Upon the death of a member or annuitant, the following amount shall be payable (i) to a beneficiary nominated by written designation of the member or annuitant filed with the system, or (ii) if no beneficiary is nominated, to the surviving spouse, or (iii) if no beneficiary is nominated and there is no surviving spouse, to the decedent‘s estate, upon receipt of proper proof of death:
     (1) Upon the death of a member, an amount consisting of the sum of the following: (A) the member’s accumulated contributions; (B) the sum of the contributions made by the member toward the cost of the automatic increase in annuity under Section 16-152, without interest thereon; and (C) contributions made by the member toward prior service, without interest thereon.

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 40 ILCS 5/16-138

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Surviving spouse: means "widow" or "widower" as the case may be. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.32

     (2) Upon the death of an annuitant, unless a reversionary annuity is payable under Section 16-136, an amount determined by subtracting the total amount of monthly annuity payments received as a result of the deceased annuitant’s retirement from the sum of: (A) the accumulated contributions at retirement; (B) the sum of the contributions made by the deceased toward the cost of the automatic increase in annuity under Section 16-152, without interest thereon; and (C) any contributions made by the deceased for prior service or other purposes, exclusive of contributions toward the cost of the automatic increase in annuity, without interest thereon.