State Public Pensions in District of Columbia: when someone dies
A 5-step process for District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB) after a death in District of Columbia.
Administering agency
District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB)
Steps to take
- Identify which plan applied: an active or retired member of the Police Officers and Firefighters' Retirement Plan or the Teachers' Retirement Plan (DCRB), the District's 401(a)/457(b) plans (most other employees hired on or after October 1, 1987), or CSRS through OPM (first hired before October 1, 1987).
- For a DCRB plan, report the death through the "Report a Death" online form or by calling the Member Services Center at 202-343-3272 so pension payments stop and survivor processing can begin. For a police officer or firefighter, also contact the PFRRB at 202-442-9622. For a 401(a)/457(b) participant, contact DCHR Benefits and Retirement at 202-442-7627. For a CSRS annuitant, report the death to OPM Retirement Services.
- Return any payment received from DCRB for a period after the date of death — a teacher's survivor will not receive survivor payments until those payments are returned.
- Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask what surviving-spouse or child survivor benefit is payable under the plan and the option the member elected.
- File the survivor or death-benefit claim with the documents required, including a certified copy of the plan member's death certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Use the "Report a Death" online form at dcrb.dc.gov or call the DCRB Member Services Center at 202-343-3272 (toll free 1-866-456-3272). For a police officer or firefighter, also contact the Police and Firefighters' Retirement Relief Board at 202-442-9622, which provides the survivor-benefit forms and application instructions and determines eligibility. DCRB's main line is 202-343-3200.
It depends on the option the retiree elected. For a retired teacher: a Reduced Annuity with Maximum Survivor Annuity pays the survivor 55% of the retiree's unreduced annuity, a Reduced Annuity with Partial Survivor Annuity pays up to 54%, and an Unreduced Annuity leaves no survivor benefit. A teacher who dies before retiring leaves a surviving spouse the greater of 55% of the unreduced annuity earned at the time of death or a statutory minimum. Eligible children can receive a separate child benefit.
It must be returned. DCRB states that all payments received after the annuitant's date of death must be returned — write the date of death on a check and return it to the address on the envelope, or inform the financial institution if payments came by direct deposit. A teacher's survivor will not receive survivor payments until those post-death payments are returned.
Sources
Data sourced from State Public Pensions in District of Columbia primary sources (10 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB)