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Home→Agencies→Public Pensions→District of Columbia→When someone dies

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.

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

Steps to take

  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. File the survivor or death-benefit claim with the documents required, including a certified copy of the plan member's death certificate.

District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB)

Phone: 202-343-3200

Visit the agency website →

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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Sources

  • dcrb.dc.gov
  • dchr.dc.gov
  • opm.gov

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
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