What to do when a TIAA account holder dies
Contact TIAA — 3-step process, 6 required documents, and varies based on account type and beneficiary elections; tiaa contacts beneficiaries after notification
Death Benefits
Phone1-800-842-2776
Toll-Free1-800-842-2776
Fax1-800-914-8922
Mailing Address
TIAA, P.O. Box 1267, Charlotte, NC 28201-1267
Verified May 2026
When a TIAA account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the retirement accounts 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 TIAA's Death Benefits (1-800-842-2776) to access and distribute the funds.
Before contacting TIAA, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at TIAA:
Filing a claim
1
Notify TIAA of the death
- Call TIAA at 800-842-2776 to notify them of the death as soon as possible
- Provide the deceased's name and Social Security number
- TIAA will secure accounts and stop any ongoing payments to prevent overpayments
2
Submit required documentation
- For employer plan participants, the employer/plan administrator may also submit the Notification of Annuitant Death form (F9800)
- Submit a certified death certificate
3
Complete beneficiary claim and select payout
- TIAA contacts beneficiaries and provides illustrations of their share of death benefits
- Beneficiaries complete required claim forms
- Choose payout option (lump sum, annuity, installments, or other available options depending on account type)
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary/claimant
- Notification of Annuitant Death form (F9800) from employer/plan administrator
- Proof of relationship to deceased (if applicable)
- Letters Testamentary or Administration (if estate is beneficiary)
- Trust documentation and trustee ID (if trust is beneficiary)
For overnight delivery: 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262. Employer/plan administrators can also fax the Notification of Annuitant Death form (F9800) to 800-914-8922.
Expected timelines at TIAA: Varies based on account type and beneficiary elections; TIAA contacts beneficiaries after notification. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
TIAA requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued ID for beneficiary/claimant, and Notification of Annuitant Death form (F9800) from employer/plan administrator, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
For ERISA-covered retirement plans (such as most 403(b) and 401(a) plans), if you are married and want to name someone other than your spouse as primary beneficiary, your spouse must provide written consent. Under ERISA, your spouse is entitled to at least 50% of death benefits unless this right is waived in writing. IRAs and non-qualified annuities generally do not require spousal consent, though state laws may vary.
TIAA uses different beneficiary designation forms depending on your account type. Retirement plans use form F11468 (or the QJSA version for plans subject to Joint and Survivor Annuity rules). Brokerage accounts use form F11015. IRAs use the TIAA Trust, N.A. IRA Beneficiary Designation form. Life insurance uses form F1008. Non-qualified annuities use form F7737. Retail mutual funds use form F11664. You can also update beneficiaries for most accounts online at TIAA.org.
Call TIAA Death Benefits at 1-800-842-2776 (weekdays 8am-10pm ET, Saturday 9am-6pm ET) to report the death. Provide the deceased's full name, Social Security number, and date of death. TIAA will secure the accounts to stop any ongoing payments, contact named beneficiaries directly, and provide illustrations of their share of death benefits. For employer-plan participants, the employer or plan administrator submits the Notification of Annuitant Death form (F9800). Mail a certified death certificate and additional claim forms to TIAA, P.O. Box 1267, Charlotte, NC 28201-1267 (overnight: 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262). Fax 1-800-914-8922.
TIAA's Death Benefits can be reached by phone at 1-800-842-2776 and fax at 1-800-914-8922 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple TIAA retirement accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Benefits can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Death Benefits
Phone1-800-842-2776
Toll-Free1-800-842-2776
Fax1-800-914-8922
Mailing Address
TIAA, P.O. Box 1267, Charlotte, NC 28201-1267
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your TIAA accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
