Does DCRB cover all DC government employees?

State Public Pensions in District of Columbia

The District of Columbia Retirement Board administers the Police Officers and Firefighters' Retirement Plan and the Teachers' Retirement Plan — the District's only defined-benefit pensions. Other DC government employees hired on or after October 1, 1987 are in the District's 401(a) defined-contribution plan, where a death benefit goes to the designated beneficiary; employees first hired before October 1, 1987 are under the federal Civil Service Retirement System, administered by OPM.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Public Pensions

District of Columbia

dcrb.dc.gov→

Administering agency

District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB)

Phone202-343-3200

WebsiteVisit website →

Verified Jul 2026

State Public Pensions in District of Columbia: key facts

Plans administered by DCRB: District of Columbia Police Officers and Firefighters' Retirement Plan and District of Columbia Teachers' Retirement Plan.
Other DC employees: DC employees other than police officers, firefighters, and teachers who were first hired on or after October 1, 1987 are in the District's 401(a) defined-contribution plan (administered through Voya), with an optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan — not a DC pension. Employees first hired before October 1, 1987 are under the federal Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), whose annuities are paid by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
401(a) and 457(b) death benefit: For the District's 401(a) and 457(b) accounts, the designated beneficiary is entitled to any assets remaining in the account, and those assets are not subject to probate. Contact the DCHR Benefits and Retirement Administration at 202-442-7627.
Retiree death (DCRB plans): For a teacher who dies after retiring, the survivor annuity follows the retirement option elected: 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 pays no survivor benefit. A surviving spouse's benefit continues for life but stops on remarriage before age 60.
Payments after the date of death: All payments received from DCRB after the annuitant's date of death must be returned. If a payment came by check, write the date of death on the check and return it to the address on the envelope; if by direct deposit, inform the financial institution of the death.
How to notify DCRB: Use the DCRB "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, the survivor must also contact the Police and Firefighters' Retirement Relief Board (PFRRB) at 202-442-9622 — unless the member was receiving or eligible for a deferred retirement benefit, in which case only DCRB needs to be contacted.

Frequently asked questions

No. DCRB administers only the Police Officers and Firefighters' Retirement Plan and the Teachers' Retirement Plan. Other DC employees first hired on or after October 1, 1987 are in the District's 401(a) defined-contribution plan with an optional 457(b) — a designated beneficiary receives the account balance, outside probate. Employees first hired before October 1, 1987 are under the federal Civil Service Retirement System, and OPM handles those annuities.

When someone dies

Steps after a death in District of Columbia

5-step process for District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB).

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SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Sources

Data sourced from State Public Pensions in District of Columbia primary sources (10 pages reviewed). How we research.

Public Pensions

District of Columbia

dcrb.dc.gov→

Administering agency

District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB)

Phone202-343-3200

WebsiteVisit website →

Verified Jul 2026

State Public Pensions in District of Columbia: key facts

Plans administered by DCRB

District of Columbia Police Officers and Firefighters' Retirement Plan and District of Columbia Teachers' Retirement Plan.

Other DC employees

DC employees other than police officers, firefighters, and teachers who were first hired on or after October 1, 1987 are in the District's 401(a) defined-contribution plan (administered through Voya), with an optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan — not a DC pension. Employees first hired before October 1, 1987 are under the federal Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), whose annuities are paid by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

401(a) and 457(b) death benefit

For the District's 401(a) and 457(b) accounts, the designated beneficiary is entitled to any assets remaining in the account, and those assets are not subject to probate. Contact the DCHR Benefits and Retirement Administration at 202-442-7627.

Retiree death (DCRB plans)

For a teacher who dies after retiring, the survivor annuity follows the retirement option elected: 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 pays no survivor benefit. A surviving spouse's benefit continues for life but stops on remarriage before age 60.

Payments after the date of death

All payments received from DCRB after the annuitant's date of death must be returned. If a payment came by check, write the date of death on the check and return it to the address on the envelope; if by direct deposit, inform the financial institution of the death.

How to notify DCRB

Use the DCRB "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, the survivor must also contact the Police and Firefighters' Retirement Relief Board (PFRRB) at 202-442-9622 — unless the member was receiving or eligible for a deferred retirement benefit, in which case only DCRB needs to be contacted.

Frequently asked questions