You should fill out a Tier One/Tier Two Pre-Retirement Beneficiary Designation form to name someone to receive your benefits should you die before withdrawing or retiring. This is one of the most important documents you can file with PERS.
The Tier One/Tier Two Pre-Retirement Beneficiary Designation form is available from your employer, PERS Member Services, or on the PERS website. Mail your completed form to PERS; changes are not effective until PERS receives and accepts the form. Click the Form button to access the beneficiary form.
The "Standard Designation of Beneficiary" on the form directs your death benefits to your surviving next of kin. If you select the standard designation, you automatically provide for changes that occur in your family situation such as marriage, birth, divorce, or death.
The standard designation is one of two options. You can also choose to name a specific person or persons, organization, trust, or your estate as your beneficiary. You can name more than one person or organization to be joint beneficiaries. Note: The singular term beneficiary, when used throughout this help file, refers to one or more persons or organizations you have named to receive your benefits.
By law, PERS death benefits
Benefits provided to a beneficiary on the death of a member who has not retired. must be paid to the beneficiaries named in the member's PERS records at the time of their death. Although this is a very emotional time for family and friends, PERS is required to pay benefits according to the most recent designation filed and accepted by PERS. That means PERS cannot act upon statements members may make to relatives, friends, or attorneys that contradict a member's filed designation.
If a member died on or after January 1, 2024, without a designation of beneficiary on file, or if the designated beneficiary predeceased the member, by law any death benefits that may be due and payable will be paid in the following order of priority:
If a member died between July 30, 2003, and January 1, 2024, without a designation of beneficiary on file, by law any death benefits that may be due and payable will be paid to the member’s estate.
If a member died on or before July 30, 2003, without a designation of beneficiary on file, by law any death benefits that may be due and payable will be paid in the following order of priority: