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    PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM (PSERS)

    Nominating Beneficiaries

    Nominate Your Beneficiaries

    You can nominate and change your beneficiary information online or by completing and submitting the Nomination of Beneficiary form.

    Online through the Member Self-Service Portal
    Nomination of Beneficiary Form

    Active Members

    Active members of PSERS can update and/or change beneficiary information anytime they wish through the PSERS Member Self-Service (MSS) Portal.You may also submit a Nomination of Beneficiaries (PSRS-187) form to PSERS.  The most recently received form will supersede all previous forms.

    You should keep your beneficiary information up to date to ensure that benefits are paid according to your wishes.  If you do not name a beneficiary or if your named beneficiary predeceases you, your benefit is paid to your estate. PSERS benefits paid to your beneficiary are exempt from state and local taxes if the beneficiary resides in Pennsylvania.  Benefits paid to your estate are taxable for state and local purposes upon being distributed from the estate.  Both direct payments to your beneficiary and payments to your estate are subject to federal taxes. 

    You should review and update your nomination if: 

    • You or your beneficiary divorces or marries.
    • One of your beneficiaries dies.
    • One of your beneficiaries has a name or address change.
    • You have a child or adopt a child.
    • A minor beneficiary reaches age 18. 

    You may nominate beneficiaries at any time before applying for retirement.  The new nomination will supersede all previous nominations.

    Class T-G and Class T-H members may choose to nominate different beneficiaries for the Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) components of their retirement benefit.

    Retired Members

    Different rules apply to retired members when updating beneficiary information.  If you chose Maximum Single Life Annuity or Option 1 retirement option, you may change your beneficiary information through the MSS Portal or by submitting a new Nomination of Beneficiaries form. 

    If you chose Options 2, 3, or Customized (Special) Option 4, you may only name a new survivor annuitant if your marital status changes or your survivor annuitant predeceases you.  If you decide to change survivor annuitants or retirement options, PSERS will recalculate your monthly benefit using your new survivor annuitants age at the time of the change.  During this process, it is possible that your monthly benefit will be reduced.  You should contact PSERS to inquire about making this change.  

    Unlike some other retirement plans, PSERS will not automatically pay any death benefits to which you may be entitled to your current spouse. Federal pension statutes and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requirements don't apply to governmental plans like PSERS.

    First, PSERS will pay to whomever is on file as your beneficiary. If you don't have a nomination on file, we will pay your estate and the proceeds will be settled and distributed that way.

    In the event of a divorce, it is particularly important to update your beneficiary. whether your pre-divorce designation of your former spouse remains effective will depend on the date you named your former spouse and the state you live in at the time of your death.