Survivors

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

• Send us a copy of the deceased member’s death certificate.

  The death certificate should appropriately identify the member. These can be delivered in person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.

• After receiving the death certificate, INPRS will begin a 30-day review process.

  Once the 30-day review is complete, we will mail death benefit eligibility results, any next steps, and required paperwork to the designated survivor or representative.

Learn more about the death benefit process.

When the member dies in retirement, INPRS will begin paying their retirement pension benefit to the designated survivor based on the options the member chose at retirement.
If the member chose the five-year certain with lifetime guarantee pension benefit option and dies before receiving five years of monthly benefit payments, the beneficiary/beneficiaries will receive the benefit for the remainder of those five years, or a lump sum distribution equal to the present value of those remaining payments. After five years, no payments are available to the beneficiary/beneficiaries.

When the member is not retired at the time of death, regardless of whether the death occurs while the member is still working or after the member separates from a PERF Hybrid covered position, INPRS will disburse funds within the DC and/or RSA based on the beneficiary information on file with INPRS to the extent the account(s) contain funds. If no beneficiary is named, the funds will go to the member’s estate.
The member’s spouse or dependent children may be entitled to the member’s pension benefit if the member dies after June 30, 2018, has at least 10 years of creditable service, and did not apply for retirement.
To qualify, the spouse must be married to the member for at least two years. The member’s dependent children may be entitled to a benefit if the member does not have a qualifying spouse. Note that additional legal requirements apply. If the member is not married for at least two years and does not have dependent children at the time of death, no survivor pension benefit will be paid.

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

  Upon death notification, INPRS will confirm the beneficiary designations on file and contact each beneficiary listed for the following information:

  • The beneficiary’s Social Security number
  • A legible copy of each beneficiary’s driver’s license for date of birth and address verification
  • The member’s death certificate containing the cause of death (the original is required for accounts over $250k)

  If the beneficiary of the deceased member is their estate, INPRS requires the following documentation:

  • Certified document stating the executor of the estate
  • IRS Form SS-4
  • The member’s death certificate containing the cause of death (the original is required for accounts over $250k)

• Mail the required documentation to:

  Attn: Indiana Public Retirement System
  P.O. Box 389
  Hartford, CT 06141

  
  

  If mailing overnight, mail it to:
  Attn: Indiana Public Retirement System
  One Orange Way
  Windsor, CT 06095

• After receiving the required documentation, INPRS will set up a beneficiary account as soon as administratively possible.

Learn more about the death benefit process.

If a PERF My Choice member dies (1) while working in a position covered by the plan but not in the line of duty; or (2) after terminating from a position covered by the plan but before withdrawing the member’s account; to the extent that the member is vested, the member’s account shall be paid to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the member and on file with INPRS.

If the member does not properly designate a beneficiary, or if the beneficiary precedes the member in death, the member’s assets will automatically pass to:

1. 1.
   a surviving spouse,
2. 2.
   surviving dependents in equal shares, if the member does not have a surviving spouse, or
3. 3.
   the member’s estate if the member does not have a surviving spouse or dependents.

The designated beneficiary or beneficiaries may elect to have the member’s account paid as a:

• Lump sum
• Direct rollover to another eligible retirement plan
• An annuity if the account balance is at least $5,000 (for MetLife annuity) and the beneficiary or spouse is at least 62 years old
• Installment

See section eight of the PERF My Choice Plan Member Handbook (click here for State of Indiana employees or here for Local Government Employees) for details on death benefits. If you plan to save this checklist, we recommend also saving details from the member’s handbook.

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

• Send us a copy of the deceased member’s death certificate.

  The death certificate should appropriately identify the member. These can be delivered in person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.

• After receiving the death certificate, INPRS will begin a 30-day review process.

  Once the 30-day review is complete, we will mail death benefit eligibility results, any next steps, and required paperwork to the designated survivor or representative.

Learn more about the death benefit process.

When the member dies in retirement, INPRS will begin paying their retirement pension benefit to the designated survivor based on the options the member chose at retirement.

If the member chose the five-year certain with lifetime guarantee pension benefit option and dies before receiving five years of monthly benefit payments, the beneficiary/beneficiaries will receive the benefit for the remainder of those five years, or a lump sum distribution equal to the present value of those remaining payments. After five years, no payments are available to the beneficiary/beneficiaries.

