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Change Option Beneficiary Information
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During retirement or under certain circumstances, you may be eligible to change your option beneficiary. When you choose a new option or a new option beneficiary, an adjustment to your benefit will be made. Contact CalSTRS External Link to request a form and receive an estimate.

Service Retirement / Disability Retirement
  • Change of Option Beneficiary After Retirement (Unmarried, Not Registered as a Domestic Partner, or Unmodified at Retirement) (SR 0230)
    (PDF, 2 pages)
    Use this form if you were not married or registered as a domestic partner and did not select an option beneficiary when you retired. However, since retirement you have married or registered as a domestic partner and want to designate your new spouse or partner as your option beneficiary.
    Note: If you have an ex-spouse, former registered domestic partner, or other party designated by court order as your option beneficiary, you are not eligible to name your new spouse or partner as an option beneficiary.
  • Change of Option Beneficiary After Retirement (Due to Death) (SR 0362)(PDF, 2 pages)
    Use this form if your option beneficiary is deceased and you want to select a new option election and/or option beneficiary. Your original option beneficiary election could have been Option 2 through Option 5, or Option 8 with Option 2 through Option 5.

    If your election is Option 6 or 7, you cannot change your option, but you may elect a new option beneficiary.

    If your beneficiary option election was made on or after July 1, 2006, the following may apply:

    Your option beneficiary election could be 100% Beneficiary Option, 75% Beneficiary Option, 50% Beneficiary Option, or Compound Option. If your election is 100%, 75%, or 50% Beneficiary Option, you cannot change your option, but you may elect a new option beneficiary. Only if you elected the Compound Option, can you select a new option election and/or option beneficiary.

  • Change of Option Beneficiary After Retirement (Spouse/RDP) (SR 0489)(PDF, 2 pages)
    Use this form if your option beneficiary is not your current or former spouse or registered domestic partner and you want to designate your current spouse or partner as your option beneficiary.

  • Change of Option Beneficiary After Retirement (Dissolution of Marriage or Termination of Registered Domestic Partnership) (SR 0138)(PDF, 3 pages)
    Use this form after dissolution of marriage, or termination of registered domestic partnership, or judgment of nullity in order to cancel or change your option election and/or your option beneficiary. This form can also be used if an order of separate maintenance was obtained on or after January 1, 1978.
Survivor Benefit CalSTRS should be notified as soon as possible of the death of a member, option beneficiary, or CalSTRS benefit recipient. You will need to contact CalSTRS External Link by mail or telephone to provide the following information:
  • deceased person's name and Social Security number
  • date of death
  • individual's status immediately preceding death:  retired, disabled, a member in active teaching status, option beneficiary or other benefit recipient
  • name, address, and telephone number of contact person
If your option beneficiary dies, you may be eligible to elect a new option beneficiary depending upon the original option election. See the "Service Retirement / Disability Retirement" section above.

CalSTRS Member Handbook

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