ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [21490. - 21510.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 1.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21490. Section 21490.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a member may at any time, including, but not limited to, at any time after reaching retirement age, designate a beneficiary to receive the benefits as may be payable to his or her beneficiary or estate under this part, by a writing filed with the board. (b) (1) No designation may be made in derogation of the community property share of any nonmember spouse when any benefit is derived, in whole or in part, from community property contributions or service credited during the period of marriage, unless the nonmember spouse has previously obtained an alternative order for division pursuant to Section 2610 of the Family Code. (2) No designation may be made by an unmarried member who has attained the minimum age for voluntary service retirement applicable to the member in his or her last employment preceding death if that designation is in derogation of the rights of the member’s unmarried, dependent children who are under the age of 18 years at the time of the member’s death. (c) The designation, subject to conditions imposed by board rule, may be by class, in which case the members of the class at the time of the member’s death shall be entitled as beneficiaries. The designation shall also be subject to the board’s conclusive determination, upon evidence satisfactory to it, of the existence, identity or other facts relating to entitlement of any person designated as beneficiary, and payment made by this system in reliance on any determination made in good faith, notwithstanding that it may not have discovered a beneficiary otherwise entitled to share in the benefit, shall constitute a complete discharge and release of this system for further liability for the benefit.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21491. Section 21491.

A person who is entitled to receive a monthly allowance as a survivor of a deceased person may designate a beneficiary to receive the pro rata allowance payable following his or her death. The beneficiary designation shall be filed by the survivor with the board in writing in order to be effective, and the designation shall be subject to all laws applicable to designations of beneficiaries. A survivor may revoke his or her beneficiary designation at any time. A beneficiary designation by a survivor shall not be subject to the automatic revocation of designation provisions of Section 21492.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21492. Section 21492.

The designation of a beneficiary under the optional settlements in Sections 21456, 21457, 21459, 21475, 21475.5, 21476, 21476.5, and 21477, and in Section 21458, if a benefit involving the life contingency of the beneficiary is provided, is irrevocable from the time of the first payment on account of any retirement allowance. Otherwise a designation of beneficiary under this system is revocable at the pleasure of the member who made it. A member’s marriage, dissolution of marriage, annulment of his or her marriage, the birth of his or her child, or his or her adoption of a child shall constitute an automatic revocation of his or her previous revocable designation of beneficiary. A member’s termination of employment and withdrawal of contributions shall constitute an automatic revocation of the previous revocable designation of beneficiary. Subsequent reemployment or reinstatement from retirement to employment covered by this system shall not reinstate the previous designation of beneficiary. Upon revocation of any beneficiary designation, a member may designate the same or another beneficiary by a writing filed with the board, except as otherwise provided in Section 21490.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21493. Section 21493.

(a) If a person had no beneficiary designation in effect on the date of death, any benefit payable shall be paid to the survivors of the person in the following order: (1) The decedent’s spouse. (2) The decedent’s natural or adopted children, including a natural child adopted by another who meets the following criteria: (A) The natural parent and adopted child lived together at any time as parent and child or the natural parent was married to or was cohabiting with the other natural parent at the time the child was conceived and died before the birth of the child; and (B) The child was adopted by the spouse of either of the natural parents or after the death of either of the natural parents or the child is a natural child adopted by another as that phrase is defined or construed by the Probate Code. (3) The decedent’s parents. (4) The decedent’s brothers and sisters. (b) If a deceased person had no effective beneficiary designation and there are no survivors in the groups specified in subdivision (a) who are entitled to the benefit under this section, the benefit shall be paid to the estate of the decedent, if the estate is either probated or subject to probate. Any benefit payable by this system may be paid either to the estate or to the duly authorized representative or representatives of the estate upon receipt by this system of a court order appointing an executor, administrator, or personal representative, or, in the case of an estate with a total value not exceeding the amount prescribed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7660 of the Probate Code, to a public administrator upon receipt by this system of a written certification of authority for summary administration from that public administrator. (c) If there are no survivors in the groups specified in subdivision (a) and the estate of the person described in subdivision (b) does not require probate, irrespective of whether probate is filed, the benefit shall be paid directly to the decedent’s trust. (d) If there are no survivors in the groups specified in subdivision (a) and the estate of the person described by subdivision (b) does not require probate, irrespective of whether probate is filed, and the decedent has not established a trust as described by subdivision (c), the benefit shall be paid directly to the surviving next of kin in the following order: (1) Stepchildren. (2) Grandchildren, including stepgrandchildren. (3) Nieces and nephews. (4) Great grandchildren. (5) Cousins. (e) For purposes of determining the application of subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), the amount of the benefit payable from this system shall not be included in calculating the worth of the estate. (f) For purposes of this section, the term “stepchild” shall mean a person who had a regular parent-child relationship with the deceased person.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21494. Section 21494.

