University Death Benefit

Policy number: 7.13

Policy section: Human Resources

Revised Date: January 2, 2019

1. Policy Statement

The University will provide a death benefit to full-time faculty and staff employees hired on or before May 31, 1995.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide a special death benefit to individuals identified as eligible under this policy.

3. Applicability

This policy applies to full-time faculty and staff employees hired on or before May 31, 1995, who are working full-time at the time of their death.

4. Department Administrative Rules, Procedures, and Guidelines

The Department of Human Resources, under the purview of the Vice President for Business and Finance, has oversight and administrative responsibility for this policy and shall promulgate departmental rules, procedures, and guidelines pursuant to this policy.

5. Eligibility and Administration

  1. Benefits under this policy are available to full-time faculty and staff employees hired on or before May 31, 1995, who are working full-time at the time of their death. Employees hired on or after June 1, 1995 are not eligible for this benefit.
  2. The death benefit is calculated beginning the day after death, as (1/6 of the decedent's Annual Benefit Base pay) + (1/365 of the decedent's Annual Benefit Base) x (the number of calendar days remaining in the month in which death occurred). If the date of death is not absolutely known, a reasonable approximation of the date of death may be used as determined by the Department of Human Resources.
  3. The benefit shall be paid as soon as administratively reasonable, as follows:
    1. To the person or persons named on the most recently dated University Death Benefit Beneficiary card on file in the Human Resources Office; if none, then,
    2. To the person or persons named on the most recently dated Group Life Insurance Beneficiary card on file in the Human Resources Office; if none, then,
    3. To the decedent's surviving spouse; if none, then,
    4. To the decedent's surviving biological or legally adopted dependent children, sharing equally; if none, then,
    5. To the decedent's surviving biological or legally adopted dependent parent or parents, sharing equally; if none, then,
    6. To the decedent's estate.

6. Questions

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Department of Human Resources at benefitsu@smu.edu.

Revised: January 2, 2019

Adopted: June 1, 1995