Getting Married

Like many other big changes in your life, when you marry in retirement, it’s the perfect time to review your account information. You may be able to name a new beneficiary, depending on the type of MERS program you have. Help figuring out what program you have.

MERS Defined Benefit Plan

To change your beneficiary, please go to Beneficiary Change Request (Form 21).

  • Changing beneficiaries for defined benefit after retirement depends on the payout selected. Straight life and period certain options allow for the change of beneficiaries after a marriage, but the percent to survivor options do not.

For more information on naming your beneficiary, refer to the Defined Benefit Plan Member Handbook. If you have questions about how and whether you can change your beneficiary, please contact MERS Service Center.

MERS Hybrid Plan

You will need to enter your change in marital status in two places, one for each portion of your plan.

Hybrid Part I — Your Defined Benefit Portion

  • Follow the instructions listed above

Hybrid Part II — Your Defined Contribution Portion

  • Follow the instructions listed below

Defined Contribution, MERS 457 Program, MERS IRA, Health Care Savings Program (HCSP)

  • Report your change in marital status to your employer, or if you’re retired, to Empower through your online account or by calling the MERS team at Empower at  833.500.6777.
  • Once your marital status has been updated, you can update your beneficiary(ies) through your online account.
  • For HCSP, remember that your spouse and dependents should NOT be listed as your beneficiary. See the HSCP Handbook for more information.

  • Life Events

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