If, upon the death of a person there is a valid beneficiary designation on file with the board naming the decedent’s estate as beneficiary, and the estate will be probated, benefits shall be paid to the estate or to the duly authorized representative or representatives of the estate upon receipt by this system of a court order appointing an executor, administrator, or personal representative, or in the case of an estate with a total value not exceeding the amount prescribed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7660 of the Probate Code, to a public administrator upon receipt by this system of a written certification of authority for summary administration from that public administrator. If the deceased person had a will, but the estate does not require probate, benefits may, in the judgment of the board, be paid to the beneficiary or beneficiaries, as specified in the will, notwithstanding any other provision of law. If the deceased person left no will but had a trust, but the estate does not require probate, benefits may, in the judgment of the board, be paid to the successor trustee as named in the trust. If the deceased person left no will or trust and the estate does not require probate, but the decedent designated his or her estate as the beneficiary, the benefit shall be paid to the next of kin pursuant to Section 21493.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21495. Section 21495.

(a) Payment of any benefit shall not be made to those persons covered by Section 21493 if there are eligible recipients who are living members of a higher ranking class of beneficiaries as set forth in that section. (b) Payments made pursuant to Section 21493, 21494, or 21506, upon the board’s good faith determination of entitlement based on satisfactory evidence of entitlement, shall constitute a complete discharge and release of this system from liability for those payments.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21496. Section 21496.

The board’s good faith determination of entitlement to payment pursuant to Section 21493, 21494, or 21506 shall be based upon such evidence as a death certificate, marriage certificate, or birth certificate for persons in a higher ranking group of statutory beneficiaries. However, where the evidence is not available, the board may accept a sworn statement by one claiming to be a beneficiary that there are no living individuals in any of the higher ranking groups of statutory beneficiaries, that the estate does not require probate, or that the relationship of the claimant to the decedent is as claimed.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21497. Section 21497.

If the total value of the benefit to be paid pursuant to Section 21493, 21494, or 21506 is less than an amount determined by the board, the benefit may be paid to the first member of the entitled class of beneficiaries who files a claim. If the total value of the benefit pursuant to any of these sections exceeds the amount established by the board but the number of qualifying beneficiaries under these sections is such that any individual benefit will be less than the amount established by the board, the board shall limit the number of beneficiaries so that no individual’s benefit will be less than the amount established by the board. The board shall determine the recipients on the basis of the order in which claims are made.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21498. Section 21498.

The board may fix such time as it deems reasonable during which claims for benefits pursuant to Sections 21493, 21494, and 21506 may be made. Anyone who is provided a claim form shall be given the same amount of time in which to file it as any other claimant. The board shall have no duty to identify or locate any member of any class of beneficiaries.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21499. Section 21499.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 21498, when either an initial payment of a preretirement or postretirement death allowance or a preretirement or postretirement lump-sum benefit is payable in an amount of ten dollars ($10) or more, it shall be authorized to the Controller within 45 days of receipt by this system of all the necessary information, including the return of warrants issued or any overpayment outstanding after the date of the death of the annuitant. (b) If any payment is not made within that time limitation, the payment shall also include interest at the default interest rate established in Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution for time following the expiration of that time limitation.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21499.1. Section 21499.1.

Any overpayment, issued after the date of death to a member, retired member, or beneficiary, made to or on behalf of any member, retired member, or beneficiary, including, but not limited to, contributions, interest, retirement allowance, payments of any kind, or federal or state tax, shall be deducted from any subsequent payment or benefit that is payable by this system as a result of the death.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21500. Section 21500.

