Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 16-16 - Teachers’ Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]
Section 16-16-26. - Spouse’s or domestic partner’s benefits.

§ 16-16-26. Spouse’s or domestic partner’s benefits.
(a) Spouse’s and domestic partner’s benefits are payable following the decease of a member as provided in §§ 16-16-25 — 16-16-38.
(b) The spouse or domestic partner shall be entitled to benefits upon attaining the age of sixty (60) years.
(c) The spouse or domestic partner was living with the deceased member at the time of the member’s death. A spouse or domestic partner is deemed to have been living with the deceased member if they were both members of the same household on the date of the deceased member’s death, or the spouse or domestic partner was receiving regular contributions from the deceased member toward support on that date, or the deceased member had been ordered by a court to contribute to the spouse’s or domestic partner’s support.
(d) Remarriage of the spouse or domestic partner or establishment of a domestic partnership shall render him or her ineligible to receive current or future benefits under this section.
(e) The spouse or domestic partner of a member, as defined in this section, shall be entitled to monthly benefits payable in accordance with the following table:
(f) A yearly cost-of-living adjustment for spouse’s or domestic partner’s benefits shall be based on the annual social security adjustment.
History of Section.P.L. 1962, ch. 212, § 3; P.L. 1974, ch. 254, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 217, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 248, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 590, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 295, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 547, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 6; P.L. 2017, ch. 412, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 413, § 1.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 16 - Education

Chapter 16-16 - Teachers’ Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]

Section 16-16-1. - Definitions.

Section 16-16-2. - Membership in system.

Section 16-16-3. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-4. - Membership of school nurses.

Section 16-16-5. - Service creditable.

Section 16-16-6. - Credit for service in private schools or as federal employee — Contributions.

Section 16-16-6.1. - Credit for service outside state.

Section 16-16-6.2. - Service credit for appropriate work experience — Contributions.

Section 16-16-6.3. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-6.4. - Service credit for appropriate work experience — Certified nurse teachers — Contributions.

Section 16-16-7. - Credit for military leave.

Section 16-16-7.1. - Armed service credit.

Section 16-16-7.2. - Peace corps, teacher corps, and volunteers in service to America — Credit.

Section 16-16-8. - Credit for service as a state or municipal employee.

Section 16-16-8.1. - Purchase of service credits payable by installment.

Section 16-16-9, 16-16-10. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-11. - Benefits payable — Survivor’s benefits.

Section 16-16-12. - Procedure for service retirement.

Section 16-16-12.1. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-13. - Amount of service retirement allowance.

Section 16-16-13.1. - Teachers with more than 30 years of service — Amount of service retirement allowance — Minimum and maximum limitations.

Section 16-16-14. - Retirement for ordinary disability.

Section 16-16-15. - Amount of ordinary disability benefit.

Section 16-16-16. - Retirement for accidental disability.

Section 16-16-17. - Amount of accidental disability benefit.

Section 16-16-18. - Disability benefits pending final decision on application.

Section 16-16-19. - Reexamination of disability beneficiaries — Reduction of benefit — Reinstatement to active service.

Section 16-16-20. - Deduction of amounts received from workers’ compensation or as damages.

Section 16-16-21. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-22. - Contributions to state system.

Section 16-16-22.1. - City or town payment of teacher member contributions.

Section 16-16-23. - Applicability of public employees’ retirement law.

Section 16-16-24. - Substitute teaching and employment after retirement.

Section 16-16-24.1. - Substitute teaching and post-retirement employment related to COVID-19.

Section 16-16-25. - Eligibility for survivor’s benefits — Payment.

Section 16-16-26. - Spouse’s or domestic partner’s benefits.

Section 16-16-27. - Family benefits.

Section 16-16-28. - Children’s benefits.

Section 16-16-29. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-30. - Parent’s benefits.

Section 16-16-31. - Refund on termination prior to retirement.

Section 16-16-32. - Refund on retirement.

Section 16-16-33. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-34. - Member leaving no survivors — Reversion.

Section 16-16-35. - Contributions.

Section 16-16-36. - Teachers’ survivors benefit fund.

Section 16-16-37. - Administration.

Section 16-16-38. - Social security.

Section 16-16-39. - Severability.

Section 16-16-40. - Additional benefits payable to retired teachers.

Section 16-16-40.1. - One-time adjustment to original retirement allowance.

Section 16-16-41. - Repealed.

Section 16-16-42. - Life insurance benefits.

Section 16-16-43. - Purchase of credit while serving a prison sentence prohibited.