How to Notify a Pension Company of a Death

Why Pension Notification Can't Wait

Pension rules differ by program and country, so report the death promptly and ask the payer how any continuing payments will be handled. In the US, Social Security payments for the month of death or later must be returned; in Canada, CPP and OAS are payable only through the month of death; and the UK State Pension stops from the date of death. Any overpayment may have to be repaid by the estate.

Workplace and Private Pensions (US)

The deceased's employer or former employer is your starting point for workplace pensions. Contact the HR or benefits department and ask for:

• The name of the pension plan administrator
• The plan's death notification process
• Whether the deceased had a defined benefit plan (monthly payments), a defined contribution plan (401(k), 403(b)), or both
• Whether a surviving spouse or beneficiary is entitled to ongoing payments or a lump-sum distribution

For defined benefit plans: The plan administrator needs a certified death certificate and a completed claim form. If the deceased elected a joint-and-survivor annuity at retirement, the surviving spouse may be entitled to continuing payments; contact the plan administrator to learn how to claim them.

For defined contribution plans (401(k), 403(b), IRA): These pass to the named beneficiary. Contact the plan custodian (Fidelity, Vanguard, TIAA, etc.) with the death certificate and beneficiary claim form. Non-spouse beneficiaries have specific distribution timelines under the SECURE Act — generally, the full balance must be distributed within 10 years.

If you can't find pension paperwork, check the deceased's tax returns for Form 1099-R (pension distributions), their pay stubs for retirement plan deductions, or search the Department of Labor's EFAST filing system for plan documents.

Social Security (US)

The funeral director usually reports the death to the Social Security Administration, but don't assume it happened. Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm. Social Security benefits are payable only through the month before death — if the person died in July, the August payment must be returned.

Surviving spouses may be eligible for survivor benefits, which can be higher than their own retirement benefit. The surviving spouse must apply — it's not automatic. Widows and widowers can claim as early as age 60 (50 if disabled).

The one-time $255 lump-sum death benefit is available to a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased, or to a child eligible for benefits.

UK Pensions

State Pension: If the deceased was registered with Tell Us Once (the free government notification service available when you register the death), the DWP is notified automatically. If not, call the Pension Service at 0800 731 0469. State Pension payments stop from the date of death. The surviving spouse or civil partner may inherit an additional State Pension or qualify for Bereavement Support Payment.

Workplace pensions: Contact the deceased's employer or the pension scheme directly. Most UK workplace schemes have a death-in-service benefit (typically 2–4 times the annual salary) paid to a nominated beneficiary. This is separate from the pension itself and usually paid within weeks.

Private pensions (SIPPs, personal pensions): Contact the pension provider. Pensions left unaccessed are generally outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes if the deceased was under 75. Over 75, beneficiaries pay income tax on withdrawals. The tax treatment depends on whether the pension had been accessed (drawdown started) or was still in the accumulation phase.

Canada Pensions

Canada Pension Plan (CPP): Contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914. CPP payments are only payable through the month of death — payments received after that are clawed back. The surviving spouse or common-law partner can apply for a CPP survivor's pension (a monthly payment), and the estate can claim the CPP death benefit — a one-time payment of $2,500.

Old Age Security (OAS): Also report through Service Canada. OAS stops the month after death. The estate must return any OAS payments received after the month of death.

Workplace pensions: Contact the employer or plan administrator directly with a certified death certificate.

Australia Pensions

Age Pension (Centrelink): Use the Australian Death Notification Service (ADNS) if the death has been registered with the state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Otherwise, contact Services Australia directly at 132 300. Centrelink payments stop from the date of death. Survivors receiving government payments may qualify for ongoing support, including a 14-week Carer Payment extension or a Carer Allowance lump sum.

Superannuation: Contact the super fund directly. Superannuation death benefits are paid to dependents or the estate, depending on the fund's trust deed and any binding death benefit nomination the deceased made. If there's no valid nomination, the fund's trustee decides.

Documents You'll Need

Regardless of country, have these ready before you call:

• Certified death certificate
• The deceased's pension or Social Security number
• Your identification and proof of authority (Letters Testamentary, executor appointment, or next-of-kin documentation)
• Bank details for redirecting survivor payments (if applicable)

Don't Let This Fall Through the Cracks

Pension notification is one of 40 to 60 institutional contacts in the estate settlement process. The Notifying Everyone — Master Template Kit includes notification templates for pension providers alongside every other institution — banks, insurers, credit bureaus, government agencies, and more — organized by timeline so the most urgent deadlines get handled first.