(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), if a contributing member dies, a lump-sum death benefit is payable from the retirement system in an amount computed at the rate of five percent of the amount in the member’s individual account at the time of death times the number of full years of service credit the member had at the time of death.
(b) The benefit provided by this section is payable to a person designated by the member in a signed document filed with the retirement system. If a member does not designate a beneficiary or if the beneficiary does not survive the member, the benefit is payable to the member’s estate.

Terms Used In Texas Government Code 839.303

  • 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
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Signed: includes any symbol executed or adopted by a person with present intention to authenticate a writing. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) A death benefit may not be paid under this section if, at the time of death, the member was eligible to select a death benefit annuity under § 839.301.

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