Before you retire
Your beneficiaries have up to three choices, depending on your service.
1. A lump sum
If you die before retirement, a designated beneficiary can take a lump sum of your contributions, purchase payments and interest (no employer contributions); no other survivor benefit is then payable. Handbook p. 36, Lump-Sum Survivor Benefit
2. A dependent-based monthly benefit
You qualify if: Vested at death; or at least two years of service and death in active covered employment (or within a year of an injury/illness incurred there); or eligible for disability retirement. Handbook p. 37, Member Qualifications
| Who | Monthly benefit |
|---|---|
| Spouse only | 20% of your last full year's salary, $575 to $860 |
| Spouse and children | Spouse 20% ($575 to $860), each child 10% ($300 to $430), family up to $2,160 |
| Children only | Each child 16.667% ($500 to $720), family up to $2,160 |
| Dependent parents | Each parent 16.667% ($500 to $720), up to $1,440 |
A spouse qualifies if: Sole beneficiary, age 60 (or on reaching 60), married at least three years and living with you at death (or permanently disabled five years before your death). These benefits don't get COLAs. Handbook pp. 37-39, Monthly Dependent-Based Survivor Benefits
3. A retirement-based monthly benefit
If you were vested, one individual beneficiary can take a lifetime benefit equal to what you would have received under Joint-and-Survivor 100% with no more service, starting immediately if you were eligible to retire or later when you would have been; COLAs from the second January after benefits begin. Handbook pp. 39-40, Monthly Retirement-Based Survivor Benefits; RSMo 169.070.3(2)
After you retire
What your beneficiary gets depends on the payment plan you chose. Single Life stops at your death; Joint-and-Survivor and Term-Certain plans keep paying. Handbook pp. 50-55, Benefit Plans
$5,000 death benefit. A one-time $5,000 death benefit after retirement to the beneficiary you name for it; taxable (can be rolled over). Handbook p. 60, $5,000 Death Benefit; p. 74, Income Taxes on the $5,000 Death Benefit; RSMo 169.070.21
Disability retirement
Who qualifies: End all covered employment, at least five years of covered employment, under age 60, permanently disabled while employed (or within a year after if the condition began while employed), and unable to earn a livelihood in any gainful occupation. Handbook p. 62, Eligibility Requirements
The benefit: The greater of 50% of monthly salary for the last full year of service, or 90% of the normal benefit on current salary and service; but no more than the normal benefit you'd have with service projected to age 60 at the current salary rate. Handbook pp. 63-64, Disability Retirement Benefit Amounts; Sample Disability Retirement Benefit Calculation; RSMo 169.070.9
What the handbook says
- If you die before retiring, your beneficiary can take a lump sum of your contributions and interest. If you were vested (or had 2 years and died while working in covered employment), they may instead qualify for monthly benefits.Handbook pp. 36-39, Survivor Benefits
- A vested member's beneficiary can get a lifetime benefit as if you had retired under Joint-and-Survivor 100%, starting when you would have been eligible.Handbook p. 39, Monthly Retirement-Based Survivor Benefits
- Dependent-based benefits pay a spouse 20% of your last full year's salary (between $575 and $860 a month), plus 10% per child, up to $2,160 for the family.Handbook p. 38, Monthly Dependent-Based Survivor Benefit Amounts
- After you retire, your chosen beneficiary also gets a one-time $5,000 death benefit.Handbook p. 60, $5,000 Death Benefit
- Marriage, divorce, or the birth or adoption of a child cancels your beneficiary designation before retirement. Update it after any of these.Handbook p. 21, Keeping Your Beneficiary Designation Up to Date
Questions
What if I die before I retire?
Your beneficiary can take a lump sum of your contributions and interest. If you qualified, a monthly survivor benefit may be paid instead.
What if I die after I retire?
It depends on your payment plan. Your death-benefit beneficiary also gets a one-time $5,000.
Do survivor benefits get COLAs?
Retirement-based survivor benefits can. Dependent-based benefits don't.
Source: PSRS Member Handbook, 2026-2027 (as of September 2026), pp. 21, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 60, 62, 63, 64, 74; RSMo 169.070. Last reviewed .