COVID-19 Accidental Death Benefits

Chapter 78 of the Laws of 2021, which provides death benefits to statutory beneficiaries of members whose death was a result of or was contributed to by COVID-19 has been extended to members who die through December 31, 2022.

This Act adds Retirement and Social Security Law §§ 509-a, 607-i and Administrative Code of the City of New York § 13-149.1 by providing, subject to documentation requirements, an Accidental Death Benefit to the Eligible Beneficiaries of a Member who died on or before December 31, 2022 (extended from December 31, 2020), or a Retiree who retired between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and died prior to September 29, 2020, where such Member/Retiree reported for work outside their home and contracted COVID-19 within 45 days after their last day of  work, and whose death was caused by COVID-19 or where COVID-19 contributed to such Member/Retiree’s death. Amounts payable are reduced by payments of any Ordinary Death Benefits or option benefit paid to another statutory beneficiary. This act is effective as of March 1, 2020. 

The deceased Member/Retiree must have contracted COVID-19 as confirmed by a positive laboratory test or as diagnosed before or after the Member/Retiree’s death by a licensed, certified, registered, or authorized physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant in good standing. COVID-19 must have caused or contributed to such Member/Retiree’s death as documented on the Member/Retiree’s death certificate. In the alternative, a licensed, certified, or authorized physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant in good standing may certify within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that COVID-19 caused or contributed to the Member/Retiree’s death.

NYCERS will mail Claim Form #372 to the Eligible Beneficiary(ies) once the death is reported.

How to Qualify for the COVID-19 Accidental Death Benefit (Fact Sheet #748).

If you have any questions, please contact NYCERS’ Call Center at (347) 643-3000.