State Public Pensions in Maine

State Public Pensions in Maine: key facts

System

MainePERS covers state employees and teachers (the State Employee and Teacher Plan) and participating local district (PLD) employees, with separate plans for legislators and judges.

Retiree death

A continuing benefit is paid to a beneficiary only if the retiree elected one of the reduced payment options (Options 1-8). Under the Full Benefit option, nothing is paid to a beneficiary and all benefits stop effective the first of the month following the retiree's death.

Pre-retirement death

The beneficiaries select ONE, and no more than one, of: a refund of the member's contributions and allowable interest; a reduced monthly retirement allowance (Automatic Option 2), available if the member was active, a disability retiree, or had met retirement eligibility but had not yet retired; or the statutory Survivor Benefit, paid only to a spouse, dependent children, parents, or other designated beneficiaries. Where death was due to a work-incurred illness or injury, accidental death benefits may be paid instead.

No beneficiary on file

Death benefits are paid according to the valid beneficiary designation on file. If there is no designation, benefits are payable to the first of the following living at the member's death: surviving spouse; child or children regardless of age; the older parent; or the member's estate.

Report a death

Report the death to MainePERS online through its notification-of-death form, by phone at (800) 451-9800 or (207) 512-3100, or by mail to MainePERS, Survivor Benefits, P.O. Box 349, Augusta, ME 04332.

Governing law: 5 M.R.S. 17953 (death before service retirement)

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Identify whether the deceased was a member of MainePERS as a state employee, teacher, judge, legislator, or participating local district (PLD) employee.
2. Notify MainePERS of the death — online through the notification-of-death form, by phone at (800) 451-9800, or by mail — with the member's full name, date of birth, and date of death, plus contact information for you, the spouse, and the children.
3. Provide the supporting documents MainePERS requests. It may ask for a marriage certificate, divorce decree, Social Security numbers, death certificate, birth or adoption paperwork, personal representative documentation, an estate tax identification number, or trust documentation.
4. Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and which death benefit the beneficiaries will select — only one may be paid.

Frequently asked questions