Utah § 49-12-402 - Service retirement plans -- Calculation of retirement allowance.
Full text of Utah Utah Code § 49-12-402 — Service retirement plans -- Calculation of retirement allowance., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 49-12-402. Service retirement plans -- Calculation of retirement allowance.
Effective 7/1/2020 49-12-402.
Service retirement plans -- Calculation of retirement allowance.
(1)
(a)
Except as provided under Section 49-12-701, retirees of this system may choose from the six retirement options described in this section.
(b)
Options Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six are modifications of the Option One calculation.
(2)
The Option One benefit is an annual allowance calculated as follows:
(a)
If the retiree is at least 65 years of age or has accrued at least 30 years of service credit, the allowance is:
(i)
an amount equal to 1.25% of the retiree's final average monthly salary multiplied by the number of years of service credit accrued prior to July 1, 1975; plus
(ii)
an amount equal to 2% of the retiree's final average monthly salary multiplied by the number of years of service credit accrued on and after July 1, 1975.
(b)
If the retiree is less than 65 years of age, the allowance shall be reduced 3% for each year of retirement from age 60 to age 65, unless the member has 30 or more years of accrued credit in which event no reduction is made to the allowance.
(c)
(i)
Years of service includes any fractions of years of service to which the retiree may be entitled.
(ii)
At the time of retirement, if a retiree's combined years of actual, not purchased, service credit is within 1/10 of one year of the total years of service credit required for retirement, the retiree shall be considered to have the total years of service credit required for retirement.
(d)
An Option One allowance is only payable to the member during the member's lifetime.
(3)
The allowance payable under Options Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six is calculated by reducing an Option One benefit based on actuarial computations to provide the following:
(a)
Option Two is a reduced allowance paid to and throughout the lifetime of the retiree, and, if the retiree receives less in annuity payments than the amount of the retiree's member contributions, the remaining balance of the retiree's member contributions shall be paid in accordance with Sections 49-11-609 and 49-11-610.
(b)
Option Three is a reduced allowance paid to and throughout the lifetime of the retiree, and, upon the death of the retiree, the same reduced allowance paid to and throughout the lifetime of the retiree's lawful spouse at the time of retirement.
(c)
Option Four is a reduced allowance paid to and throughout the lifetime of the retiree, and upon the death of the retiree, an amount equal to 1/2 of the retiree's allowance paid to and throughout the lifetime of the retiree's lawful spouse at the time of retirement.
(d)
Option Five is a modification of Option Three so that if the lawful spouse at the time of retirement predeceases the retiree, an allowance equivalent to the amount payable at the time of initial retirement under Option One shall be paid to the retiree for the remainder of the retiree's life, beginning on the first day of the month following the month in which the:
(i)
spouse died, if notification and supporting documentation for the death are received by the office within 90 days of the spouse's death; or
(ii)
notification and supporting documentation for the death are received by the office, if the notification and supporting documentation are received by the office more than 90 days after the spouse's death.
(e)
Option Six is a modification of Option Four so that if the lawful spouse at the time of retirement predeceases the retiree, an allowance equivalent to the amount payable at the time of initial retirement under Option One shall be paid to the retiree for the remainder of the retiree's life, beginning on the first day of the month following the month in which the:
(i)
spouse died, if notification and supporting documentation for the death are received by the office within 90 days of the spouse's death; or
(ii)
notification and supporting documentation for the death are received by the office, if the notification and supporting documentation are received by the office more than 90 days after the spouse's death.
(4)
(a)
(i)
The final average salary is limited in the computation of that part of an allowance based on service rendered prior to July 1, 1967, during a period when the retiree received employer contributions on a portion of compensation from an educational institution toward the payment of the premium required on a retirement annuity contract with a public or private system, organization, or company designated by the Utah Board of Higher Education to $4,800.
(ii)
This limitation is not applicable to retirees who elected to continue in this system by July 1, 1967.
(b)
Periods of employment which are exempt from this system under Subsection 49-12-203(1)(b), may be purchased by the member for the purpose of retirement only if all benefits from a public or private system, organization, or company designated by the Utah Board of Higher Education based on this period of employment are forfeited.
(5)
(a)
If a retiree under Option One dies within 90 days after the retiree's retirement date, the retirement is canceled and the death shall be considered as that of a member before retirement.
(b)
Any payments made to the retiree shall be deducted from the amounts due to the beneficiary.
(6)
(a)
If a retiree retires under either Option Five or Six and subsequently divorces, the retiree may elect to convert the benefit to a Option One benefit at the time of divorce, if there is no court order filed in the matter.
(b)
A conversion to an Option One benefit under this Subsection (6) begins on the first day of the month following the month in which the notification and supporting documentation for the divorce are received by the office.
Section 49-12-402 ("Service retirement plans -- Calculation of retirement allowance.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Utah § 49-12-402?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 49-12-402" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Utah law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.
How does Utah § 49-12-402 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
