State Public Pensions in Maryland

State Public Pensions in Maryland: key facts

Administering agency

Maryland State Retirement Agency, which administers the State Retirement and Pension System.

Retiree death

The Retirement Agency informs the beneficiaries on file if any future benefits are due. Survivor benefits are paid according to the payment option the retiree selected at retirement.

Active-member death benefit

The member's accumulated contributions, plus an amount equal to the member's annual earnable compensation at death if the member died in the course of performance of duty or had at least 1 year of eligibility service. Members of certain systems instead receive a special death benefit under 29-203 to 29-204.2.

Claiming an active-member benefit

The agency sends beneficiaries Form 32 (Notification and Claim of Beneficiary). Form 32 must be notarized and accompanied by an official copy of the death certificate. The employer separately files Form 28 (Request for Certification of Salary) for a member who dies while active on payroll.

If there is no designated beneficiary

The death benefit is paid to the member's estate. The same applies to the accumulated contributions of a former member who dies before their vested allowance starts, or before withdrawing their contributions (29-207).

Report a death

410-625-5555 or 1-800-492-5909; mailing address 120 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202; secure messaging through mySRPS.

Governing law: Md. Code, State Personnel & Pensions 29-201 to 29-207

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Report the death to the Maryland State Retirement Agency at 410-625-5555 or 1-800-492-5909 so the member's pension payments stop.
2. For a retiree, confirm the payment option elected at retirement and ask what continuing benefit, if any, is payable to the beneficiary.
3. For an active member, ask the agency to send Form 32 (Notification and Claim of Beneficiary) to the designated beneficiary; the employer files Form 28 to certify the member's salary.
4. Return the completed, notarized Form 32 with an official copy of the death certificate and any other documents the agency requires.
5. If the member named no beneficiary, the benefit is payable to the estate — the personal representative claims it on the estate's behalf.

Frequently asked questions