State Public Pensions in Montana

The death of a member of PERS or another MPERA system is reported to MPERA, and an educator's death to the Teachers' Retirement System, with a certified copy of the death certificate and the deceased's member and employment details.^{1, 2}

When a retiree dies, MPERA asks the person reporting for their name, address, and phone number, whether they are next of kin, a personal representative, or an employer, the member's date of death, whether the member was inactive, active, or a retiree, and a copy of the death certificate.¹

When an active member dies before retirement, a death benefit or survivor allowance may be payable to the designated beneficiary, or to a spouse or dependent children under state statute, depending on the system. The system determines the amount based on service and the member's elections.¹

For PERS, Sheriffs', Game Wardens' and Peace Officers', and Judges' retirees, the option the retiree selected determines what payment, if any, continues and to whom. Municipal Police, Firefighters' Unified, and Highway Patrol provide for spouses or dependent children according to state statute.¹

At MPERA and TRS, the benefit that continues depends on the payment option the retiree elected at retirement. A surviving beneficiary may receive a continuing monthly allowance, a lump sum, or nothing if the retiree elected a maximum single-life (period-certain or normal) option with no survivor.^{1, 2}

Under MPERA's pop-up provision, available for certain systems, a retiree who elected Option 2 or 3 and whose named beneficiary dies first has 18 months from the beneficiary's death to notify MPERA in writing, with a copy of the death certificate.¹

With that notice, the retiree may pop up to the higher Option 1 benefit or have the benefit recalculated for a new person.¹

TRS has a parallel 18-month window to name a new joint annuitant.²

within 18 months of the death of the retiree's named beneficiary¹

within 18 months of the joint annuitant's death²

PERS and the Sheriffs', Game Wardens' and Peace Officers', Judges', Municipal Police, Firefighters' Unified, and Highway Patrol systems^{3, 1}

Public-school and university educators^{4, 2}