The 2013 Indiana General Assembly recently approved legislation regarding state employee death benefit changes. SEA 324 becomes effective July 1, 2013.
- The death benefit for a state employee who dies in the line of duty is $100,000. This replaces the current amount of $50,000.
- Surviving stepchildren are now entitled to receive a death benefit of a state employee who died in the line of duty.
- Dependent children and stepchildren will receive a death benefit of a state employee who died in the line of duty.
- Defines dependent as the child or stepchild that the state employee claimed on his or her federal income tax return the year before the state employee’s death.
Under IC 5-10-11-3, employees of state educational institutions are not eligible for this benefit. In addition, beneficiaries who receive the special death benefit under IC 5-10-10, for public safety officers who died in the line-of-duty, are not eligible for this benefit.
If you have questions, e-mail us at questions@inprs.in.gov or call us at (888) 526-1687 for more information.