If an Alaska TRS member dies or is disabled: what's paid

Short answer: if you die before retiring and aren't vested, your beneficiary gets your contribution account (plus a set amount if you had a year or more of service). Vested members' spouses can get a monthly survivor pension. After retirement, it depends on your payment option. Vesting is explained on leaving and vesting; the calculator shows your normal benefit.

Before retirement

Not vested: Under 1 year of service (or inactive and not vested): the contribution account balance. Active with 1+ year but not vested: contribution account + $100 x years of membership service + $1,000 (those two capped at $3,000) + $500 if survived by a dependent child who is (or whose parent or guardian is) the designated beneficiary. Handbook (2011), p. 15, Nonvested Member Death Benefits; AS 14.25.155, 14.25.160(b)-(c)

Our illustration: active, 6 years of service, $20,000 in the account: $21,600.

Vested: Vested member (nonoccupational death): the spouse may choose the lump sum above or a monthly 50% joint and survivor benefit based on average base salary and service at death. A non-spouse beneficiary receives the lump sum. Handbook (2011), p. 15, Vested Member Death Benefits; AS 14.25.155(c)

Occupational death: Death from occupational causes before normal retirement, vested or not: the spouse gets 40% of the member's base salary / 12 each month; at the member's normal retirement date it becomes a normal retirement benefit using the ABS at death and the service the member would have had. With no spouse, it goes to dependent children. Handbook (2011), p. 15, Occupational Death; AS 14.25.157

Our illustration: on a $85,000 base salary, $2,833.33 a month.

After retirement

A retiree's beneficiary gets the check for the month of death. With a J&S or last survivor option the survivor's benefit starts; otherwise the beneficiary gets any remaining contribution account balance. Deferred vested members are paid under the nonoccupational rules. Handbook (2011), p. 16, Death Benefits for Retired / Deferred Vested Members

See payment options for what a survivor option pays.

The 1% supplemental provision

Members who first entered before July 1, 1982 could elect to pay an extra 1% of base salary (post-tax, not refundable) for a survivor's allowance (dependent children: 10% of base salary per child up to four, plus 35% for the spouse while children are eligible) or a spouse's pension (50% of the retirement benefit, PRPAs included, or of the normal benefit that would have been payable). Requires at least 1 year of supplemental contributions before death for active members, 5 years for retired or deferred vested members (1 year if first entered before July 1, 1977). Handbook (2011), p. 6, 1% Supplemental Contributions Provision; pp. 15-16, 1% Supplemental Contributions; Seminar handout (Jan. 6, 2025), slide 17; AS 14.25.055, 14.25.162, 14.25.164

Disability

With at least 5 paid-up years of membership service and a total and apparently permanent disability that ends your Alaska TRS employment: 50% of your annual base salary just before disability, divided by 12, plus 10% per dependent child (up to four). Medical coverage continues. You keep earning service; the benefit converts to normal retirement at age or service eligibility (you must apply). Apply by the later of 6 months after the disability began or 90 days after termination. Handbook (2011), p. 13, Disability Benefits; Disability Benefits brochure trs017 (Aug. 2022), p. 1; Plan Comparison Chart (Rev. 1/20), p. 2; AS 14.25.130

Tier III (DCR plan)

Occupational disability: 40% of gross monthly compensation; employer keeps paying both contributions; fully vested; stops at normal retirement eligibility (Medicare age with 10 years, or 30 years). No retiree medical until then. DCR handbook (2025), pp. 10-12, Occupational Disability Benefits; dcr010 (Aug. 2026), p. 2

Occupational death: Monthly survivor benefit of 40% of gross monthly compensation until the member would have reached normal retirement eligibility, then access to the account. DCR handbook (2025), p. 13, Occupational Death

Other deaths: Vested account balance to the beneficiary. DCR handbook (2025), p. 14, Nonoccupational Death

The facts

• If an active member with at least one year but not yet vested dies of non-job causes, the beneficiary gets the contribution account plus $100 per year of service plus $1,000 (those two capped at $3,000), plus $500 if a dependent child is the beneficiary.Handbook (2011), p. 15, Nonvested Member Death Benefits; AS 14.25.160(b)-(c)
• If a vested member dies before retiring, the spouse can choose that lump sum or a monthly 50% joint and survivor benefit based on salary and service at death.Handbook (2011), p. 15, Vested Member Death Benefits
• If a member dies from a job-related cause before retirement (vested or not), the spouse gets 40% of the member's base salary each month, which changes to a normal retirement benefit on the date the member would have been eligible.Handbook (2011), p. 15, Occupational Death; AS 14.25.157

Questions