State Public Pensions in Vermont

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)