Retired Members

This page is designed to provide retired members of the Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System with easy access to essential resources and information. Whether you need forms, health and dental coverage details, or guidance on life events such as divorce, you’ll find helpful links and tools to assist you.

Stay informed about benefit changes, update your records, and explore important retirement resources. If you have any questions, Member Services is here to assist you.

For additional information, please view the Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System- Member Handbook.

Contact

TERS

Phone: (253) 502-8200

Fax: (253) 502-8660

TERSretirement@tacoma.gov

Tacoma Public Utilities Building
3628 South 35th Street, Ground Floor
Tacoma, WA 98409

Hours (By Appointment Only):
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Health Benefits Forms and Plan Information

Health Benefit Forms

Open Enrollment Information

Medical

Regence

Customer Service

Phone: (866) 240-9580

Dental

Willamette

Appointments: (800) 359-6019
Customer Service: (800) 360-1909

Delta

Customer Service: (800) 554-1907

Life Events

Marriage

In the event of a remarriage, the new spouse may be designated as your new joint survivor beneficiary only if you elected Option D or E at the time of retirement. Please keep in mind your pension benefit may be affected pending the age of your spouse. This will be based on the mortality table provided by our actuaries. Members have within 90 days from the date of remarriage to contact the retirement office to submit a Remarriage Estimate Request that will incorporate your new spouse’s birth date to recalculate your pension.

- New Spouse Irrevocable Election Form
- Remarriage Estimate Request (Option D & E only)

Divorce

In the event of a divorce, an ex-spouse may be entitled to a portion of your retirement benefit. Consult your attorney. If your retirement benefit is part of the settlement to your spouse, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) must be received by our office. If your retirement benefit is not part of the settlement, you may want to update your beneficiary form to remove your ex-spouse.

Qualified Domestic Relations Order or QDRO is a legal order subsequent to a divorce or legal separation that determines what portion, either whole or part, of the member’s retirement contributions or pension benefit shall be provided to the divorced spouse.

QDRO Process Explanation
QDRO Process Rules
QDRO Sample – Not Retired – For a member who has not retired
QDRO Sample – Retired – For a member who has retired
Tacoma Municipal Code 1.30 Retirement and Pensions

Death

We understand that planning for the future is important. When a retiree passes away, their benefits may be transferred to a designated beneficiary, depending on their benefit option choice. We encourage you to review and update your address and beneficiary information regularly.

If you have questions about how your benefits will be handled or need to update your beneficiary details, please contact Member Services for assistance. Our team is here to help you navigate this process with clarity and peace of mind.