What is available to my survivors if I die before retiring?
I filled out my beneficiary forms so long ago I cannot remember who I named. Can you tell me who I have named as beneficiary(ies)?
I am a student who needs to complete the Survivor Benefits Recipient's Certification form. How can I obtain that?
DEATH BENEFITS
Q: What is available to my survivors if I die before retiring?
A: At the time of your death, if you are an active member of MainePERS or are receiving a disability benefit from MainePERS, the beneficiary you designated on your Pre-Retirement Death Beneficiary form will be able to choose from two and sometimes three different death benefit options. Eligibility for different options varies.
One option is that your beneficiary could receive a benefit that would be calculated as if on the day you died you had retired. This option provides the same benefit to your beneficiary as it would have provided you in retirement. The second option that your beneficiary could receive is a lump sum refund of all your contributions and interest. Third, your beneficiary may be offered a Survivor Benefit. Eligibility for a survivor benefit is based on the relationship between you and your beneficiary. Your beneficiary(ies) will be contacted by MainePERS upon MainePERS receiving notification of your death.
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Q: I filled out my beneficiary forms so long ago I cannot remember who I named. Can you tell me who I have named as beneficiary(ies)?
A: Yes. However, because this information is confidential, for your protection MainePERS will only respond to written (or in person) queries from you. If you find your beneficiary information is not up-to-date, you may change your beneficiary at any time by filing a form, provided by MainePERS, with the Executive Director.
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Q: I am a student who needs to complete the Survivor Benefits Recipient's Certification form. How can I obtain that?
A: If you are an unmarried, full-time student and the beneficiary of a deceased member of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, and you are eligible to receive survivor benefit payments, click Survivor Benefits Recipient's Certification to open and print the form. The form must be notarized and have appropriate documentation attached before benefits will be paid.
If you have a question that is not addressed here, or if you need more information than provided here, please contact the MainePERS Office at (207) 512-3100 or toll-free at 1-800-451-9800.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this Web site is general in nature and is not a complete statement of the laws governing MainePERS or the administrative policies of the System. You should not rely on this general information to guide you in important individual decisions; consult with your own financial or legal advisor or with MainePERS staff. Should there be any conflict between this information and Maine laws or MainePERS policies, the laws and policies will prevail. For more information regarding MainePERS please refer to the Constitution, Statutes, and Session Laws of Maine at http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ros/meconlaw.htm
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