When the member is not retired at the time of death, regardless of whether the death occurs while the member is still working or after the member separates from a TRF Hybrid covered position, INPRS will disburse funds within the DC and/or RSA based on the beneficiary information on file with INPRS to the extent the account(s) contain funds. If no beneficiary is named, the funds will go to the member’s estate.
The member’s spouse or dependent children may be entitled to the member’s pension benefit if the member dies after June 30, 2018, has at least 10 years of creditable service, and did not apply for retirement.
To qualify, the spouse must be married to the member for at least two years. The member’s dependent children may be entitled to a benefit if the member does not have a qualifying spouse. Note that additional legal requirements apply. If the member is not married for at least two years and does not have dependent children at the time of death, no survivor pension benefit will be paid.

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

  Upon death notification, INPRS will confirm the beneficiary designations on file and contact each beneficiary listed for the following information:

  • The beneficiary’s Social Security number
  • A legible copy of each beneficiary’s driver’s license for date of birth and address verification
  • The member’s death certificate containing the cause of death (the original is required for accounts over $250k)

  If the beneficiary of the deceased member is their estate, INPRS requires the following documentation:

  • Certified document stating the executor of the estate
  • IRS Form SS-4
  • The member’s death certificate containing the cause of death (the original is required for accounts over $250k)

• Mail the required documentation to:

  Attn: Indiana Public Retirement System
  P.O. Box 389
  Hartford, CT 06141

  If mailing overnight, mail it to:
  Attn: Indiana Public Retirement System
  One Orange Way
  Windsor, CT 06095

• After receiving the required documentation, INPRS will set up a beneficiary account as soon as administratively possible.

Learn more about the death benefit process.

If a TRF My Choice member dies (1) while working in a position covered by the plan but not in the line of duty; or (2) after terminating from a position covered by the plan but before withdrawing the member’s account; to the extent that the member is vested, the member’s account shall be paid to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the member and on file with INPRS.

If the member does not properly designate a beneficiary, or if the beneficiary precedes the member in death, the member’s assets will automatically pass to:

1. 1.
   a surviving spouse,
2. 2.
   surviving dependents in equal shares, if the member does not have a surviving spouse, or
3. 3.
   the member’s estate if the member does not have a surviving spouse or dependents.

The designated beneficiary or beneficiaries may elect to have the member’s account paid as a:

• Lump sum
• Direct rollover to another eligible retirement plan
• An annuity if the account balance is at least $5,000 (for MetLife annuity) and the beneficiary or spouse is at least 62 years old
• Installment

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

• Send us a copy of the deceased member’s death certificate.

  The death certificate should appropriately identify the member. These can be delivered in person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.

• After receiving the death certificate, INPRS will begin a 30-day review process.

  Once the 30-day review is complete, we will mail death benefit eligibility results, any next steps, and required paperwork to the designated survivor or representative.

  
  

  Additional documentation we might ask for after our review includes:

  • Birth certificate of member, if not already on file at INPRS (for non-retired members)
  • Birth certificates for each survivor, including surviving spouses and dependent children
  • For surviving spouses, a marriage certificate or court decree showing the date of marriage
  • Request for direct deposit of benefits
  • A completed survivor benefit application

    • For 1977 Fund,  fill out this form.
    • For members in DROP at the time of death,  click here

Learn more about the death benefit process.

Inactive, not vested

If the member is inactive with less than 20 years of service, no survivor benefit is payable. The member’s designated beneficiary/beneficiaries or estate will receive the member’s contributions plus interest.

Active, vested inactive, and retired members (non-line of duty)

If the member dies:

• as an active member of the 1977 Fund, or
• after ending employment with at least 20 years of service credit but not yet receiving benefits, or
• if the member dies on or after July 1, 2019, and was receiving retirement or disability benefits,

then survivor benefits will be paid as follows:

• If the member dies on or after July 1, 2019, the surviving spouse is entitled to a lifetime monthly benefit equaling 70% of the member’s monthly benefit. The member’s spouse can remarry and not risk losing the benefit.
• Each surviving child is entitled to a monthly benefit that equals 20% of the member’s monthly benefit until:

  • The child turns age 18, or
  • Until age 23 if the child is enrolled in a secondary school and attends on a regular basis, or
  • The child is no longer a full-time student at an accredited college or university.
• If an eligible child has a physical or mental disability as determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA) (regardless of age) and is not a ward of the state, the child will receive benefits if approved by the INPRS Medical Authority. An eligible disabled child is entitled to 30% of the monthly pay of first-class police officer or first-class firefighter or 55% (whichever is greater) of the monthly benefit the member was receiving or was entitled to receive on the date of their death. The child will receive the benefit as long as the disability continues.
• If the member does not have a qualified surviving child or spouse, the member’s surviving parent(s), if qualified, is entitled to 50% of the member’s monthly benefit for life. The parent(s) must submit proof that they were claimed as dependents on the member’s federal income tax form for the year before the date of death.

