How to designate beneficiaries at OPERS

A member with balances in more than one OPERS plan may use one Universal Beneficiary Designation covering all of the member's plans.¹

In the Traditional Pension and Combined plans, eligible children receive monthly benefits regardless of the designation.²

A married member who designates joint beneficiaries leaves the spouse without monthly benefits.²

A Specific Designation can name a person or persons.²

A Specific Designation can name a trust. A copy of the trust agreement is included with the form.^{2, 1}

A Specific Designation can name an estate.²

A Specific Designation can name an institution.²

Primary and contingent beneficiaries may be named. If percentages are specified, each beneficiary category, primary and contingent, totals 100%.¹

A Specific Designation on paper is signed in the presence of two adult witnesses, who also sign the form the same day and are not named as beneficiaries.¹

The lump-sum death benefit designation on DBO-3T or DBO-3CO is also signed before two adult witnesses.³

A married member retiring from the Traditional Pension Plan must designate a 50 percent Joint Life Plan to the spouse unless the member obtains spousal consent.⁴

For pensions. Completed by the member. Available to download.⁵

Return to

For pensions. Completed by the retiree or disability benefit recipient. Available to download.³

For pensions. Completed by the retiree or disability benefit recipient. Available to download.³

A specific designation stays in effect until a new designation is filed and approved.¹

Marriage, divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, the birth or adoption of a child, or refunding the OPERS account makes a prior specific designation invalid. Without a new designation, automatic succession applies.¹