If you haven’t designated your one-time death benefit recipient yet, take a few minutes now to do so. This benefit may be payable in the event of your death. The amount of the benefit depends on whether you have disability and survivor benefits under Coverage A or B and if you should die before or after retirement.

The one-time death benefit is a separate designation from the election of an option beneficiary at retirement. If you elect an option, your option beneficiary will receive a monthly lifetime benefit when you die, while your one-time death benefit recipient will receive a one-time, lump-sum payment after your death.

If you don’t have a one-time death benefit recipient on file in effect on the date of your death, the one-time death benefit will be paid to your estate.

Name your recipient online

Complete and submit your Recipient Designation form online using your myCalSTRS account for faster processing. Step-by-step guidance means you complete the form correctly.

Visit myCalSTRS.

Submit your Recipient Designation by mail

Download a print a copy of the Recipient Designation form to complete, then send it to us or hand deliver it to a local CalSTRS office.