Illinois Statutes Chapter 40. Pensions § 5/15-141. Death benefits--Death of participant

(a) The beneficiary of a participant under the traditional benefit package is entitled to a death benefit equal to the sum of (1) the employee's accumulated normal and additional contributions on the date of death, (2) the employee's accumulated survivors insurance contributions on the date of death, if a survivors insurance benefit is not payable, (3) an amount equal to the employee's final rate of earnings, but not more than $5,000, if (i) the beneficiary, under rules of the board, was dependent upon the participant, (ii) the participant was a participating employee immediately prior to his or her death, and (iii) a survivors insurance benefit is not payable, and (4) $2,500 if (i) the beneficiary was not dependent upon the participant, (ii) the participant was a participating employee immediately prior to his or her death, and (iii) a survivors insurance benefit is not payable.

(b) If the participant has elected to participate in the portable benefit package and has completed the one-year waiting period required under subsection (e) of Section 15-134.5, the death benefit shall be equal to the employee's accumulated normal and additional contributions on the date of death plus, if the employee died with 1.5 or more years of service for employment as defined in Section 15-113.1, employer contributions in an amount equal to the sum of the accumulated normal and additional contributions; except that if a pre-retirement survivor annuity is payable under Section 15-136.4, the death benefit payable under this paragraph shall be reduced, but to not less than zero, by the actuarial value of the benefit payable to the surviving spouse. If the recipient of a pre-retirement survivor annuity dies before an amount equal to all accumulated normal and additional contributions as of the date of death have been paid out, the remaining difference shall be paid to the member's beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of the participant must be his or her spouse unless the spouse has consented to the designation of another beneficiary in the manner described in subsection (d) of Section 15-136.4.

(c) If payments are made under any State or federal workers' compensation or occupational diseases law because of the death of an employee, the portion of the death benefit payable from employer contributions shall be reduced by the total amount of the payments.