Confirmation of Notification of Death Form Submission
Thank you for reporting the death of your loved one.
What happens next?
A Member Has Passed Prior to Retirement
MainePERS will send a letter to the legally designated beneficiaries. This letter will confirm whether benefits are available, including the value of any Group Life Insurance, if applicable.
If the deceased member was actively working for a MainePERS covered employer, there may be a delay in the calculation of any pre-retirement death benefits available to designated beneficiaries. This is because MainePERS must receive all of the payroll information from your loved one’s employer prior to calculating the benefits due. Once all of the payroll information has arrived, MainePERS will send a second letter providing you with the options available for payment.
Group Life Insurance Benefits are processed separately from pension benefits. When applicable, our Insurance Provider, the Hartford, will contact the Group Life Insurance beneficiary to facilitate payment.
Please note: The beneficiaries for Group Life Insurance and pre-retirement death benefits are two separate designations. When available, it is possible that Group Life Insurance benefits may be paid to someone other than the Pre-Retirement beneficiary.
A Member Has Passed After Retiring
MainePERS will send a letter to the legally designated beneficiaries or the retiree’s next of kin. This letter will confirm whether benefits are available, including the value of any Group Life Insurance, if applicable.
The retiree’s final benefit payment will be deposited at the end of the month in which they passed.
Whether or not pension benefits are available depend on which option the member chose at retirement. If the retiree chose an option that provides for payment to a beneficiary upon their passing, MainePERS will provide the forms necessary to begin payment to the beneficiary. In most cases, if all beneficiaries passed prior to the retiree, no further benefits are available.
Group Life Insurance Benefits are processed separately from pension benefits. When applicable, our Insurance Provider, the Hartford, will contact the Group Life Insurance beneficiary to facilitate payment.
Please note: The beneficiaries for Group Life Insurance and retirement death benefits are two separate designations. When available, it is possible that Group Life Insurance benefits may be paid to someone other than the retirement beneficiary.
A Beneficiary Has Passed
The beneficiary’s final monthly benefit payment will be paid at the end of the month in which they passed. There are no continued benefits available on a MainePERS’ beneficiary’s account.
What happens if a retiree or beneficiary has been overpaid?
Overpaid benefits due to the untimely reporting of a death must be repaid to MainePERS. Benefits may be repaid in the following ways:
- Reversal or reclamation of prior payments from the deceased’s account
- Lump sum payment to the System via check or credit card
- Withholding beneficiary payments when applicable
- Offsetting Group Life Insurance Payments when applicable
- Payment from a trust or estate
If the retiree has been overpaid and you would like to discuss repayment options with MainePERS, please contact us.
Have Questions?
We’re here to help! You may contact us at (207) 512-3100 or via email at [email protected].