(a) Whenever a person entitled to payment of a member’s accumulated contributions or any other benefit fails to claim the payment or cannot be located or a warrant in payment is canceled pursuant to Section 17070, the amount owed from the retirement fund shall be administered in accordance with subdivision (c). (b) Whenever the amount of a benefit payable by this system cannot be determined because the recipient cannot be identified or information necessary to determination of the benefit to be paid cannot be ascertained, the accumulated contributions of the member on whose account the benefit is payable shall be administered in accordance with subdivision (c). (c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the amounts described in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be held, or if a warrant has been drawn the warrant shall be redeposited in the retirement fund and held for the claimant without further accumulation of interest, and the redeposit shall not operate to reinstate the membership of the person with respect to whose membership the refund or benefit was payable in this system. If the proceeds are not claimed within four years after the date of redeposit, they shall revert to and become a part of the reserve established pursuant to Section 20174. Transfer to this reserve shall be made as of the June 30th next following the expiration of the four-year period. The board may at any time after transfer of proceeds to the described reserve upon receipt of proper information satisfactory to it, return the proceeds so held in reserve to the credit of the claimant, to be administered in the manner provided under this system. (d) For lump-sum death benefits administered in accordance with subdivision (c), where this system has made a diligent effort to identify or locate the person entitled to payment and that person cannot be found, payment may be made to the next entitled beneficiary or beneficiaries, upon receipt of valid claims, if two years have passed since the date of death. Payment made by this system in good faith and in reliance on those claims, notwithstanding that it may fail to discover a person otherwise entitled to share in the benefits, shall constitute a complete discharge and release of this system for further liability for the benefits.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21501. Section 21501.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a parent having custody of surviving children eligible to receive an allowance or a lump-sum payment payable under this part shall not be required to become the guardian of those children in order to be paid, on behalf of their children, the benefits prescribed for those children.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21502. Section 21502.

If any person entitled to a benefit from this system is a minor who has no guardian of the estate, the board, if within the limits as to amount of payment and value of the minor’s estate specified as of the time of payment under the provisions of the Probate Code authorizing payment to a parent of a minor entitled to the minor’s custody, may pay it to the person entitled to custody of the minor to hold for the minor, if the person files with the board a verified statement that the total estate of the minor does not exceed the value so specified or, if in excess of those limits, may pay it to the probate court, and the court may order that the money be deposited in a bank or banks, or a trust company or companies, or invested in an account or accounts in an insured savings and loan association or associations, subject to withdrawal only on order of the probate court, or it may require a guardian of the estate to be appointed and the money paid to the guardian, or prescribe other conditions as the court in its discretion deems to be in the best interest of the minor. Payment so made is a full discharge of the board and this system. The person shall account to the minor for the money when the minor reaches the age of majority. The term “account in an insured savings and loan association” used in this section has the same meaning as in Section 23 of the Probate Code.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21503. Section 21503.

The board may select an optional settlement under Article 6 (commencing with Section 21450) or Article 7 (commencing with Section 21470) of Chapter 13, as applicable, on behalf of the surviving spouse of a member who applied for retirement but who died prior to the mailing of a retirement allowance warrant and prior to an election in accordance with that article if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The application for retirement was received by this system, prior to the date of death. (b) The document containing the application for retirement received by this system did not provide for a temporary election of the optional settlement in Sections 21456 and 21459, or in Section 21475. (c) The deceased member had separated from state service at least one day prior to the effective date of retirement. (d) The deceased member was alive on the effective date of retirement. (e) The beneficiary designated on the application for retirement is the surviving spouse who requests in writing that the board make the selection. Upon formal action by the board approving the request, the request shall become irrevocable. A retirement allowance provided in accordance with this section shall be calculated as if the member had elected Sections 21456 and 21459 if his or her retirement date is on or before December 31, 2017, or Section 21475 if his or her retirement date is on or after January 1, 2018.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21504. Section 21504.

If a member dies on or after the effective date of retirement and prior to the mailing of a retirement allowance warrant and if the member has elected the optional settlement in Section 21456, 21457, 21459, 21475, 21475.5, 21476, 21476.5, or 21477, or an optional settlement in Section 21458, involving payment of an allowance throughout the life of the beneficiary, or the member elected the unmodified allowance or the optional settlement in either Section 21455 or 21474 and if a partially continued retirement allowance under Sections 21624 through 21631, is payable, the death shall be considered to be death after retirement and the applicable benefits shall be payable. However, if the beneficiary designated on the election for retirement is either (1) the surviving unmarried minor child or children of the member and there is no surviving spouse eligible for a partially continued retirement allowance under Sections 21624 through 21631, or (2) the surviving spouse of the member, the surviving spouse so named or the legal representative of the minor child or children so named may elect to receive benefits that would have been payable had the death occurred under the conditions of Section 21530. Except as provided in Section 21503, nothing in this part permits a surviving spouse, surviving children, or any person other than a member to elect an optional settlement.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21505. Section 21505.

