Additional insurance may be purchased for Dental-Vision-Audio coverage and/or Long
Term Care coverage.
STATE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
The state of Alaska does not provide any educational benefits.
POLICE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
The Police Corps is administered by the Office of the Police Corps and Law Enforcement
Education (OPCLEE), within the Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice, in
partnership with participating States that have submitted an approved State Plan. Information
can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/opclee.
The Police Corps awards scholarships and reimburses educational expenses to students who
agree to work in a State or local police force for at least four years. Students must pursue an
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undergraduate or graduate degree in a course of study which, in the judgment of the State or
local police force to which the participant will be assigned, includes appropriate preparation
for police service. Police Corps funds cover education expenses (including tuition, fees,
books, supplies, transportation, room and board, and miscellaneous expenses) up to $7,500
per academic year, with a limit on total payments to any student of $30,000.
Police Corps scholarship funds are also available to dependent children of law
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty if the death occurred within the state after
that state was approved to participate in the Police Corps program. In Alaska, the death
must have occurred since October 2000. These scholarships may be applied to any
course of study, without any service or repayment obligation.
Police Corps participants are selected on a competitive basis by each State under regulations
prescribed by OPCLEE.
For more information, contact Dan Hoffman, Fairbanks Police Dept./University of
Alaska-Fairbanks, 1-800-221-0083, 907-459-6767 (fax), www.uaf.edu/akcorps, email
dphoffman@ci.fairbanks.ak.us
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Workers’ Compensation coverage is compulsory for employers in Alaska; however, waivers
are permitted.
The total benefit is 80% of the worker’s spendable earnings payable to a spouse or a spouse
and child(ren), with a minimum weekly benefit of $110 and a maximum weekly benefit of
$700. Benefits are subject to offsets under Social Security and an employer pension or
profit-sharing plan. There is also a maximum $2,500 burial allowance.
After 5 and 8 years, a spouse’s benefit payments are reduced, and are terminated at 10
years unless the spouse is permanently and totally disabled or has reached age 52. Spouse
receives a 2-year lump sum upon remarriage.
Children receive benefits until age 19 or married. Children receive benefits if full-time
students regardless of age for first 4 years.
To receive workers’ compensation benefits, the surviving spouse must take the initiative and
file a workers’ compensation claim through a workers’ compensation attorney to receive any
compensation. The determination as to whether the claim will be paid will be determined by
the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
Contact the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Department of Labor at 1111 W.
8th Street, Suite 306, P. O. Box 25512, Juneau, AK 99802-5512, telephone (907) 465-2790.
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PERSONAL INSURANCE - INTESTATE
Uniform Probate Code, including 1975 Official Amendments, adopted (13.06.005-13.36.100)
Renunciation - Person with right to estate of decedent may renounce in whole or in part right
of succession to any property or interest in it, including future interest by filing written
renunciation nor later than nine months after death of decedent or donee of power.
(13.11.295).
CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION
Compensation may be awarded to victims of violent crimes for injuries or death resulting
from incidents or offenses occurring on and after July 1, 1971. The amount of the benefit
payable will be reduced by the amount of any benefits received through a Workers’
Compensation claim.
Sec.18.67.162. There is created a crime victim compensation fund which shall be
administered by the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. The fund consists of money
appropriated to it by the legislature. The fund shall be administered in accordance with the
provisions of this chapter. Money distributed from the fund shall be in addition to other
sources of compensation provided in this chapter.
Sec.18.67.130(c). No compensation may be awarded under this chapter in an amount in
excess of $25,000 per victim per incident. However, in the case of the death of a victim who
has more than one dependent eligible for compensation, the total compensation that may be
awarded as a result of that death may not exceed $40,000. The board may prorate the total
awarded among those dependents according to relative need.
Contact the Violent Crimes Compensation Board at (907)465-3040.
TAXES
Survivor and death benefits are exempt from Alaska income taxes. But, if you live outside
Alaska you may be liable for state and local income taxes.
CONTACTS
Alaska Police Officers Association
P.O. Box 240106
Anchorage, Alaska 99524
Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers
453 S. Valley Way
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Palmer, Alaska 99645
Anchorage Police & Retirement Fund
P.O. Box 196650
Anchorage, Alaska 99519
PEER SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
Established in 1984, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., (COPS), is a national, non-profit
organization that works with law enforcement agencies, police organizations, mental health
professional, and local peer-support organizations to provide assistance to surviving families
of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. COPS has become a “lifeline” to police
survivors nationwide. Contact the Alaska COPS Chapter through Mr. Charlie Cash,
Chapter Contact, 211 Arca Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, 907-441-4465, ccash@arcanchorage.org.
All of the benefit information above has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Contact the National Office of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. for additional information, or to support any of COPS' programs.
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Web site copyrighted © 2005 by Lydia Warner Miller