If you die after you begin a service or disability retirement, your survivor(s) may be eligible to receive benefits depending upon the retirement option you chose. See “What are my benefit options?”
If you die before retirement, your beneficiary may be eligible for benefits as explained below.
If you die before you have 10 service credit years in PSERS and before retirement eligibility, your designated beneficiary(ies) receives your contributions, plus interest earnings.
If you die after becoming eligible to retire or after accumulating 10 or more service credit years, your surviving spouse, or if none, the guardian of your minor children, may choose between the following two benefits:
If your spouse dies while receiving a survivor’s retirement benefit and leaves a minor child or children, the children will continue to receive the benefit that was paid to your spouse. The benefit will be shared equally among the children and paid until they reach 18 years of age.
If there are no minor children or surviving spouse, your designated beneficiary will receive your accrued contributions, plus interest.
If an active member or disability retiree dies as a result of injuries sustained in the course of employment, or if the death resulted from an occupational disease or infection that arose naturally and proximately out of their covered employment, and the Department of Labor and Industries has determined eligibility for the payment, DRS will pay a $150,000 death benefit to the member's beneficiary.
If you die as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty as a public safety officer, your survivor's benefits may be exempt from taxes under federal and state law. DRS determines eligibility.