State Public Pensions in South Dakota

The South Dakota Retirement System covers state, county, municipal, school, and other participating public employees. Survivor and death benefits depend on whether the member was retired or still active, on whether the member is a Foundation member (joined before July 1, 2017) or a Generational member (joined on or after that date), and — for Generational members — on the benefit option the member elected at retirement.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Public Pensions

South Dakota

sd.gov/sdrs→

Administering agency

South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS)

Phone605-773-3731

WebsiteVisit website →

Verified Jul 2026

State Public Pensions in South Dakota: key facts

System: South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS), covering participating state and local government and school employees. Members who joined before July 1, 2017 are Foundation members; those who joined on or after that date are Generational members, and the two groups have different death benefits.
Retiree death — Foundation member: For a member who joined before July 1, 2017, an eligible surviving spouse automatically receives a lifetime benefit equal to 60 percent of the benefit being paid to the member at the time of death, with annual cost-of-living adjustments.
Retiree death — Generational member: For a member who joined on or after July 1, 2017, the normal retirement benefit is a single-life benefit. Payments stop at death unless the member elected a 60 percent or 100 percent Joint & Survivor benefit at retirement, in which case that percentage of the benefit continues for the surviving spouse's lifetime with annual cost-of-living adjustments.
Spouse eligibility: The spouse must have been married to the member before the member's retirement date and for at least 12 months before the member's death.
Remaining contributions: If the member (and the spouse, where a spouse benefit applies) dies before the member's accumulated contributions have been paid out, the named beneficiary or the estate receives any remaining balance.
Death while still employed: If the member dies while actively participating, a family benefit is payable for eligible dependent children under age 19. A surviving spouse benefit then becomes payable when the spouse reaches age 65 for a Foundation member (age 67 for a Generational member), and the spouse may elect to start it as early as age 55 (age 57 for a Generational member) at a reduced rate.

When someone dies

Steps after a death in South Dakota

5-step process for South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS).

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SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Sources

sd.gov

Data sourced from State Public Pensions in South Dakota primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.

Public Pensions

South Dakota

sd.gov/sdrs→

Administering agency

South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS)

Phone605-773-3731

WebsiteVisit website →

Verified Jul 2026

State Public Pensions in South Dakota: key facts

System

South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS), covering participating state and local government and school employees. Members who joined before July 1, 2017 are Foundation members; those who joined on or after that date are Generational members, and the two groups have different death benefits.

Retiree death — Foundation member

For a member who joined before July 1, 2017, an eligible surviving spouse automatically receives a lifetime benefit equal to 60 percent of the benefit being paid to the member at the time of death, with annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Retiree death — Generational member

For a member who joined on or after July 1, 2017, the normal retirement benefit is a single-life benefit. Payments stop at death unless the member elected a 60 percent or 100 percent Joint & Survivor benefit at retirement, in which case that percentage of the benefit continues for the surviving spouse's lifetime with annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Spouse eligibility

The spouse must have been married to the member before the member's retirement date and for at least 12 months before the member's death.

Remaining contributions

If the member (and the spouse, where a spouse benefit applies) dies before the member's accumulated contributions have been paid out, the named beneficiary or the estate receives any remaining balance.

Death while still employed

If the member dies while actively participating, a family benefit is payable for eligible dependent children under age 19. A surviving spouse benefit then becomes payable when the spouse reaches age 65 for a Foundation member (age 67 for a Generational member), and the spouse may elect to start it as early as age 55 (age 57 for a Generational member) at a reduced rate.