How to Make Sure Your Beneficiaries Are Protected

One of the most important things you can do as a SCERS member is make sure your beneficiary and survivor information is accurate and up to date. Your SCERS death benefit—whether it’s a lump sum or a monthly continuance—may be affected by who you’ve listed and whether they meet eligibility rules.

This section explains what you can do now to avoid confusion, delays, or unintended outcomes if you pass away before retiring.

1. Review Your Beneficiary Designation

Your beneficiary information is recorded using a Member’s Affidavit form. This tells SCERS who you want to receive any lump-sum benefits, such as the Basic Death Benefit (a refund of contributions and accrued interest, plus up to six months of salary).

You can name:

• A spouse or partner
• A child or children
• A friend
• A trust or organization

Important: This designation does not apply to monthly survivor benefits. Those are only paid to eligible survivors, as defined by law.

2. Know the Difference Between a Beneficiary and an Eligible Survivor

These terms mean different things under SCERS’ rules:

Even if you name someone as a beneficiary, they won’t receive a monthly survivor benefit unless they also meet the eligible survivor criteria. And if an eligible survivor exists, they will take precedence over your named beneficiary for purposes of receiving any SCERS death benefit.

3. Keep Your Beneficiary Updated

It’s easy to forget to update your beneficiary after:

• Getting married or divorced
• Having a child
• Changing your mind about who should receive a benefit

But SCERS can only rely on the most recent, valid designation on file. If your listed beneficiary has passed away or is no longer the person you intend to name, your benefits may go to someone you didn’t intend—or default to your estate.

You can update your beneficiary at any time by submitting a new Member’s Affidavit form to SCERS. The most recent form overrides all prior versions.

4. Consider Naming a Custodian for a Minor

If your beneficiary is a minor, SCERS strongly encourages you to name a custodian. This person will be responsible for managing the benefit on the child’s behalf.

If no custodian is named, SCERS may not be able to issue payment without court involvement.

5. Communicate Your Wishes

While SCERS administers the benefit based on legal rules and forms, it can be helpful to:

• Let your beneficiary or survivor know you’re a SCERS member.
• Share a copy of your completed Member’s Affidavit or keep it with other important documents.
• Remind your family to contact SCERS if something happens.