State Public Pensions in Vermont
The Office of the State Treasurer administers three public retirement systems: the Vermont State Employees' Retirement System (VSERS), the Vermont Municipal Employees' Retirement System (VMERS), and the Vermont State Teachers' Retirement System (VSTRS). Survivor and death benefits depend on whether the member was active or retired and which payment option they elected.
Administering agency
Vermont State Treasurer — Retirement Division
Authority
3 V.S.A. §§ 465, 468 (VSERS); 24 V.S.A. chapter 125 (VMERS); 16 V.S.A. chapter 55 (VSTRS)
State Public Pensions in Vermont: key facts
- Systems
- VSERS (state employees, 3 V.S.A. chapter 16), VMERS (municipal employees, 24 V.S.A. chapter 125), and VSTRS (teachers, 16 V.S.A. chapter 55).
- Retiree death
- The continuing benefit depends on the optional form of allowance the member elected before the first payment became due (VSERS: 3 V.S.A. § 468). Under Option 1, any residual of the member's accumulated contributions is paid to the named beneficiary; with no living designated beneficiary, the residual goes to the estate's administrator or executor, or — for a closed estate or none, and an account valued at less than $1,000 — per the probate decree, then to the surviving spouse or next of kin.
- Pre-retirement death
- For a VSERS member who dies in service before the normal retirement date with under 10 years of creditable service, the accumulated contributions are paid to the person designated in writing with the Board (3 V.S.A. § 465). Longer service and the other systems carry their own survivor-allowance rules — confirm the payable benefit with the Retirement Division.
- Retirement Division contact
- 802-828-2305 (in-state toll-free 1-800-642-3191); TRE.RetirementOffice@vermont.gov.
Governing law: 3 V.S.A. §§ 465, 468 (VSERS); 24 V.S.A. chapter 125 (VMERS); 16 V.S.A. chapter 55 (VSTRS)
Steps to take when someone dies
- Identify whether the deceased was a member of VSERS, VMERS, or VSTRS.
- Report the death to the Treasurer's Retirement Division so the member's pension payments stop.
- Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask what survivor or death benefit is payable.
- File the survivor or death-benefit claim with the documents the Retirement Division requires.
Frequently asked questions
Contact the Office of the State Treasurer's Retirement Division at 802-828-2305 or 1-800-642-3191 (Vermont only), or email TRE.RetirementOffice@vermont.gov. The Treasurer administers VSERS for state employees, VMERS for municipal employees, and VSTRS for teachers, and handles survivor and death-benefit claims for all three systems.
The benefit that continues depends on the optional form of allowance the retiree elected before the first retirement payment became due (VSERS: 3 V.S.A. § 468). A named beneficiary may receive a continuing allowance or a residual lump sum; if no designated beneficiary survives, the residual is paid to the estate's administrator or executor, or — for a closed estate or none, with the account valued at less than $1,000 — per the Probate Division decree, then to the surviving spouse or next of kin.
Yes. Under 3 V.S.A. § 465, a VSERS member who dies in service before the normal retirement date with under 10 years of creditable service has their accumulated contributions paid to the beneficiary designated in writing with the Retirement Board. Members with longer service, and members of VMERS and VSTRS, are covered by their own systems' survivor-allowance provisions — confirm the payable benefit with the Retirement Division.
Sources
Data sourced from State Public Pensions in Vermont primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Vermont State Treasurer — Retirement Division
Authority
3 V.S.A. §§ 465, 468 (VSERS); 24 V.S.A. chapter 125 (VMERS); 16 V.S.A. chapter 55 (VSTRS)