What to do when a NYSLRS account holder dies
Report the death to NYSLRS's Survivor Services at 1-866-805-0990
When an account holder at NYSLRS passes away, the next step depends on how the pension benefits were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with NYSLRS's Survivor Services (1-866-805-0990) to access and distribute the funds.
Begin by calling NYSLRS at 1-866-805-0990. You will need the deceased's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate to get the process started.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at NYSLRS:
Filing a claim
- The member's NYSLRS ID, retirement or registration number, or the Social Security number if you do not have these account numbers
- The date of death
- Possibly, the addresses and phone numbers of immediate family members who may be beneficiaries
Required Documents
- Original death certificate or certified copyNeeded before NYSLRS can pay any death benefits. NYSLRS returns all original documents.
- Tax withholding forms and notarized forms certifying the identity of named beneficiaries
- Affidavit for Benefit Payment (1310.4) (RS 4139), to receive a deceased retiree's death benefit when there is no executor, administrator, surviving spouse, minor child or beneficiary
Forms NYSLRS issues3
- NYSLRS death-benefit forms, sent to beneficiaries
Completed by the beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1
- Notification of Death (RS 6082)
Available to download.2
- Affidavit for Benefit Payment (1310.4) (RS 4139)
Completed by the person claiming the payment. Available to download. Must be notarized.3
What happens to each kind of account1
- Pension
If the retiree chose an option that provides a continuing benefit, monthly payments to the beneficiary, retroactive to the day after the date of death, begin once NYSLRS has received all required documents.1
What NYSLRS's agreement and guidance say3
- Who can get account information
NYSLRS accepts a report of a death from anyone, but mails information about death benefits and continuing retirement benefits only to named beneficiaries or their certified representatives (guardians, powers of attorney or executors).1
- Payments after the death
The time a claim takes includes recovering any pension payments made after the retiree's death and calculating any death benefit that may be due.4
- Wills, probate and small estates
NYSLRS's Affidavit for Benefit Payment (1310.4) states that "Payment is to be made six (6) months after the pensioner's death."3
Sources4
It could take several months from the date NYSLRS is notified of a death until any death benefit is paid or a continuing pension begins.
NYSLRS's Survivor Services can be reached by phone at 1-866-805-0990 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from NYSLRS primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
NYSLRS death claims support
Survivor Services
Phone
Report a death
Albany, NY area
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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