State Public Pensions in Oklahoma
Oklahoma public-employee pensions run mainly through OPERS for state and local government workers and TRS for public educators. Survivor and death benefits depend on whether the member was active or retired and the payment option elected.
Administering agency
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS)
State Public Pensions in Oklahoma: key facts
- Systems
- Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) for state and local government employees, elected officials, and hazardous-duty employees — OPERS also administers the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges (URSJJ). Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS) covers public educators.
- OPERS active-member death
- If the member was vested, eligible to vest, or eligible to retire at death, the legal surviving spouse is entitled to a survivor benefit and is offered Option B survivor benefits, payable no earlier than the date the member would have met normal or early retirement requirements. If no surviving spouse benefit is payable, a one-time lump sum equal to the member's accumulated contributions is distributed among the primary beneficiaries.
- OPERS retiree death
- A $5,000 lump-sum death benefit is payable to a primary beneficiary on the death of a retiree, but not on the death of a joint annuitant; it is not insurance and is taxable to the beneficiary. Any continuing benefit under the retirement option elected is paid per that option, the final monthly benefit payment follows the beneficiary designation, and where the retiree chose the Maximum Retirement Benefit Option, any excess of accumulated contributions over benefits already received is paid to the beneficiaries.
- TRS survivor benefit
- TRS pays a survivor's benefit at no cost to the member: $18,000 on an active account, $5,000 on a retired account. On an active account it is paid in equal shares to the designated beneficiaries along with the member's account balance and applicable interest; on a retired account it is paid along with the provisions of the retirement option elected. A beneficiary form is valid only if it was on file with TRS before the member died.
- TRS lifetime-benefit election
- Where an active TRS member qualified for retirement at death, had ten or more years of creditable service, and named a single primary beneficiary for both the account balance and the $18,000 survivor benefit, that sole beneficiary may forego the lump sums and instead retire as the annuitant under the Option 2 plan for a lifetime monthly benefit. Beneficiaries of either system may assign all or part of a death benefit to a licensed funeral home.
- OPERS death-benefit withholding
- An OPERS death benefit not rolled over is subject to mandatory withholding: 20% federal and 4.5% Oklahoma for an individual or trust beneficiary, 10% federal and 4.5% Oklahoma for a non-individual beneficiary (estate, funeral home, charity), and 30% federal for non-resident aliens.
- Contacts
- OPERS: 800-733-9008 or 405-858-6737; 5400 N Grand Blvd, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, OK 73112. TRS: 405-521-2387; mail@trs.ok.gov; 301 NW 63rd Street, Suite 500, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.
Steps to take when someone dies
- Identify whether the deceased was a member of OPERS or TRS.
- Report the death to the system with the member's name, Social Security number, and date of death so pension payments stop. OPERS also asks for the contact information of any relatives and beneficiaries.
- Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask what survivor or death benefit is payable. A TRS beneficiary form counts only if it was on file before the member died.
- File the survivor or death-benefit claim with the documents the system requires, including a death certificate.
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS)
Phone: 800-733-9008
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
Contact the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System at 800-733-9008 for state and local government employees, elected officials, hazardous-duty employees, and judges and justices covered by URSJJ, or the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma at 405-521-2387 for public educators. Each system handles survivor and death-benefit claims for its members.
OPERS pays a $5,000 lump-sum death benefit to a primary beneficiary on the death of a retiree — but not on the death of a joint annuitant — along with any continuing benefit under the retirement option the retiree elected and the final monthly benefit payment. Where the retiree chose the Maximum Retirement Benefit Option and died before receiving benefits equal to the contributions paid in, the difference is paid according to the beneficiary designation.
For an OPERS member who was vested, eligible to vest, or eligible to retire at death, the legal surviving spouse is entitled to a survivor benefit and is offered Option B, payable no earlier than the date the member would have met normal or early retirement requirements. If no surviving spouse benefit applies, beneficiaries receive a one-time lump sum equal to the member's accumulated contributions.
TRS pays a survivor's benefit of $18,000 on an active account or $5,000 on a retired account, at no cost to the member. On an active account it goes in equal shares to the designated beneficiaries along with the member's account balance and interest. A sole primary beneficiary of a member who qualified for retirement with ten or more years of creditable service may instead elect a lifetime monthly benefit as the Option 2 annuitant. Beneficiary forms are valid only if TRS received them before the member died.
Sources
Data sourced from State Public Pensions in Oklahoma primary sources (7 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS)