State Public Pensions in North Dakota

State Public Pensions in North Dakota: key facts

Systems

NDPERS for state and local government employees; the Teachers' Fund for Retirement (TFFR) for public educators. Which NDPERS plan matters: employees first hired before January 1, 2025 are in the defined benefit (Main) plan; those hired after that date are in the NDPERS defined contribution plan, whose death benefit is simply the vested account balance.

Retiree death

The continuing benefit depends on the payment option the member elected. Under TFFR, a joint-and-survivor option continues 100% or 50% of the monthly annuity to the beneficiary for life and a term-certain option pays the remainder of the 120 or 240 monthly payments, while a single-life annuity leaves only the balance of account value, if any.

Pre-retirement death

NDPERS defined benefit: a non-vested member's account balance is paid to the beneficiary in a lump sum; a vested member's surviving spouse named as primary beneficiary may take a lump sum, monthly payments of one-half the Single Life Retirement Benefit for life, or the accrued 100% joint-and-survivor benefit if the member had reached normal retirement date. NDPERS defined contribution: the beneficiary receives the vested account balance. TFFR: a non-vested member (Tier 1 with under 3 years of service credit, Tier 2 with under 5) leaves a refund of account value; a vested member's beneficiary may take a refund or, if only one beneficiary is named, a monthly annuity for life.

When no beneficiary is on record

The benefit falls into the estate and becomes an asset the personal representative collects. Under either NDPERS plan the account balance is paid to the estate. Under TFFR it goes to the surviving spouse, or if none, to the estate — and an estate may take only the refund of account value, never a monthly annuity.

Member services

NDPERS: (701) 328-3900 or (800) 803-7377; ndpers-info@nd.gov. TFFR (Retirement and Investment Office): (701) 328-9885 or (800) 952-2970; rio@nd.gov.

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Identify whether the deceased was a member of NDPERS or TFFR.
2. Notify the system by telephone — NDPERS states that a telephone call initiates the appropriate process, and TFFR asks to be notified promptly.
3. The system reviews the retirement record and contacts the designated beneficiaries or family with the required forms.
4. Provide a copy of the member's death certificate, plus the beneficiary's proof of age if a monthly survivor benefit is selected (TFFR).
5. If no beneficiary is on record, collect the account balance into the estate — an estate can take the refund of account value, not a monthly annuity.

Frequently asked questions