State Public Pensions in New York

Survivors can report a death to NYSLRS through its online death report form or by phone (press 3, then 1).¹

NYSTRS takes death reports by phone: extension 6110 for an active member, extension 6140 for a retired member, and extension 6150 for a retiree's beneficiary.²

NYSTRS asks for the deceased's name, the date of death, the membership status, and the name, relationship, and phone number of the person reporting.²

For a NYSLRS member with at least one year of service who dies in active service from a non-work cause, a beneficiary may receive an ordinary death benefit, up to $50,000 of which is paid as group term life insurance, plus accumulated contributions.³

The part of the NYSLRS ordinary death benefit paid as group term life insurance, up to $50,000, is exempt from federal income tax.³

When a NYSLRS member's death results from an on-the-job accident, the accidental death benefit is a pension payable to the surviving spouse.³

If there is no spouse, other beneficiaries specified by law may be eligible for the NYSLRS accidental death benefit.³

Whether a NYSLRS benefit continues depends on the payment option the retiree elected. A Single Life Allowance pays the maximum amount for the retiree's life and stops at death, with no continuing benefit to a beneficiary.⁴

Joint allowance options continue monthly payments to the named beneficiary; Five Year Certain and Ten Year Certain options pay a beneficiary for the balance of that period.⁴

NYSLRS also pays an eligible retiree's beneficiary a one-time post-retirement death benefit that steps down each of the first years of retirement.¹

Public employees, through the Employees' and the Police and Fire Retirement Systems; run by the State Comptroller³

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