Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago
A RETIREMENT FUND DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO ARE THERE FOR OTHERS
A RETIREMENT FUND DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO ARE THERE FOR OTHERS
Eligibility for widow's annuities requires that the widow be married to the Active/Retired participant at the date of his or her death and other conditions found in the statute.
Widow’s Compensation Annuity (Duty Death)
When a participant is killed in the performance of duty, the compensation widow shall receive 75% of the current annual salary attached to his or her rank and grade, this benefit is increased proportionately with all future department increases to salary consistent with the applicable provisions
of the statute.
Widows of Members That Die After Retirement
A widow of a participant that dies after retirement is entitled to receive 50% of the participant’s annuity at the time of his death or the minimum widow’s annuity allowed by the Statute if the widow meets certain conditions provided in the statute. As of January 1, 2017, the minimum widow's annuity is 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. These annuities cease upon the spouse’s death. There are no annual increases provided for the spouses of participants that enters service prior to January 1, 2011.
Widows of Participants Who Die While in Active Service (Non-Duty)
If death occurs after 1 ½ years of service, the widow’s annuity shall be the greater of; (1) 30% of the salary attached to the rank of first class firefighter (minimum of step 6),
but does not exceed the final step of the first class firefighter pay scale or (2) 50% of the retirement annuity the deceased participant would have been eligible to receive if he
had retired from service on the day before his death and qualified for the minimum formula annuity (age 50 with at least 20 years of service) for his or her lifetime.
Effective January 16, 2004, the widow’s annuity payable to the widow of a participant who dies on or after July 1, 1997 while an active participant with at least 10 years credible
service shall be no less than 50% of the retirement annuity that the deceased participant would have been eligible to receive if he had attained age 50 and 20 years of service on
the day before his death and retired on that day.
Widows of Participants Withdrawn From Service and Death Occurs Prior to Age 50
If a participant who has resigned from service prior to age 50, with at least 10 years of service dies, his widow would be entitled to either an earned annuity or the minimum widow’s
annuity allowed by the Statute. The current minimum spouse’s annuity as of January 1, 2017 is 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. These annuities cease upon the spouse’s death.
Eligibility for Spouse’s Annuity: Marriage on Disability or Retirement
Beginning on January 16, 2004, the limitation on marriage after retirement and the limitation on marriage during disability no longer apply to a widow who was married
to the deceased participant for at least one year immediately preceding the date of death.
The widow of a participant who received a refund of contributions for spouse’s annuity at the time of his retirement is not eligible for widows benefits unless the refund is repaid to the Fund, with interest at a rate of 4% per year compounded annually, from the date of the refund to the date of repayment. Benefits commence upon the receipt
of the repayment.
Spouse’s Remarriage – and Resumption of Benefits
Effective January 16, 2004, a spouse’s annuity shall no longer be subject to termination or suspension due to remarriage.
Any widow’s annuity that was previously suspended by reason of remarriage prior to January 16, 2004 shall, upon application, be resumed, as of the date of the application.
This resumption shall not be retroactive.
Minor children of participants who die while in active service, on disability or while receiving an annuity are eligible for children’s annuity benefits.
The amount equal to 10% of the current annual maximum salary attached to the position of first class firefighter, for each child as set by the statute. If there is no surviving parent,
full orphan benefits amount to 15% of the same.
The benefit terminates upon the attainment of age 18, marriage or death. Total benefits paid to all members of a family cannot exceed 60% of the maximum current
first class firefighter salary. This maximum benefit is increased to 100% for the family of a participant killed in the line of duty.
If the child is disabled because of a handicapped (and the handicapped manifests prior to age 18), upon proper application and documentation, benefits may be available in the same manner as child annuity benefits and are payable to the parent of such child as the natural guardian, a court appointed guardian, or a special needs trust. Benefits terminate at death, if it is determined that the child is no longer disabled because of the handicap or if the child marries.
Minor children of participants who die while in active service, on disability or while receiving an annuity are eligible for children’s annuity benefits.
The amount equal to 10% of the current annual maximum salary attached to the position of first class firefighter, for each child. If there is no surviving parent, full orphan benefits amount to 15% of the same.
If the child is disabled because of a handicapped (and the handicapped manifests prior to age 18), upon proper application and documentation, benefits may be available in the same manner as child annuity benefits and are payable to the parent of such child as the natural guardian, a court appointed guardian, or a special needs trust. Benefits terminate at death, if it is determined that the child is no longer disabled because of the handicap or if the child marries.