New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and Educational Retirement Board (NMERB)
New Mexico · Public Pensions
nmpera.orgState Public Pensions in New Mexico
New Mexico's public-employee pensions are run by the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) for state and local government workers and the Educational Retirement Board (NMERB) for educators. Survivor and death benefits depend on whether the member was active or retired and the payment option elected.
Steps to take when someone dies
- •a copy of the death certificate showing cause or manner of death
- •a marriage certificate (or proof a marriage ended)
- •a domestic partnership registration certificate (or proof the registered partnership ended)
- •birth certificates of a survivor or children to be paid
- •letters of administration or letters testamentary if the estate is to be paid
- •a certification of trust form if a trust is to be paid
Required Documents
- Death certificate: PERA asks for a copy showing the cause or manner of death; NMERB asks for a copy after the death is reported.
- Marriage certificate, or proof a marriage ended
- Domestic partnership registration certificate: or proof the registered partnership ended
- Birth certificates: of a survivor or children to be paid
- Letters of administration or letters testamentary: if the estate is to be paid
- Certification of trust form: if a trust is to be paid
- Affidavit of successor: PERA lists it as a document that may be required, and provides a copy on request.
Timeline
PERA processing can take up to 60 days after it receives all required documents.
State Public Pensions in New Mexico: key facts
What New Mexico says4
- Reporting a death
PERA can be notified of a death online through its death notification form, by telephone, by mail, or in person. The member's employer can also report the death directly.1
After a death is reported, PERA audits the account for benefits payable to the survivor beneficiary or the estate.1
NMERB can be notified of a death by telephone, by letter, or in person, and a copy of the death certificate is then sent.2
- Death before retirement
PERA's survivor beneficiary designation takes effect once the member is vested, or if the member dies from duty-related causes before vesting. It pays a monthly lifetime pension to the designated survivor beneficiary, in amounts that differ for duty-related and non-duty-related deaths.3
If a PERA member dies before vesting from a cause that is not duty-related, the member contributions plus interest are paid in a lump sum to the designated refund beneficiary, or to the estate if no refund beneficiary was named.3
- Death after retirement
Continuing benefits depend on the option elected at retirement. NMERB Option A (straight life) ends payments at death; Option B continues a 100% survivor benefit and Option C a 50% survivor benefit to the designated beneficiary for life.2
Survivors of a retired NMERB member may qualify for a one-time lump-sum death benefit based on the retiree's years of service.2
- Payments after the date of death
Any warrant PERA issued to a retiree or benefit recipient for the month after their death is returned to PERA.1
Governing law: NMSA 1978, § 10-11-1 et seq. (Public Employees Retirement Act); NMSA 1978, § 22-11-1 et seq. (Educational Retirement Act)
Retirement systems2
- Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
State and local government employees1
Phone: 1-505-542-6220
Toll-free: 1-866-678-0670
- Educational Retirement Board (NMERB)
Public educators2
Phone: 1-505-585-3510
Toll-free: 1-866-691-2345
Mailing address: New Mexico Educational Retirement Board, PO Box 26129, Santa Fe, NM 87502-6129
New Mexico public pension benefits
New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and Educational Retirement Board (NMERB)
Phone
PERA
NMERB death reporting
NMERB call center
Website
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Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in New Mexico: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
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