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Home→Agencies→Public Pensions→Pennsylvania→When someone dies

State Public Pensions in Pennsylvania: when someone dies

A 4-step process for Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) and Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) after a death in Pennsylvania.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Public Pensions

Pennsylvania

sers.pa.gov→

Administering agency

Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) and Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS)

Phone800-633-5461
WebsiteVisit website →
Verified May 2026

Steps to take

  1. Identify whether the deceased was a member of SERS (state employee) or PSERS (public-school employee).
  2. Report the death to the correct system — SERS at 800-633-5461 or PSERS at 888-773-7748 — so pension payments stop.
  3. Provide a certified death certificate, which both systems require before paying any death benefit.
  4. Confirm the beneficiary or survivor designation on file and ask what survivor annuity or death benefit is payable.

Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) and Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS)

Phone: 800-633-5461

Visit the agency website →

Frequently asked questions

Contact the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) at 800-633-5461 for a state government worker, or the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) at 888-773-7748 for a public educator. Each system handles survivor and death-benefit claims for its own members.

If the retiree elected a survivor payment option at retirement, a named survivor receives a continuing monthly payment. Otherwise the remaining benefit is paid to the named beneficiary; SERS pays beneficiaries entitled to less than $10,000 in a lump sum and offers payment options to those entitled to $10,000 or more.

If a PSERS member has no Nomination of Beneficiaries form on file, PSERS pays the death benefit to the member's estate, where it is settled and distributed under estate administration.

Public Pensions

Pennsylvania

sers.pa.gov→

Administering agency

Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) and Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS)

Phone800-633-5461
WebsiteVisit website →
Verified May 2026