When a PERS member gets divorced, courts can direct PERS to pay benefits to what is called an “alternate payee.”
Resources regarding divorce and PERS benefits can be found on PERS
Divorce webpage. PERS also has a
webpage with divorce-related forms.
How your alternate payee benefit and account are structured depends on the court order from your divorce. As a
result, your alternate payee annual statements may include information about your:
How are earnings applied to my alternate payee account?
Depending on the membership type of your associated member, you will see earnings as follows:
- Tier One regular accounts get assumed rate earnings, which are applied annually.
- Tier Two regular accounts receive actual earnings and losses.
For general information about earnings crediting, read articles about this topic in the April issues of
Perspectives, which are accessible from the newsletter links on the
Forms and publications webpage.
What is the Individual Account Program (IAP), and how is it credited earnings?
PERS members working in qualifying positions since January 1, 2004, have two parts to their retirement: a pension
and
an IAP account. If you were awarded a portion of a nonretired PERS member’s IAP account, your IAP will be credited
with investment earnings or losses annually based on the returns of your IAP target-date fund.
Make sure PERS has your correct date of birth on your statement because IAP investments are based on the year in
which you were born. Learn more about
IAP target-date funds. Note that alternate payees
are not eligible to choose a different target-date fund.
When can I receive alternate payee retirement benefits?
You can elect to begin receiving your alternate payee benefit when your associated member (former spouse) is
eligible for retirement (55 for general service or 50 for police officers and firefighters), regardless of when
your former spouse actually retires. You also can receive this benefit if you are still working for a
PERS-participating employer.
Is your associated member age 73 or older?
If your associated member (former spouse) is age 73 or older, Internal Revenue Code 401(a)(9) requires you to
begin
receiving benefits April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which your associated member reaches 73.
Contact PERS Member Services if you need an Alternate Payee Benefit Application or other information.
Need to correct information?
Check your personal information on this annual statement to ensure it is correct.
To correct errors, contact your employer if you are a PERS member who is still working in a PERS-qualifying
position
in addition to being an alternate payee.
If you are not working in a PERS-qualifying position, you can correct personal information using
Online Member Services (OMS).
You also can submit an Information Change Request or Date of Birth Change Request form. The forms are available
via
the Forms and publications webpage or by contacting
PERS Member Services.
Have questions about your annual statement or need a form?
If you have further questions about your annual statement, contact Member Services.
Forms are available via Forms and publications webpage or by contacting PERS Member Services.
Go back to the Member Annual Statement FAQ page.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), PERS will provide PDF documents on this page in an
alternate format upon request. To request a document in an alternate format, call 888-320-7377 (toll free) or TTY
503-603-7766.