The benefit will be calculated as if the member was receiving benefits at age 52 with 20 years of service credit. If they have more than 20 years of service credit, the benefit will increase by 1% for each six months of additional service, up to a maximum of 32 total years of service.

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

• Send us a copy of the deceased member’s death certificate.

  The death certificate should appropriately identify the member. These can be delivered in person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.

• After receiving the death certificate, INPRS will begin a 30-day review process.

  Once the 30-day review is complete, we will mail death benefit eligibility results, any next steps, and required paperwork to the designated survivor or representative.

  Additional documentation we might ask for after our review includes:

  • Birth certificate of member, if not already on file at INPRS (for non-retired members)
  • Birth certificates for each survivor, including surviving spouses and dependent children
  • For surviving spouses, a marriage certificate or court decree showing the date of marriage
  • Request for direct deposit of benefits
  • A completed survivor benefit application

Learn more about the death benefit process.

Under the 1977 and 1985 Systems, as of July 1, 1985, the deceased member must meet one of the following requirements for the designated survivor to receive benefits:

• The member died while receiving benefits (post-retirement).
• The member completed at least eight years of service and was serving as a judge at the time of death (pre-retirement).
• The member completed at least eight years of service and was no longer serving as a judge but was entitled to a future benefit (pre-retirement).
• The member was permanently disabled at the time of death (pre-retirement).

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

• Send us a copy of the deceased member’s death certificate.

  The death certificate should appropriately identify the member. These can be delivered in person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.

• After receiving the death certificate, INPRS will begin a 30-day review process.

  Once the 30-day review is complete, we will mail death benefit eligibility results, any next steps, and required paperwork to the designated survivor or representative.

  Additional documentation we might ask for after our review includes:

  • Birth certificate of member, if not already on file at INPRS (for non-retired members)
  • Birth certificates for each survivor, including surviving spouses and dependent children
  • For surviving spouses, a marriage certificate or court decree showing the date of marriage
  • Request for direct deposit of benefits
  • A completed  survivor benefit application

Learn more about the death benefit process.

An active member in the EG&C plan who dies after January 31, 2018, is not required to have a minimum number of years of creditable service in the EG&C plan at the time of the member’s death for the member’s designated survivor to be entitled to receive survivors’ benefits.

If an active member dies in the line of duty, the designated survivor will receive 100% of the benefit that the member would have received with 25 years of service credit at 50 years of age.

• A survivors’ allowance payable to a surviving spouse ends with the last payment before the surviving spouse’s death.
• A survivors’ allowance to a child ends when the child turns 18 years of age. If a survivors’ allowance is divided between or among more than one child, and payments to one or more children receiving the survivor’s allowance cease because of the age, marriage or death of the child, the total annual survivors’ allowance payable under this subsection shall be divided evenly among or between the surviving children, if any, who remain eligible to receive the survivors’ allowance.

If an active member dies other than in the line of duty, or an inactive member with at least 15 years of service credit dies other than in the line of duty, then the designated survivor will receive 50% of the benefit that the member would have received with 25 years of service credit at 50 years of age.

• A survivors’ allowance payable to a surviving spouse ends with the last payment before the surviving spouse’s death.
• A survivors’ allowance to a child ends when the child attains the age of 18 years or marries, whichever occurs first. If a survivors' allowance is divided between or among more than one child, and payments to one or more children receiving the survivor's allowance cease because of the age, marriage, or death of the child, the total annual survivors' allowance payable shall be divided evenly among or between the surviving children, if any, who remain eligible to receive the survivors' allowance.

If an inactive member dies other than in the line of duty and does not have at least 15 years of service credit and the member was not receiving a disability benefit, the designated survivor will receive a refund of the member contributions plus interest as determined by the INPRS board.
If the member did not designate anyone to receive the survivor benefit, or those designated precede the member in death, the member’s estate will receive a lump sum payment of their contributions and earned interest.
If the retired member and the designated beneficiary die before recovering contributions plus interest, no lump sum is payable to the estate of the last beneficiary.

Consult your member handbook for more details

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

• Send us a copy of the deceased member’s death certificate.

  The death certificate should appropriately identify the member. These can be delivered in person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.

• After receiving the death certificate, INPRS will begin a 30-day review process.

  Once the 30-day review is complete, we will mail death benefit eligibility results, any next steps, and required paperwork to the designated survivor or representative.

