How to designate beneficiaries at CalPERS
Covers 7 state-pension accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
CalPERS Customer Contact Center
CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711
CalPERS Customer Contact Center
CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711
CalPERS Disability & Survivor Benefits Division
CalPERS, Disability & Survivor Benefits Division, Survivor Benefits, P.O. Box 942715, Sacramento, CA 94229-2715
Preparing your CalPERS benefits for your family means choosing the right retirement payment option and keeping your survivor and death-benefit beneficiaries current. The option you elect at retirement, and the beneficiary on file, control what CalPERS pays at death—these choices override your will.
The transfer rules at CalPERS vary across 7 pension benefits. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
Sources
Data sourced from CalPERS primary sources (9 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these CalPERS instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against CalPERS primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
CalPERS Customer Contact Center
CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711
CalPERS Customer Contact Center
CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711
CalPERS Disability & Survivor Benefits Division
CalPERS, Disability & Survivor Benefits Division, Survivor Benefits, P.O. Box 942715, Sacramento, CA 94229-2715
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your CalPERS accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
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