If an MTRS member dies: what the family receives

• If you die while active, your beneficiary gets either a lump sum of your contributions and interest or a monthly member-survivor allowance: the Option C amount, with your age moved up to 55 (Tier 1) or 60 (Tier 2) if you were younger, and your beneficiary's age moved up by the same amount.MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members'; Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 31
• Example: a Tier 1 member dies at 42 with 20 years and a $42,000 salary average; the beneficiary is 40. 0.015 (age 55) x 20 = 30% x $42,000 = $12,600 x 0.9295 (ages 55 and 53) = $11,712 a year, or $976 a month.MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members', Member-survivor benefit allowance: Formula and example
• A surviving spouse named as member-survivor beneficiary can get a guaranteed minimum, currently $500 a month plus $120 for the first dependent child and $90 for each additional child. This requires at least a year of marriage, the member in service at death with two full years of service, and that the couple lived together (or apart for good cause).MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members'

If you die while still working

The member-survivor benefit equals what the member would have received under Option C at the member's last age or at age 55 (Tier 1) / 60 (Tier 2), whichever is higher; the member's age is advanced the years and months needed to reach 55 or 60 and the beneficiary's age is advanced by the same amount. MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members'; Ready for Retirement 2026, p. 31 (Active death benefit formula); M.G.L. c. 32, §§ 12(2)(d), 12B

MTRS's example: a Tier 1 member dies at 42 with 20 years and a $42,000 salary average; the beneficiary is 40. The member's age moves up to 55 and the beneficiary's to 53. 0.015 × 20 = 30% × $42,000 = $12,600 × 0.9295 = $11,712 a year, about $976 a month. MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members'; Ready for Retirement 2026, p. 31 (Active death benefit formula); M.G.L. c. 32, §§ 12(2)(d), 12B

In Tier 2 the age moves up to 60 instead of 55 (age factor 0.0145, or 0.01625 with 30 years). MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members'; Ready for Retirement 2026, p. 31 (Active death benefit formula); M.G.L. c. 32, §§ 12(2)(d), 12B

The spouse's guaranteed minimum

A spouse named as member-survivor beneficiary gets the greater of the allowance or currently $500 a month, plus $120 for the first dependent child and $90 for each additional child. Conditions: spouse living with the member (or apart for justifiable cause), married at least one year, member in service at death, at least two full years of creditable service. MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members'; Ready for Retirement 2026, p. 31 (Active death benefit formula); M.G.L. c. 32, §§ 12(2)(d), 12B

After you retire

After retirement, survivor benefits depend on the option chosen: none under Option A (month-of-death amount only), any remaining annuity balance under Option B, or a lifetime 2/3 allowance under Option C. Ready for Retirement 2026, p. 34; MTRS Beneficiary Designation Form, p. 2 See Payment options.

Disability

MTRS offers ordinary and accidental disability retirement. For nonveterans retiring on ordinary disability under age 55 (Tier 1) or 60 (Tier 2), the age factor for 55 (0.015) or 60 (Tier 2: 0.0145 without 30 years, 0.01625 with 30 years) is used. The estimator here does not compute disability benefits. Ready for Retirement 2026, p. 31, Appendix A; MTRS web page 'Plan summary'; Introduction to the MTRS (Spring 2026), p. 3

Questions