CalSTRS Coverage A vs Coverage B Survivor Benefits

Why Coverage Type Matters for Survivors

If a CalSTRS member dies before retirement, the coverage framework — A or B — determines what the surviving spouse receives. These are not interchangeable labels. Coverage A and Coverage B provide fundamentally different survivor protections, different monthly benefit calculations, and different one-time death payment amounts.

Survivors can verify coverage type by checking the deceased member's Retirement Progress Report on myCalSTRS or requesting written verification from CalSTRS directly.

Coverage A: The Pre-1992 Framework

Coverage A applies to members who joined CalSTRS on or before October 15, 1992, and did not elect to switch during the 1992–93 transfer window.

With dependent children: If an active member dies with at least one year of service credit and no preretirement option election in effect, an eligible surviving spouse caring for eligible dependent children receives a monthly family allowance of 40% of the member's final compensation, plus 10% for each eligible child, up to a 90% maximum. Coverage A family allowances are subject to statutory reductions if the survivor also receives income from other public systems like Workers' Compensation.

Without dependent children: A surviving spouse receives no immediate monthly benefit unless the member was eligible for service retirement at death and filed a Preretirement Election of an Option (Form SR0307) before death. Without that form on file, the spouse must wait until age 60 to begin receiving a monthly survivor benefit allowance. Alternatively, the spouse can elect a lump-sum refund of the member's accumulated DB contributions and interest.

One-time death payment: $7,488 for an active member death (FY 2026–27).

Coverage B: The Post-1992 Framework

Coverage B applies to all members who joined CalSTRS on or after October 16, 1992, plus any pre-1992 members who elected to switch.

With or without children: If an active member dies with at least one year of service credit, an eligible surviving spouse receives a lifetime monthly benefit based on 50% of the member's projected retirement benefit — calculated with service credit projected to normal retirement age. The spouse can defer the benefit until the member would have reached normal retirement age for the full amount or start it at the member's death at an actuarially reduced amount. No waiting until 60. No dependent children required.

If the spouse elects the monthly survivor benefit, each eligible dependent child also receives 10% of the member's final earned compensation, up to a 40% total child benefit, until age 21.

No public-benefit offsets: Unlike Coverage A, Coverage B survivor benefits are not reduced by Workers' Compensation or other public system income.

One-time death payment: $29,952 for an active member death (FY 2026–27) — roughly four times the Coverage A amount.

If the member filed Form SR0307, a Coverage B spouse can choose between the 50% projected survivor benefit and the monthly option continuance from the pre-retirement election.

After Retirement, Coverage Type Is Irrelevant

Once a member retires, Coverage A and Coverage B no longer determine monthly survivor income. The retiree's option election at retirement — Member-Only, 100%, 75%, 50%, or Compound — controls everything.

However, the one-time death payment for a retiree death is $7,488 under both Coverage A and Coverage B (FY 2026–27). The large Coverage B active-death payment ($29,952) applies only to active member deaths.

The Bottom Line for Families

Coverage B survivors generally receive more — higher one-time death payments, immediate monthly benefits without age restrictions, and no public-benefit offsets. If the deceased member was pre-1992 and you don't know whether they switched, verify coverage with CalSTRS before assuming you're under the more protective framework.

The CalSTRS Survivor Benefits Guide includes the full Coverage A and Coverage B workflows with the current payment amounts, forms, and filing steps.

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