Has your marital status recently changed?

When you retired, you elected a benefit payment option. There are certain circumstances under which you may reelect your benefit payment option. For example, if you were single at retirement (not eligible to elect a joint & survivor option) and elected the Life Income Annuity option, you may change your benefit payment option if you have married.

It is important to note that you will have one year from your date of marriage to reelect one of the joint & survivor options and name your spouse as the beneficiary.

If you elected one of the joint & survivor options on your Retirement Election Form and your spouse dies, this provision will allow you to provide a survivor benefit for your new spouse if you remarry. You will have one year from your date of marriage to reelect one of the joint & survivor options and name your new spouse as the beneficiary.

Divorce

As of January 1, 2021, if you get divorced after retirement, you may remove your ex-spouse as the survivor beneficiary of your pension and receive an adjusted amount. Your ex-spouse must agree and you must obtain a divorce decree or amended divorce decree which includes specific language, from a court of competent jurisdiction to do so. See the Life Events section of our website or contact a MOSERS benefit counselor for details.