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Family member is responsible for notifying the Public Pensions — Varies by system
State Retirement Systems
When someone dies, the State Public Pensions (Public Pensions) must be notified. The family member is responsible for notifying the Public Pensions.
Notification deadline: As soon as possible after death.
Steps for notifying the Public Pensions and applying for survivor benefits:
Varies by system
The retirement system stops the retiree's monthly pension and pays whatever continuing benefit the member elected at retirement. Depending on the option chosen, a surviving spouse or beneficiary may receive a continuing monthly survivor annuity, a lump-sum payment, or nothing if a single-life option was elected.
Benefits go to the beneficiary the member designated with the retirement system, or to the survivor under the payment option elected at retirement. Reviewing and keeping the beneficiary designation current with the system is what controls who receives the benefit.
Contact the specific state or local retirement system the person belonged to — such as the state employees' system, the teachers' retirement system, or a police and fire system — report the death so payments stop, and ask what is required to file a survivor or death-benefit claim.
Many state retirement systems pay a death benefit or survivor annuity to the designated beneficiary when an active member dies before retirement. The benefit and eligibility are set by each system.
Keep copies of all documents submitted to the Public Pensions. Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.
State Retirement Systems