Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustSettle an EstateForms & ToolsFreeResources
OverviewEstate Law
OverviewEstate Law
Attorneys
All Utah Attorneys
Forms
Revocable Living Trust for Utah ResidentsUtah Last Will and TestamentUtah Pour-Over WillUtah Healthcare Power of AttorneyUtah Financial Power of AttorneyUtah Transfer on Death DeedVehicle Transfer on DeathUtah EIN ApplicationUtah Petition for Probate and LettersUtah Notice to CreditorsUtah Small Estate AffidavitLetter of InstructionDigital Assets Recovery Letter
Getting Prepared
Utah Estate Planning Cost CalculatorUtah Revocable Living Trust Cost CalculatorUtah Will Cost CalculatorUtah Life Insurance CalculatorUtah Beneficiary Designation CheckerUtah Name a Guardian GuideUtah Burial & Cremation Law GuideUtah Signing Requirements CheckerUtah Document Portability CheckerUtah Trust Need AssessmentUtah TOD Deed AssessmentUtah Vehicle TOD AssessmentUtah Trust or Will Decision Tool
Someone Just Passed Away
Utah Death Certificate CalculatorUtah Probate Decision ToolUtah Estate Settlement Plan
I'm an Executor
Utah Probate Cost CalculatorUtah Executor Fee CalculatorUtah Self-File Probate AssessmentUtah Executor Appointment GuideUtah Creditor Claims DeadlinesUtah Personal Property Value Estimator
I'm a Trustee
Utah Trustee Compensation CalculatorUtah Trust Settlement Plan
Taxes & Inheritance
Utah Who Inherits CalculatorUtah Estate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorUtah Inheritance Tax GuideUtah Step-Up Basis CalculatorUtah Post-Death Tax Filing Guide
Utah Agencies
Medicaid Estate RecoveryUnclaimed PropertyUnemployment BenefitsPublic Pensions
Federal Agencies
Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits ProgramBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)Defense Health Agency (DHA)Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)DOD Casualty Assistance ProgramDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program (EEOICPA)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Election Commission (FEC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal Student Aid (FSA)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Indian Health Service (IHS)Internal Revenue Service (IRS)National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)NOAA Commissioned Officer CorpsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECA)Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)Social Security Administration (SSA)Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Transportation Security Administration (TSA)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)U.S. Coast Guard Casualty Assistance ProgramU.S. Copyright OfficeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)United States Postal Service (USPS)USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Home→Agencies→Public Pensions→Utah

State Public Pensions in Utah

Utah Retirement Systems (URS) runs the defined-benefit pension and savings plans for Utah state, school district, and local government employees, including Tier 1 (hired before July 1, 2011) and Tier 2 (hired on or after that date) systems. Survivor and death benefits depend on whether the member was active or retired, the system tier, and the payment option elected.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Public Pensions

Utah

urs.org→

Administering agency

Utah Retirement Systems (URS)

Phone801-366-7770
WebsiteVisit website →

Authority

Utah Code Title 49 (Utah State Retirement and Insurance Benefit Act); death benefits at 49-22-501 (Tier 2 public employees)

Verified Jul 2026

State Public Pensions in Utah: key facts

Systems
Members hired before July 1, 2011 are in Tier 1, which consists of six retirement systems (including Non-Contributory, Public Safety, Firefighters, and Judges); later hires are in Tier 2, which has a hybrid pension option and a 401(k) option. URS also administers 401(k), 457, traditional IRA, and Roth IRA savings plans.
Retiree death
For Public Employees Retirement and Tier 2 Public Safety and Firefighters, payment at the time of death is based on the option the member selected at retirement. Under Tier 1 Public Safety and Judges Retirement, 65% of the member's monthly benefit is payable to the spouse — or 75% if the member elected a smaller monthly benefit at retirement. Under the Tier 1 Firefighters Retirement System, 75% is payable to the spouse.
Pre-retirement death
The settlement paid to a non-retired member's beneficiaries is determined by the member's service record and status and by the law governing their system. For Tier 2 public employees, the death benefit is a lump sum consisting of the return of member contributions plus a percentage of the member's final average salary set by the board (Utah Code 49-22-501(4)). Life insurance, where applicable, is paid to the beneficiary on file at the time of death.
Retirement Benefits Department
801-366-7770 or 800-695-4877 (toll free); handles death benefits, applying for retirement, refunds, redeposits, and purchases.

Governing law: Utah Code Title 49 (Utah State Retirement and Insurance Benefit Act); death benefits at 49-22-501 (Tier 2 public employees)

When someone dies

Steps after a death in Utah

4-step process for Utah Retirement Systems (URS).

View details →
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Sources

  • urs.org
  • le.utah.gov

Data sourced from State Public Pensions in Utah primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.

Public Pensions

Utah

urs.org→

Administering agency

Utah Retirement Systems (URS)

Phone801-366-7770
WebsiteVisit website →

Authority

Utah Code Title 49 (Utah State Retirement and Insurance Benefit Act); death benefits at 49-22-501 (Tier 2 public employees)

Verified Jul 2026
SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Last Will and Testament
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
  • Transfer on Death Deed
  • Vehicle Transfer on Death

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Estate Settlement
  • Death Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance

Compare

  • Compare Services
  • vs LegalZoom
  • vs Trust & Will
  • vs Rocket Lawyer
  • vs Quicken WillMaker

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.