Retirement Benefits

Who Is Your Beneficiary, and Are They in the Loop?

Among the most important pieces of CalPERS business to handle is naming your beneficiary. While life is unpredictable, you can ensure your benefits go to the right person after you pass.  

Equally important to naming a beneficiary is informing them of your decision and explaining what it means to be a beneficiary.  

David Smith, a CalPERS trainer, encourages members to prioritize this crucial communication. “Have the talk with your loved ones, especially your beneficiary, and do not rely on others to make your choices,” he said. “It can be uncomfortable but having that discussion can alleviate a lot of uncertainty and provide peace of mind.” 

Breaking It Down: What’s a Beneficiary? 

A beneficiary is who you designate to receive your retirement benefits in the event of your death. These benefits can range from a lump sum to a monthly allowance. Your beneficiary can be any person(s) and you can select up to 10 beneficiaries.  

  • Active members can change their beneficiary designations at any time via myCalPERS 
  • Retired members designate beneficiaries for their death benefits when they retire. There are limited situations after retirement when you can choose a new beneficiary — such as a marriage, a divorce, or the death of your beneficiary. Learn more in our article CalPERS 101: Updating Your Beneficiary After Retirement 

What Can Impact My Beneficiary Designation? 

Active Members: Your beneficiary is your choice. However, if you marry or divorce, have a child, or are impacted by other qualifying life events, your beneficiary designation on file will be revoked or invalidated.  

If your beneficiary designation is revoked, you will need to choose a new beneficiary or update your existing designation.

Retirees: These events will revoke or invalidate your existing beneficiary designation.

  • Death of a beneficiary
  • Annulment of marriage
  • Birth or adoption of a child
  • Dissolution of marriage or registered domestic partnership
  • Marriage or registration of domestic partnership
  • Member received a refund of contributions
  • Termination of a registered domestic partnership

If you experience a qualifying life event and update your beneficiary in retirement, you can:

  • Add a beneficiary or change your beneficiary designation
  • Remove a beneficiary designation

Next Steps for Peace of Mind 

To make sure your benefits go where you want, designate a beneficiary.  

  • Active members: Update in the Retirement section of myCalPERS. You’ll need information about your chosen beneficiary to complete the designation process, including their Social Security number, birthday, and address. 
  • Retirees: Remember — You designated beneficiaries for your death benefits at retirement. There are limited situations after retirement when you can choose a new beneficiary.

To update or check beneficiary designation, log into your myCalPERS account, then choose  Retirement  and  Beneficiaries. Beneficiary designations made after August 5, 2013, are available in myCalPERS. If you submitted a previous beneficiary designation, it may still be valid, but not viewable online, so contact CalPERS to double-check.