State Public Pensions in Utah

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, pension estimates, applying for retirement, refunds, and 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)

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Identify whether the deceased was an active or retired member of URS, and which system or savings plan they participated in.
2. Report the death to the URS Retirement Benefits Department at 801-366-7770 or 800-695-4877 — URS directs employers to notify that department immediately, and URS then contacts the beneficiaries to complete the necessary forms. URS also publishes a "Reporting a Death" page for members at urs.org/general/ReportingDeath.
3. Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask what continuing allowance, lump-sum death benefit, life insurance, or savings-plan distribution is payable.
4. File the survivor or death-benefit claim on the forms URS sends to the beneficiaries, and ask the Retirement Benefits Department what supporting documents it needs.

Frequently asked questions