State Public Pensions in Rhode Island

State Public Pensions in Rhode Island: key facts

Administering office

Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI), administered by the Rhode Island Office of the General Treasurer.

Retiree death — continuing allowance

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 36-10-18, a retiree who elected Option 1 has the reduced allowance continued in full for the nominee's life; Option 2 continues one-half of it. Where no option was elected, R.I. Gen. Laws 36-10-23(a) pays only the excess, if any, of the member's total contributions over the allowance payments already received.

Retiree death — death benefit

A death benefit is payable on the death of any retired member: the ordinary death benefit accrued at retirement is carried in full through the first year of retirement, then reduced 25% on each retirement anniversary until 25% of the accrued amount is reached, and never below $4,000 (R.I. Gen. Laws 36-10-23(b)).

Death before retirement

The member's contributions are paid back without interest. If the member died in employee status (or on official illness leave of under a year), an ordinary death benefit of $800 for each completed year of total service is also paid, with a $4,000 minimum and a $16,000 maximum (R.I. Gen. Laws 36-10-21).

Who the death benefit is paid to

The nominee named in the member's written designation on file with the retirement board. If no nomination was filed, or the nominee died first, the payment goes to the estate of the deceased member (R.I. Gen. Laws 36-10-24).

Member Service Center

401-462-7600; 50 Service Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886; member account access at ersri.org.

Governing law: R.I. Gen. Laws 36-10-18, 36-10-21, 36-10-23, 36-10-24 (state employees and teachers); R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 45-21 (MERS municipal members)