State Public Pensions in Pennsylvania

State Public Pensions in Pennsylvania: key facts

Systems

State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) for state workers; Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) for public-school employees.

SERS contact

800-633-5461 or ra-sersretc@pa.gov; members.sers.pa.gov. Report a death with the member's name, Social Security number, date of death, and county of residence (retired member) or work location (active member).

PSERS contact

888-773-7748; ContactPSERS@pa.gov.

Death benefit

A continuing survivor annuity if the retiree elected a survivor payment option; otherwise the death benefit is paid to the named beneficiary, or to the estate if no beneficiary nomination is on file. SERS pays beneficiaries entitled to less than $10,000 in a lump sum and offers payment options to those entitled to $10,000 or more.

Proof of death

SERS must receive a certified death certificate listing the cause and manner of death before paying any death benefit. PSERS accepts a certified death certificate, a court order declaring the death, or a Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad; a noncertified death certificate is accepted only to pay the prorated annuity for the member's last month of life. Cause of death must appear on the certificate or in a statement from the coroner or medical examiner.

No automatic spousal right

SERS does not automatically pay a death benefit to a current spouse — ERISA does not apply to governmental plans — and a nomination form received after the member's death cannot be honored. PSERS likewise carries no special spousal rights and requires no spousal consent.

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Identify whether the deceased was a member of SERS (state employee) or PSERS (public-school employee).
2. Report the death to the correct system — SERS at 800-633-5461 or ra-sersretc@pa.gov, PSERS at 888-773-7748 or ContactPSERS@pa.gov — so pension payments stop. For an active PSERS member, contact the member's Pennsylvania public school employer, which reports the death to PSERS.
3. Provide proof of death — SERS requires a certified death certificate listing the cause and manner of death; PSERS accepts a certified death certificate, a court order declaring the death, or a Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad.
4. Confirm the beneficiary or survivor designation on file and ask what survivor annuity or death benefit is payable. Each system sends the claim forms after it has the death report and proof of death.

Frequently asked questions