State Public Pensions in Arkansas
Arkansas public retirement is split between APERS, which covers state and local government employees, and ATRS, which covers public educators. Survivor and death benefits depend on the system, the member's service, and whether the member was active or retired. A survivor first reports the death to the member's system.
Administering agency
Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) and Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)
Authority
Ark. Code Ann. 24-7-710 (ATRS survivor benefits)
State Public Pensions in Arkansas: key facts
- Systems
- Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) for state and local government workers; Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS) for public educators.
- APERS survivor annuity
- If a vested member (at least five years of active service) dies before retirement, a survivor annuity may be payable to a spouse married to the member for at least six months before death, to dependent children (through death, marriage, or age 23), or — if there is no spouse or child — to parents who depended on the member for at least 50% of their support.
- APERS if no survivor qualifies
- If no one qualifies for a survivor annuity, APERS refunds the member's employee contributions to the named beneficiary, or to the member's estate if no beneficiary was named.
- ATRS lump-sum death benefit
- An active member (or T-DROP participant) or retiree with at least ten years of actual service credit qualifies. The benefit is $10,000 for ten or more years of contributory service, $6,667 for ten or more years of only noncontributory service, and prorated for mixed service with fewer than ten contributory years.
- ATRS survivor benefits
- Under Ark. Code Ann. 24-7-710, an active member with at least five years of actual credited service leaves survivor benefits to a spouse married to the member for at least one year before death, unless the member named an alternate beneficiary.
- ATRS: immediate vs deferred
- A surviving spouse is immediately eligible only if the member had reached age 60, had 28 or more years of actual and reciprocal service credit, or had 25 to 27.75 years qualifying for a reduced early retirement benefit. An immediately eligible spouse's benefits start the month after death if ATRS receives the survivor application by the end of the sixth full calendar month after the death, and otherwise the month the application is filed. In all other cases benefits are deferred and begin the month after the member would have turned 60.
- Member services
- APERS 501-682-7800 (toll-free 800-682-7377); ATRS 501-682-1517.
Governing law: Ark. Code Ann. 24-7-710 (ATRS survivor benefits)
Steps to take when someone dies
- Identify whether the deceased was a member of APERS (government employee) or ATRS (educator).
- Report the death to the member's retirement system so pension payments stop — APERS at 501-682-7800, ATRS at 501-682-1517.
- For APERS, a counselor sends an eligibility questionnaire to determine whether there are qualifying survivors; an application is then mailed to the survivors the questionnaire identifies.
- Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask what survivor annuity, lump-sum death benefit, or refund of contributions is payable.
- File the survivor or death-benefit application promptly — an ATRS surviving spouse who is immediately eligible must apply by the end of the sixth full calendar month after the death to receive benefits from the month after death.
Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) and Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)
Phone: 501-682-7800
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
Contact the member's retirement system. APERS, for state and local government workers, is reachable at 501-682-7800 (toll-free 800-682-7377). ATRS, for public educators, is reachable at 501-682-1517. Each handles survivor and death-benefit claims for its members.
If a vested member — one with at least five years of active service — dies before retirement, a monthly survivor annuity may be payable to a spouse who was married to the member for at least six months before death, to dependent children, or to dependent parents if there is no spouse or child. If no one qualifies, APERS refunds the member's employee contributions to the named beneficiary, or to the estate if no beneficiary was named.
Yes. An active member or retiree with at least ten years of actual service credit qualifies for a lump-sum death benefit of up to $10,000 — $10,000 for ten or more years of contributory service, $6,667 for ten or more years of only noncontributory service, and a prorated amount for mixed service. It is a legislatively created benefit, not a life insurance policy.
Yes, in effect, but only for an immediately eligible spouse. A surviving spouse is immediately eligible if the member had reached age 60, had 28 or more years of actual and reciprocal service credit, or had 25 to 27.75 years qualifying for a reduced early retirement benefit. That spouse receives monthly benefits beginning the month after the member's death only if ATRS receives the survivor application by the end of the sixth full calendar month after the death; if it arrives later, benefits begin the month ATRS receives it. In every other case the benefit is deferred and begins the month after the member would have turned 60.
Sources
Data sourced from State Public Pensions in Arkansas primary sources (6 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) and Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)
Authority
Ark. Code Ann. 24-7-710 (ATRS survivor benefits)