State Public Pensions in Georgia

ERSGA takes pension and Group Term Life death reports by phone.¹

Death reports for Peach State Reserves 401(k)/457 and Flexible Benefits go to GaBreeze.¹

TRS accepts an online Notification of Death report, with the death certificate attached or sent later by mail, fax, or in person.²

Under TRS, what continues depends on the retirement option the member elected. Plan A or Plan B Option 1 may pay a lump-sum refund to the beneficiary, while Plan B Options 2, 2 Pop-up, 3, 3 Pop-up, and 4 pay a continuing monthly benefit.³

Under TRS, a member with less than 10 years of service leaves a lump-sum refund of contributions and interest to the primary beneficiary.⁴

Under TRS, a vested member with 10 or more years leaves the beneficiary a choice between a monthly benefit for life (the Plan B Option 2 amount) and a lump-sum refund.⁴

Under ERSGA, if no beneficiary was designated, the pension payment goes to the estate.⁵

If no estate is established, ERSGA mails an heir-at-law affidavit and pays the next of kin.⁵

When the estate is the named beneficiary, ERSGA requires Letters Testamentary or of Administration and an estate Federal Tax ID number before it will pay the estate.¹

ERSGA and TRS both require a death certificate to process benefits.^{6, 1, 7}

Under TRS, the retiree's month of death is the final month the retiree is entitled to a TRS benefit.³

ERSGA says beneficiaries should not cash or deposit any member benefit check issued after the member's death, and the beneficiary may be responsible for repaying it.¹

ERSGA also administers Group Term Life Insurance.⁸

State and local government workers^{8, 6}

Public educators^{9, 7}

Death reports for Peach State Reserves 401(k)/457 and Flexible Benefits¹