If you are the survivor or beneficiary of a MERS participant, this section can help answer some common questions about MERS benefits. Click the links below for information about benefits. You’ll need to know the specific MERS plan on which you are the named beneficiary. Help figuring out what program you have.
Jump to your program:
Defined Benefit Plan • Defined Contribution Plan • Hybrid Plan • Health Care Savings Program • 457 Program
Defined Benefit Plan
There are many circumstances that affect how a pension will be distributed to beneficiaries, including:
- Employment status
- Vested status
- Was the death work-related or non work-related?
If the death was the result of an injury related to the job, the surviving spouse or dependents may be entitled to a Duty Death benefit regardless of vesting. If it was not related to the job, then beneficiaries may be entitled to a Non-Duty Death benefit.
You can add or update beneficiary information in your myMERS account.
Forms you may need to complete:
For more information, please review the Defined Benefit Plan Participant Handbook or call our Service Center.
Defined Contribution Plan
Defined Contribution Plan beneficiaries have the same investment privileges as participants, and can choose to invest in any of the funds offered, or to receive the account balance under certain circumstances.
A spouse is always the primary beneficiary and is entitled to 100 percent of benefits unless this right is waived in writing. If there isn’t a spouse (or the spouse waives their rights), one or more persons may be chosen as the primary beneficiary (who receives the account balance at the time of the Participant’s death), or a contingent beneficiary (who receives the account balance if the primary beneficiary is no longer living). A trust, estate or any legal entity may also be named as beneficiary.
You can add or update beneficiary information in your myMERS account.
Forms you may need to complete:
- Spousal Beneficiary Claim Request (form #MD-006)
For more information, please review the Defined Contribution Plan Participant Handbook or call our Service Center.
Hybrid Plan
The MERS Hybrid Plan has two distinct parts, each with its own set of requirements:
HYBRID PART I – DEFINED BENEFIT PORTION
There are many circumstances that affect how a pension will be distributed to beneficiaries, including:
- Employment status
- Vested status
- Was the death work-related or non work-related?
If the death was the result of an injury related to the job, the surviving spouse or dependents may be entitled to a Duty Death benefit regardless of vesting. If it was not related to the job, then beneficiaries may be entitled to a Non-Duty Death benefit.
Forms you may need to complete:
HYBRID PLAN PART II – DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PORTION
Hybrid Plan Part II beneficiaries have the same investment privileges as participants, and can choose to invest in any of the funds offered, or to receive the account balance under certain circumstances.
A spouse is always the primary beneficiary and is entitled to 100 percent of benefits unless this right is waived in writing. If there isn’t a spouse (or the spouse waives their rights), one or more persons may be chosen as the primary beneficiary (who receives the account balance at the time of the Participant’s death), or a contingent beneficiary (who receives the account balance if the primary beneficiary is no longer living). A trust, estate or any legal entity may also be named as beneficiary.
You can add or update beneficiary information in your myMERS account.
Forms you may need to complete:
There are many details for your beneficiary to understand. For your best reference, please review the MERS Hybrid Retirement Plan Participant Handbook or call our Service Center.
Health Care Savings Program
The MERS Health Care Savings Program offers the benefit of the account to designated beneficiaries.
In the event of the participant’s death, a spouse and legal dependent(s) can continue to use the account for tax-free reimbursement of medical expenses. MERS will work with the spouse/legal dependents and inform them on how to use the account. If there is no spouse or legal dependent(s), named Primary Beneficiary(ies) will be able to access the account on a taxable basis, followed by Contingent Beneficiary(ies).
You can add or update beneficiary information in your myMERS account.
457 Program
The 457 Program features two types of beneficiary — primary and contingent. The primary beneficiary — or contingent beneficiary if the primary is deceased — will receive the account balance. They have the same account privileges, including electing to invest in any of the funds offered or requesting distributions.
To begin using the account, a beneficiary should contact us as soon as possible.
You can add or update beneficiary information in your myMERS account.
Forms you may need to complete:
Note: The rules regarding distributions to beneficiaries vary greatly based on certain conditions.
Please contact our Service Center to discuss specific circumstances and available options. For more information, please review the MERS 457 Supplemental Retirement Program Participant Handbook.