  Additional documentation we might ask for after our review includes:

  • Birth certificate of member, if not already on file at INPRS (for non-retired members)
  • Birth certificates for each survivor, including surviving spouses and dependent children
  • For surviving spouses, a marriage certificate or court decree showing the date of marriage
  • Request for direct deposit of benefits
  • A completed  survivor benefit application

Learn more about the death benefit process.

The deceased member must meet one of the following requirements for the designated survivor to receive benefits:

• The member died while receiving benefits (post-retirement).
• The member completed at least eight years of service and was currently in a PARF-covered position (pre-retirement).
• The member completed at least eight years of service and was not currently in a PARF-covered position but was entitled to a future benefit (pre-retirement).
• The member was permanently disabled at the time of death (pre-retirement).

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

• Send us a copy of the deceased member’s death certificate.

  The death certificate should appropriately identify the member. These can be delivered in person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.

• After receiving the death certificate, INPRS will begin a 30-day review process.

  Once the 30-day review is complete, we will mail death benefit eligibility results, any next steps, and required paperwork to the designated survivor or representative.

  
  

  Additional documentation we might ask for after our review includes:

  • Birth certificate of member, if not already on file at INPRS (for non-retired members)
  • Birth certificates for each survivor, including surviving spouses and dependent children
  • For surviving spouses, a marriage certificate or court decree showing the date of marriage
  • Request for direct deposit of benefits
  • A completed  survivor benefit application

Learn more about the death benefit process.

The member's account will be paid to the designated beneficiary/beneficiaries if the member dies either while a member of the General Assembly or after ending employment without having withdrawn their account from the LRS DB fund. The amount paid will be the fair market value of your account upon the date of distribution. If there is no beneficiary, or if the beneficiary precedes the member in death, the account will be paid to the member’s:

• Surviving spouse,
• Surviving dependent(s), if there is no surviving spouse; or,
• Estate if there is no surviving spouse or surviving dependent.

If the member has completed 10 years of creditable service as a member of the General Assembly or dies while receiving benefits under the LRS, the member’s surviving spouse is entitled to a survivor benefit.

The surviving spouse is entitled to 50% of the amount the member was receiving at the time of death, or the retirement benefit amount the member would have been entitled to receive at age 55 or the date of the member's death, whichever is later.

If the surviving spouse would have qualified for a benefit, but predeceased the member in death, their dependent child is entitled to the same benefit the surviving spouse would have received upon the member's death. If there is more than one dependent child, the benefit will be divided equally. Each dependent child will receive this benefit until the age of 18 or during the entire period of the mental or physical disability using disability guidelines established by the Social Security Administration, whichever period is longer.

Death Benefits Checklist

• Call us at (844) 464-6777.

  Please notify INPRS as soon as possible. Anyone can report a death; however, INPRS can only speak with select people regarding the member’s death benefits. For a complete list of who we can speak to, please see our Survivors and Beneficiaries page.

  Upon death notification, INPRS will confirm the beneficiary designations on file and contact each beneficiary listed for the following information:

  • The beneficiary’s Social Security number
  • A legible copy of each beneficiary’s driver’s license for date of birth and address verification
  • The member’s death certificate containing the cause of death (the original is required for accounts over $250k)

  If the beneficiary of the deceased member is their estate, INPRS requires the following documentation:

  • Certified document stating the executor of the estate
  • IRS Form SS-4
  • The member’s death certificate containing the cause of death (the original is required for accounts over $250k)

• Mail the required documentation to:

  Attn: Indiana Public Retirement System
  P.O. Box 389
  Hartford, CT 06141

  If mailing overnight, mail it to:
  Attn: Indiana Public Retirement System
  One Orange Way
  Windsor, CT 06095

• After receiving the required documentation, INPRS will set up a beneficiary account as soon as administratively possible.

Learn more about the death benefit process.

The member’s account will be paid to the designated beneficiary/beneficiaries if the member dies either while a member of the General Assembly or after ending employment without having withdrawn their account from the fund. If there is no beneficiary, or if the beneficiary precedes the member in death, the LE DC will be paid to:

1. a surviving spouse,
2. surviving dependents in equal shares, if the member does not have a surviving spouse, or
3. the member’s estate if the member does not have a surviving spouse or dependents.

The designated beneficiary or beneficiaries will have four choices for withdrawing funds:

• Purchase of an annuity with the total balance of the account
• Total distribution of the account
• Partial distribution and an annuity
• Monthly installments over 60 months