Beneficiary Designation - State Teachers' Retirement System - CA Education

Section § 23300

If you're part of the Defined Benefit Program, you can choose someone (a beneficiary) to get your benefits after you pass away. However, if you're married and your spouse has a legal claim to your retirement benefits, you can't just name anyone you want unless certain legal conditions are met. When you choose a beneficiary, the same person will also receive benefits from the Defined Benefit Supplement Program. You have to fill out the beneficiary form and submit it before you die, or it won't count. You can change who gets your benefits at any time by submitting a new form. Note that this doesn't apply to specific types of beneficiaries tied to options or annuities. If you've chosen an option beneficiary, they can also name someone to receive their benefits if they pass away.

(a) A member of the Defined Benefit Program may designate a beneficiary to receive benefits payable under this part upon the member’s death. A beneficiary designation may not be made in derogation of a community property interest of a nonmember spouse, as defined by Section 25000.9, with respect to service or contributions credited under this part, unless the nonmember spouse has previously obtained an alternative order pursuant to Section 2610 of the Family Code.

(b) A member’s beneficiary designation for benefits payable under the Defined Benefit Program, including a designation made pursuant to Section 24300 or 24300.1, shall also apply to benefits payable under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program. A beneficiary designation shall be in writing on a form prescribed by the system and executed by the member.

(c) A beneficiary designation shall not be valid unless it is received in the system’s headquarters office prior to the member’s death.

(d) A member may change or revoke a beneficiary designation at any time by making a new designation pursuant to this section.

(e) This section is not applicable to the designation of an option beneficiary or an annuity beneficiary under this part.

(f) An option beneficiary may designate a death beneficiary who would, upon the death of the option beneficiary, be entitled to receive the option beneficiary’s accrued monthly allowance.

Defined Benefit Program beneficiary designation community property interest nonmember spouse alternative order benefits payable Defined Benefit Supplement Program headquarters office option beneficiary annuity beneficiary death beneficiary monthly allowance accrued benefits change beneficiary beneficiary form

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 558, Sec. 18. (AB 1379) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Section § 23301

This law says that organizations like corporations, trusts, charitable groups, religious institutions, and public bodies can be named as beneficiaries under certain conditions. However, they cannot be chosen as option beneficiaries unless it's a specific type of trust described in another legal section.

A corporation, trust, charitable organization, parochial institution, or public entity may be designated as a beneficiary under this part, but they shall not be designated as option beneficiaries, except a trust as defined in Section 22149.

corporate beneficiary trust beneficiary charitable organization parochial institution public entity option beneficiaries trust definition Section 22149 beneficiary designation limited exception trust requirements

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 96, Sec. 16. (AB 644) Effective January 1, 2020.)

Section § 23302

If a person who is part of this system dies, the benefits they arranged to go to a chosen beneficiary will be paid out according to the forms on file when they died. This payout happens before any community property claims and releases the board, system, and plan from any further responsibility related to the member's death.

Payment under this part to a beneficiary designated in the form on file in the system at the date of death by a warrant drawn prior to any claim under community property rights shall constitute full discharge of any and all liability of the board, system, and plan by reason of the member’s death.

designated beneficiary payment release community property claims death benefits liability discharge system beneficiary form warrant payment member's death full discharge beneficiary designation claim priority community property rights payout order beneficiary rights system liability

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 965, Sec. 135. Effective January 1, 1999.)

Section § 23303

This law says that if the designated beneficiary of a deceased person's benefits can't be found or if the beneficiary is the deceased's estate, the board can pay the funeral costs directly to the undertaker or whoever covered those costs. However, this payment can only cover up to the amount of the funeral expenses. The undertaker or person who paid must provide a sworn statement detailing the expenses, along with any other documents the board might ask for. Once the payment is made, the board is considered fully released from any further financial obligations regarding this benefit, to the extent that the payments were made.

(a) If the whereabouts of the designated beneficiary cannot be determined, or if the beneficiary is the estate of the deceased person, the board may pay to the undertaker who conducted the funeral, or to any person who, or any organization that, has paid the undertaker from funds owned by the person or organization, in its discretion all or a portion of any amount payable under this part, but not to exceed the funeral expenses of the deceased person, or the portion of the expenses paid by the person or organization, as evidenced by the sworn itemized statement of the undertaker, person, or organization and by any other documents the board may require.

(b) The payment shall be in full and complete discharge and acquittance of the board, system, and plan up to the amount paid.

designated beneficiary funeral expenses undertaker payment funeral costs reimbursement sworn itemized statement benefits discharge payment to undertaker evidence of payment board discretion system and plan acquittance deceased estate unable to locate beneficiary organization-reimbursed expenses funeral service payment documentation requirements

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 965, Sec. 136. Effective January 1, 1999.)

Section § 23304

If a person hasn't named a beneficiary at the time of their death, any benefits they were entitled to will go to their estate. If the board decides in good faith, based on convincing evidence, who should receive these benefits, they're no longer responsible for any claims against them regarding these benefits.

If no beneficiary designation is in effect on the date of death, any benefit payable under this part shall be paid to the estate of the member. Payment pursuant to the board’s determination in good faith upon evidence satisfactory to it of the existence, identity or other facts relating to entitlement of persons under this section shall constitute a complete discharge and release of the system and plan from liability for the benefit.

beneficiary designation estate payable benefits date of death good faith determination evidence of entitlement discharge of liability benefit payout member's estate system and plan release

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 965, Sec. 137. Effective January 1, 1999.)