Ariz. Admin. Code § R2-8-132 - Survivor Benefit Options

A. The definitions in R2-8-126 apply to this section.

B. If the beneficiary is eligible to elect the survivor benefit as monthly income for life according to A.R.S.§ 38-762(C), the ASRS shall calculate the benefits based on the attained age of the beneficiary, calculated to the nearest full month, as of the date of the member's death.

C. If the beneficiary elects to receive the survivor benefit as monthly income for life according to A.R.S. § 38-762(C), the ASRS shall calculate the benefits effective date as of the day after the member's death and the ASRS shall pay interest up to the benefits effective date.

D. According to A.R.S. § 38-763, if the member elected a Period Certain and Life Annuity Retirement Benefit Option and deceases prior to the expiration of the period certain term, the member's beneficiary may elect to complete the remaining period certain term or the beneficiary may elect to receive a lump sum distribution which is the greater of:

1. The present value of the benefits based on the remaining period certain term; or

2. The member's ASRS account balance plus interest at the Assumed Actuarial Investment Earnings Rate specified in R2-8-118(A) through the month prior to the member's retirement date, reduced by all retirement benefits due to the member.

E. Notwithstanding subsection (D), a beneficiary is not eligible to elect to complete the remaining period certain term if the period certain term has expired.

F. If the beneficiary elects to complete the remaining period certain term or elects to receive a lump sum that is the present value of the benefits based on the remaining period certain term according to subsection (D), the ASRS shall not pay interest.

G. If a member's beneficiary or contingent annuitant does not want to receive a survivor benefit according to 26 U.S.C. § 2518, within nine months after the member's death, the beneficiary or contingent annuitant may submit a written request to the ASRS with the following information for the beneficiary or contingent annuitant:

1. Full name;

2. Social Security number if the beneficiary or contingent annuitant is a U.S. citizen;

3. Address; and

4. Notarized signature acknowledging the following statements:

a. The beneficiary or contingent annuitant is aware that, as a beneficiary or contingent annuitant of the member, the beneficiary or contingent annuitant is entitled to a survivor benefit in the amount specified by the ASRS;

b. The beneficiary is renouncing a portion or all of the beneficiary's rights to the member's benefit;

c. The contingent annuitant is renouncing all of the contingent annuitant's rights to the member's benefit;

d. The beneficiary understands that by renouncing rights to the member's benefit, the portion that the beneficiary is renouncing will be paid to any other survivor on the member's account, or if there is no other designated survivor, the benefit will be paid to the member's estate; and

e. The contingent annuitant understands that by renouncing rights to the member's benefit, the ASRS shall pay the member's ASRS account balance plus interest at the Assumed Actuarial Interest and Investment Return Rate specified in R2-8-118(A) through the month prior to the member's retirement date, reduced by all retirement benefits due to the member, to any other survivor on the member's account, or if there is no other designated survivor, to the member's estate.

H. According to 26 U.S.C. § 2518, a minor beneficiary's or contingent annuitant's survivor benefit cannot be renounced.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R2-8-132

Adopted by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 2036, effective 11/8/2020.