Retirement account benefits
SCRS and PORS members
Payment Option A
If you selected payment Option A, after your death, your beneficiary or estate will receive a lump-sum payment of the remaining balance of any member contributions and interest, including any working retiree contributions, not exhausted through receipt of your benefit during your retirement.
Payment Option B
If you selected payment Option B, after your death, your beneficiary will receive the same monthly benefit you received, including granted benefit adjustments, for life.
Payment Option C
If you selected payment Option C, after your death, your beneficiary will receive one-half of the benefit you received, including granted benefit adjustments, for life.
State ORP participants
Once you retire, you may choose from a variety of payment options, including a lump-sum distribution or periodic withdrawals. In the event of your death, your beneficiary will be entitled to any remaining balance in your State ORP account with your service provider.
GARS members
Information about GARS retirement account survivor benefits is available in the GARS Member Handbook.
JSRS members
Information about JSRS retirement account survivor benefits is available in the JSRS Member Handbook.
Retired member incidental death benefits
Working retired members of SCRS or PORS
If you are a working retired member of SCRS or PORS and your employer participates in incidental death benefit coverage, a payment equal to your current annual earnable compensation will be paid to your beneficiary if you die while in service. Amounts paid to your beneficiary are considered taxable benefits; therefore, federal taxes will be withheld unless your beneficiary rolls the money over into another qualified retirement plan. It is up to your beneficiary to request that state taxes be withheld from the payment.
Non-working retired members
As a non-working retiree, if you die and your last employer prior to retirement provides incidental death benefit coverage, a payment based on the retirement system from which you retired from and your service credit will be paid to your beneficiary. Amounts paid to your beneficiary are considered taxable benefits; therefore, federal taxes will be withheld unless your beneficiary rolls the money over into another qualified retirement plan. It is up to your beneficiary to request that state taxes be withheld from the payment.
SCRS and PORS members
| SCRS years of service credit | PORS years of service credit | Incidental death benefit payment |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 19 years | 10 to 19 years | $2,000 |
| 20 to 27 years | Class Two: 20 to 24 years Class Three: 20 to 26 years | $4,000 |
| 28 or more years | Class Two: 25 or more years Class Three: 27 or more years | $6,000 |
GARS and JSRS members
| Years of service credit | Incidental death benefit payment |
|---|---|
| 10 to 19 years | $1,000 |
| 20 to 29 years | $2,000 |
| 30 or more years | $3,000 |