BALTIMORE, MD (June 4, 2020) – Effective immediately, a special line-of-duty death benefit is available to certain families of deceased active members of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System if COVID-19 was the cause of death or a contributing cause of death of the member. The benefit is now available due to legislation the General Assembly enacted during the 2021 Legislative Session in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following conditions must be met to qualify for this special death benefit:

1. The deceased member must have been actively employed with a participating employer in the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System at the time of death;
2. The deceased member must have died between March 5, 2020 and July 1, 2022; and
3. COVID-19 must have been the cause of death or a contributing cause of death.

A member’s death presumptively was in the course of duty if the member contracted COVID-19 within 14 days after reporting to a work location provided by the member’s employer. The member’s cause of death and date of contracting COVID-19 are subject to proof by documentation as stated in the new law. 

If all requirements are met, this special line-of-duty death benefit is available if the deceased member has a surviving:

• spouse;
• non-disabled child under 26 years old;
• disabled child of any age; or
• dependent parent.

Anyone who believes that a deceased member may qualify for this special COVID-19 death benefit is encouraged to contact Carla Foster at 410-625-5637 or cfoster@sra.state.md.us.