One or more persons, trusts, or organizations a member or participant names to receive plan benefits, if any, upon the death of the member or participant. will receive, for life, one-half the monthly benefit amount you were receiving at your death. 
PERS pays you this benefit over your lifetime. After you die, your surviving beneficiary One or more persons, trusts, or organizations a member or participant names to receive plan benefits, if any, upon the death of the member or participant. will receive, for life, one-half the monthly benefit amount you were receiving at your death.
If your beneficiary should die before you, or your beneficiary is your spouse and you are divorced after you retire, you may then elect to receive the higher-paying Option 1 benefit for the remainder of your lifetime. Proof of death or divorce will be required. For beneficiary deaths or divorce occurring before January 1, 2006, a change to the Option 1 benefit amount is effective for the month following receipt of written notification. For beneficiary deaths or divorce occurring on or after January 1, 2006, a change to the Option 1 benefit amount is effective on the first of the month following the death of beneficiary or divorce of spouse, regardless of when you notify PERS. PERS will pay retroactive benefits in a lump sum.
You must send a letter to PERS requesting that your benefit option be changed. You may change your beneficiary only during the 60 days following the date of your first benefit payment.
Note: You must provide verification of age for your beneficiary. Your beneficiary must be a person (i.e., not your estate or a charity). The benefit reduction is based upon the age difference between you and your beneficiary. For example, if your beneficiary is a grandchild, your benefit will be substantially lower than if your beneficiary is someone closer to your age because benefits will probably be payable for a longer period.