What to do when a BPAS account holder dies
Contact BPAS — 7-step process, 6 required documents, and allow 5-10 business days for distribution processing after all documents are received and reviewed. timelines may vary depending on plan type and sponsor review requirements.
Participant Service Center
Phone1-866-401-5272
Mailing Address
126 Business Park Drive, Building 2, Utica, NY 13502
Callback requests (Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM ET)
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Service Center
Phone1-866-401-5272
Mailing Address
126 Business Park Drive, Building 2, Utica, NY 13502
Callback requests (Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM ET)
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Claims (via Plan Sponsor or Service Center)
Phone1-866-401-5272
Mailing Address
126 Business Park Drive, Building 2, Utica, NY 13502
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
After a BPAS account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact BPAS's Beneficiary Claims (via Plan Sponsor or Service Center) at 1-866-401-5272 with the proper legal authority documents.
BPAS offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what BPAS requires:
Filing a claim
1
Notify BPAS of the account holder's death:
- Next of kin or estate representative contacts the plan sponsor or employer
- Plan sponsor notifies BPAS and provides the certified death certificate
- Alternatively, contact the BPAS Service Center directly at 1-866-401-5272
2
BPAS verifies the beneficiary designation on file for the account
3
BPAS determines beneficiary classification under SECURE Act rules (eligible designated beneficiary, designated beneficiary, or non-designated beneficiary)
4
BPAS provides the beneficiary with the appropriate distribution election forms
5
Beneficiary selects a distribution option:
- Lump sum distribution
- Rollover to an inherited IRA (if eligible)
- Installment payments (if available under the plan)
- Life expectancy distributions (for eligible designated beneficiaries only)
6
Submit completed forms with all required documentation
7
BPAS processes the distribution and handles tax reporting (Form 1099-R)
Required Documents
- Certified copy of death certificate
- Completed distribution election form
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- Trust documents (if trust is named as beneficiary)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if estate is beneficiary)
- Tax withholding election form
For defined benefit plans, the beneficiary or surviving spouse may be entitled to a survivor annuity depending on the plan terms. BPAS administers the claim through the plan sponsor. The SECURE Act 2.0 10-year distribution rule applies to most non-spouse designated beneficiaries for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2020.
Processing timelines at BPAS: Allow 5-10 business days for distribution processing after all documents are received and reviewed. Timelines may vary depending on plan type and sponsor review requirements. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by BPAS includes Certified copy of death certificate, Completed distribution election form, and Government-issued ID for the beneficiary, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
For ERISA-covered qualified plans such as 401(k) and defined benefit plans, federal law requires spousal consent if you name someone other than your spouse as primary beneficiary. Your spouse is entitled to at least 50% of death benefits under ERISA unless they provide written consent to waive this right. IRAs and non-ERISA plans generally do not require spousal consent, though state community property laws may apply.
BPAS's Beneficiary Claims (via Plan Sponsor or Service Center) can be reached by phone at 1-866-401-5272 and email at ParticipantServices@bpas.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple BPAS retirement accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Beneficiary Claims (via Plan Sponsor or Service Center) to confirm what applies.
Participant Service Center
Phone1-866-401-5272
Mailing Address
126 Business Park Drive, Building 2, Utica, NY 13502
Callback requests (Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM ET)
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Service Center
Phone1-866-401-5272
Mailing Address
126 Business Park Drive, Building 2, Utica, NY 13502
Callback requests (Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM ET)
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Claims (via Plan Sponsor or Service Center)
Phone1-866-401-5272
Mailing Address
126 Business Park Drive, Building 2, Utica, NY 13502
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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