Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS)

Tennessee · Public Pensions

treasury.tn.gov/retirement/information-and-resources/tcrs-overview-and-self-service

State Public Pensions in Tennessee

The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, administered by the Department of Treasury, is the defined benefit pension plan for state employees, teachers, and participating local government workers. Survivor and death benefits depend on whether the member was active or retired, the payment option elected, and the beneficiary on file.

Steps to takeKey factsForms

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Identify whether the deceased was an active or retired TCRS member.
2
Report the death to a RetireReadyTN Survivor Benefits representative at 800-922-7772 or Survivor.Benefits@tn.gov, or submit the Deceased Member Official Notification form (TR-0033) with a photocopy of the death certificate.
3
Reporting the death is the survivor's or beneficiary's responsibility.
4
TCRS reviews the member's record to determine what survivor benefits, if any, are payable, and sends the named beneficiary a Claim Form.
5
Return the Claim Form with a copy of the death certificate. If the beneficiary has died or the member designated the estate, the executor or administrator also submits a certified copy of the appointment.

Required Documents

  • Copy of the death certificate: With the TR-0033 notification, and with the Claim Form. TR-0033 asks for a photocopy of the deceased member's death certificate.
  • Certified copy of the executor's or administrator's appointment: If the beneficiary has died or the member designated the estate

State Public Pensions in Tennessee: key facts

What Tennessee says4

Member portal

Members manage their account through RetireReadyTN and MyTCRS.com.1

Reporting a death

Reporting the death to TCRS is the responsibility of the surviving family member or beneficiary.2

The death can be reported to a RetireReadyTN Survivor Benefits representative by phone or email, or on the Deceased Member Official Notification form (TR-0033), which asks for a photocopy of the death certificate.2, 3

Death after retirement

What continues depends on the option the member elected at retirement. Under a Single Life Annuity option the monthly benefit ceases at death, and any remaining balance of the member's accumulated contributions and interest is paid to the beneficiary in a lump sum.4

Under one of the four Joint and Survivor plans, a monthly benefit continues to the designated beneficiary.4

Death before retirement

What is paid when a member dies before retiring depends on the member's age, service, employment status, and who was named beneficiary.1

A contributory member who dies in service (within 150 days of the last paid day of work) may leave a double lump sum: accumulated contributions with interest plus a matching employer amount. With 10 years of service, a spouse named as beneficiary may instead receive a lifetime monthly annuity.4

A member who dies out of service may leave a single lump sum of accumulated contributions and interest.4

Forms Tennessee uses2

TR-0033: Deceased Member Official Notification

Reporting the death to TCRS, with a photocopy of the death certificate.3

Claim Form

Sent by TCRS to the named beneficiary after it reviews the member's record, and returned with a copy of the death certificate.2

Retirement systems1

Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS)

State employees, teachers, and participating local government workers1

Phone: 1-800-922-7772

Email: tcrs.member-services@tn.gov

Sources4

  1. 1.TCRS Overview and Self-Service (Tennessee Department of Treasury)
  2. 2.Death of a TCRS Member, Retiree, or Beneficiary (TCRS employer compliance bulletin), created 1/2021
  3. 3.Deceased Member Official Notification (TR-0033), Rev. 2/23
  4. 4.TCRS Selecting a Beneficiary guide, rev. 07/2024

Tennessee public pension benefits

Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS)

Survivor Benefits

1-800-922-7772
Verified Aug 2026