If a member who has been retired for service because he or she has attained the mandatory age of retirement applicable to members of his or her category dies within 30 days after the date upon which his or her retirement was mandatory, and without having elected the optional settlement in Section 21456, 21457, 21459, 21475, 21475.5, 21476, 21476.5, or 21477, or an optional settlement in Section 21458, involving payment of an allowance throughout the life of a beneficiary, and if no part of the allowance of the member is automatically continued by this part after his or her death, his or her death shall be considered as that of a member before retirement, and the basic death benefit shall be payable, or, if the circumstances are such that a special death benefit would be payable if the death had occurred prior to retirement, the special death benefit shall be payable.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21506. Section 21506.

Any monthly allowance payable to a person, that had accrued and remained unpaid at the time of his or her death, or any uncashed warrant issued prior to the date of death of the person that has been returned to this system, or any balance of prepaid complementary health premiums received pursuant to Section 21691 or prepaid complementary annuitant health plan premiums received pursuant to Section 22802, shall be paid in the following order: (a) In the event of the death of a retired person, to one of the following: (1) The beneficiary entitled to payment in accordance with an optional settlement chosen by the member. (2) The survivor entitled to payment of the survivor continuance benefit provided under Section 21624. (3) The beneficiary entitled to receive the lump-sum death benefit provided upon death of a retired person if the person had not chosen an optional settlement and there was no survivor who was entitled to receive the survivor continuance benefit. (b) In the event of the death of a person receiving a survivor benefit, that benefit shall be paid to the beneficiary designated by the survivor of a member under Section 21491. (c) If there is no beneficiary entitled to receive payment under either subdivision (a) or (b), the benefit shall be paid to either the estate of the deceased person or the duly authorized representative or representatives of the estate upon receipt by this system of a court order appointing an executor, administrator, personal representative, or, in the case of an estate with a total value not exceeding the amount prescribed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7660 of the Probate Code, to a public administrator upon receipt by this system of a written certification of authority for summary administration from that public administrator. If the estate does not require probate and the deceased person had a trust, benefits may, in the judgment of the board, be paid to the successor trustee as named in the trust. (d) If there is no beneficiary entitled to receive payment of benefits under subdivision (a), (b), or (c), the benefits shall be paid to the surviving next of kin of the person pursuant to the order of distribution specified in Section 21493.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21507. Section 21507.

Any lump-sum benefit, or any uncashed lump-sum death benefit warrant, payable by this system to a beneficiary shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary if he or she dies prior to payment of the benefit. The benefit may be paid to a representative of the deceased beneficiary’s estate, upon demonstration by court documents that the person is authorized to act in that capacity, or, in the case of an estate with a total value not exceeding the amount prescribed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7660 of the Probate Code, to a public administrator upon receipt by this system of a written certification of authority for summary administration from that public administrator. If the estate does not require probate and the deceased beneficiary was the trustor of a trust, benefits may, in the judgment of the board, be paid to the trustee as named in the trust. If the estate is not probated, and the deceased beneficiary was not the trustor of a trust, benefits shall be paid to the deceased beneficiary’s surviving next of kin, in the order specified in Section 21493.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21508. Section 21508.

If any benefit is payable by this system to the estate of a deceased person, and the estate would not be probated if no amount were due from this system, but there is no surviving person in any of the groups specified in Section 21493 or 21494, or if no beneficiary can be found by the board, the board may in its discretion pay expenses of the disposition of the body as evidenced by itemized statements or documents the board may require. Payment may not exceed the amount payable under this system to the estate or beneficiary. Payment so made is a full discharge of the board and system for the amount so paid.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21509. Section 21509.

The provisions of Part 5 (commencing with Section 220) of Division 2 of the Probate Code, when applicable, govern the distribution of money payable under this system, including but not limited to retirement allowance accrued but not received prior to death and refund of member contributions. In applying Part 5 (commencing with Section 220) of Division 2 of the Probate Code with respect to benefits payable to a beneficiary, membership in this system shall be considered as having the same status as an insurance policy issued after December 31, 1984.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21510. Section 21510.

Any payment of benefits by warrant issued after the date of death of the benefit recipient shall be refunded to the retirement system.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026