Updating Your Beneficiaries
Your Beneficiaries
When you retired, you were asked to complete a form naming the person or persons you would like to receive any available benefits payable after your death. Depending on the benefit option you chose at retirement, this could be a monthly payment for the lifetime of one beneficiary or a lump sum payable to one or more persons at your death.
Who are my beneficiaries?
Contact the Maryland State Retirement Agency to inquire whose name is on file as your designated beneficiary.
How do I Update my Beneficiary Designation?
The process to change your beneficiary varies depending on the benefit option you chose at retirement. Your option selection is listed on the Notice of Retirement Allowance you received upon retirement.
Basic Allowance, Option 1 or Option 4
If you selected Basic Allowance, Option 1, or Option 4, simply complete and submit to the Maryland State Retirement Agency the appropriate Designation of Beneficiary form for your plan.
- Employees, Teachers, Correctional Officers, LEOPS, and State Police : Form 4
- Judges: Form 4.1
- Legislators: Form 55
If you are receiving a Basic allowance, or an allowance under Option 1 or 4, naming a new beneficiary will not affect your monthly payment amount. Forms must be received by the Retirement Agency to be valid.
Options 2, 3, 5 or 6
If you selected Option 2, 3, 5 or 6 (a dual life benefit), naming a new beneficiary will affect your monthly payment amount. Often your monthly payment will be reduced. Before changing your beneficiary, complete and submit a Form 66A: Request for Calculation of Joint Survivorship by a Retiree Considering Changing a Beneficiary . The Retirement Agency will respond by mail with your projected new monthly payment amount. This mailing also will include an Application by a Retiree Under a Joint Survivorship Annuity (Option 2, 3 5 or 6) to Change a Beneficiary (Form 67). If the new payment amount is acceptable to you, complete and submit the Form 67 to complete the beneficiary change. Forms must be received by the Retirement Agency to be valid.