The Defined Benefit Program provides benefits to survivors when your death occurs either before or after your retirement. These benefits provide a basic level of security for your survivors.

• Coverage A or Coverage B
  If you became a CalSTRS member after October 15, 1992, your survivors are protected under Coverage B. If you became a member before that date, you were offered the choice of either Coverage A or Coverage B.
  
  
• Coverage A – Family Allowance If Member Dies Before Retirement
  Under Coverage A, benefits are payable to your survivors if you became a member of CalSTRS before October 16, 1992, and did not elect Coverage B in the election held between October 1992 and April 1993.
  
  
• Coverage B – Survivor Benefit If Member Dies Before Retirement
  Under Coverage B, benefits are payable to your survivors if you became a member of CalSTRS on or after October 16, 1992, or elected Coverage B in the election held between October 1992 and April 1993.
  
  
• Coverage A or Coverage B – Member Dies After Retirement
  If you die after retirement, the one-time death benefit is the same under both Coverage A and Coverage B.
  
  
• Reporting the Death of a Member or Benefit Recipient
  CalSTRS should be notified as soon as possible of the death of a member, option beneficiary or CalSTRS benefit recipient.