Normal (or early) retirement, member's life only
Unreduced lifetime benefit (reduced only for early retirement or indebtedness). All benefits, including retiree medical, stop at your death; your beneficiary gets any remaining balance of your contribution account, or your last check.
Handbook (2011), p. 18, Normal Retirement; Early Retirement; Seminar handout (Jan. 6, 2025), slides 15-1650% Joint and Survivor
Reduced benefit for you; after your death your spouse (or approved dependent) gets 50% of your reduced benefit for life. If your spouse dies first your benefit does not change.
Handbook (2011), pp. 18-19, 50% Joint and Survivor Option75% Joint and Survivor
Reduced benefit for you; after your death your spouse gets 75% of your reduced benefit for life. If your spouse dies first your benefit does not change.
Handbook (2011), p. 19, 75% Joint and Survivor Option66-2/3% Last Survivor
Reduced benefit while both of you are alive; whoever survives gets 66-2/3% of it for life (your own benefit drops to 66-2/3% if your spouse dies first).
Handbook (2011), p. 19, 66-2/3% Last Survivor Option; trs024 (Jan. 2013), p. 1Short answer: the normal benefit pays the most but stops when you die. The joint and survivor and last survivor options pay less to you so a survivor keeps a monthly benefit. Married members must choose a joint and survivor option unless the spouse consents in writing. See survivor benefits for deaths before retirement, and COLA and PRPA for increases. The calculator shows every option for a sample couple.
If married you must choose a joint and survivor option unless your spouse consents in writing or benefits are payable under the 1% supplemental provision. If no option is chosen and the spouse does not consent, the 50% J&S applies. Survivor-option spouses keep retiree medical coverage.
Handbook (2011), p. 18; p. 19, Rights of Spouses and Dependents; Retirement booklet (June 2023), p. 22, Section V, Joint and Survivor Options; AS 14.25.167Your choice can't be changed once benefits start. Handbook (2011), p. 18, WARNING
DRB's example: $1,000 a month
A $1,000 normal benefit, member 60, spouse 55, with DRB's sample factors:
| Option | You get | Survivor gets |
|---|---|---|
| 50% Joint and Survivorfactor 0.91548 | $915.48DRB $915.48 | $457.74DRB $457.74 |
| 75% Joint and Survivorfactor 0.87837 | $878.37DRB $878.37 | $658.78DRB $658.78 |
| 66-2/3% Last Survivorfactor 0.9186 | $918.60DRB $918.60 | $612.40DRB $612.40 |
The sample factors
DRB publishes factors only for you and your spouse each at 50, 55, 60, 65. Multiply your normal benefit by the factor. For any other ages, ask DRB: we describe the options in words and show no amount.
50% Joint and Survivor
| Spouse's age | You 50 | You 55 | You 60 | You 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.95428 | 0.93186 | 0.90108 | 0.86022 |
| 55 | 0.96254 | 0.94303 | 0.91548 | 0.87788 |
| 60 | 0.97058 | 0.95436 | 0.93074 | 0.89742 |
| 65 | 0.97797 | 0.96517 | 0.94596 | 0.91787 |
75% Joint and Survivor
| Spouse's age | You 50 | You 55 | You 60 | You 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.93295 | 0.90116 | 0.85862 | 0.80403 |
| 55 | 0.94485 | 0.91691 | 0.87837 | 0.82736 |
| 60 | 0.95651 | 0.93306 | 0.89958 | 0.85364 |
| 65 | 0.96731 | 0.94865 | 0.92107 | 0.88167 |
66-2/3% Last Survivor
| Spouse's age | You 50 | You 55 | You 60 | You 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.96905 | 0.93466 | 0.89037 | 0.835 |
| 55 | 0.99399 | 0.96129 | 0.9186 | 0.86446 |
| 60 | 1.02379 | 0.9932 | 0.95273 | 0.90057 |
| 65 | 1.05865 | 1.03059 | 0.99299 | 0.94371 |
Effective 1983-07-01. Handbook (2011), p. 29, Appendix, Joint and Survivor Sample Actuarial Factors
Check with Alaska TRS From the 2011 handbook. These sample factors (effective 1983-07-01) are printed in the 2011 handbook. DRB says factors can change and depend on your entry date. Why that matters
J&S factors are published only for member and spouse ages 50/55/60/65; the 2025 handout example (59 years 4 months, spouse 60) uses unpublished factors.
We show option amounts in dollars only for the published sample ages (you and your spouse each 50, 55, 60 or 65). For other ages we describe the options in words.
What would settle it: Full J&S and last survivor factor tables from DRB.
DRB's 2025 example: what the survivor gets
DRB's seminar handout shows a member 59 years 4 months, survivor 60. These ages aren't in the sample table, so we can't check the member's amounts, only the survivor's share of them ($4,229.69 normal benefit):
| Option | Member | Survivor (DRB) | Survivor (ours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75% Joint and Survivor | $3,837.26 | $2,877.94 | $2,877.95half-cent rounding |
| 50% Joint and Survivor | $3,959.71 | $1,979.86 | $1,979.86 |
| 66-2/3% Last Survivor | $4,067.78 | $2,711.87 | $2,711.87 |
Under the 50% and 75% options, the survivor's amount includes all past PRPA increases. Under the last survivor option, the whole benefit drops to 66-2/3% when the first of you dies. Retirement booklet (June 2023), p. 27, Post Retirement Pension Adjustments
The facts
- At retirement you choose normal retirement (your life only), a 50% or 75% joint and survivor option, or a 66-2/3% last survivor option. If you are married you must take a joint and survivor option unless your spouse consents in writing. You cannot change your choice once payments start.Handbook (2011), pp. 18-19, Retirement Benefit Options; WARNING
- DRB's example for a member 60 and spouse 55 on a $1,000 benefit: 50% J&S pays $915.48 (spouse later gets $457.74); 75% J&S pays $878.37 ($658.78); 66-2/3% last survivor pays $918.60 while both live and $612.40 to whoever survives.Handbook (2011), p. 30, Joint and Survivor Option Examples; trs024 (Jan. 2013), pp. 1-2
- With a survivor option your spouse keeps retiree medical coverage after your death. With normal retirement all benefits, including medical, stop when you die, and your beneficiary gets only any remaining contribution balance or your last check.Handbook (2011), pp. 18-19; Seminar handout (Jan. 6, 2025), slides 15, 18
- The printed survivor factors are samples (effective July 1, 1983) for ages 50, 55, 60 and 65 only. Your entry date decides which factor set applies, so ask DRB for your own figures.Handbook (2011), p. 29; trs024 (Jan. 2013), p. 1
Items labeled "Check with Alaska TRS" aren't settled by DRB's sources. See your options in the calculator (in dollars only at the sample ages), or survivor benefits.
Questions
What payment options does Alaska TRS offer?
The normal benefit for your life only, the 50% and 75% joint and survivor options, and the 66-2/3% last survivor option.
Do I have to pick a survivor option if I'm married?
Yes, unless your spouse agrees in writing. If you choose nothing and your spouse hasn't agreed, you get the 50% joint and survivor option.
Can I change my option later?
No. Once benefits start, your choice can't be changed.
Source: Alaska Teachers' Retirement System Information Handbook (Tiers I and II), 2011 edition (current on drb.alaska.gov), checked against the TRS Retirement Application Instruction Booklet (June 2023), pp. 1, 6, 15-16, 18-19, 29, 30, 50, 66-2, 75. Also: Seminar handout (Jan. 6, 2025), slides 15-16, 17, 18, 19; Retirement booklet (June 2023), pp. 22, 27; brochure trs024; AS 14.25.167. Last reviewed .