Paying state retirement benefits until the end of the month in which the retiree or beneficiary dies.

 Z-0161.1

HOUSE BILL 1312

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Representatives Fitzgibbon, Reeves, Couture, Davis, Paul, Simmons, Reed, Macri, Tharinger, Donaghy, and Scott; by request of Select Committee on Pension Policy

Read first time 01/15/25. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to paying state retirement benefits until the end of the month in which the retiree or beneficiary dies; adding a new section to chapter 41.50 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that when a retiree or beneficiary of state retirement benefits dies, the department of retirement systems only pays benefits up to the precise date of that individual's death. If the retiree or beneficiary has already received payment for that month by the time the death occurs, the department of retirement systems requires repayment of any benefits received after the death. For example, if death occurs on the 25th day of a 30-day month, the beneficiary's estate may be required to refund five days' worth of benefits.

The legislature intends to change that practice by paying benefits until the end of the month in which the death occurs.