CalPERS Survivor Benefit Forms: PUB 60, PUB 62, and the Complete Document List

After you report a death to CalPERS, they mail a customized application package to the surviving spouse, named beneficiary, or next of kin. This isn't a single form — it's a bundle of publications, forms, and legal disclosures that can feel overwhelming when you're also planning a funeral and managing an estate.

Here's what each piece actually does and why it matters.

The Two Main Publication Series

CalPERS uses two different application packages depending on whether the deceased was an active employee or a retiree:

PUB 55/56 Series — Pre-Retirement Deaths: These go to survivors of active or inactive members who died before retirement. PUB 55 is written for the member (pre-planning), while PUB 56 is the survivor-facing version. The package covers the Basic Death Benefit, Pre-Retirement Option 2W, the 1957 Survivor Benefit, and the 1959 Survivor Benefit.

PUB 60/62 Series — Post-Retirement Deaths: These go to survivors of retired members. PUB 60 covers the retiree death pathway, including retirement option continuances, Survivor Continuance, and the Lump Sum Retired Death Benefit. PUB 62 covers beneficiary and non-member death benefits for a broader audience.

You cannot download a generic version of these forms from the CalPERS website and submit it yourself. CalPERS generates a customized packet after you report the death, pre-populated with the member's account details and the specific benefit types they're eligible for. The packet is mailed after the report; you can also call CalPERS to request a secure link to the online application.

The Application Form Itself

The core of the package is the Application for Survivor Benefits — either the pre-retirement or post-retirement version. This form requires you to:

• List all surviving family members, including current and former spouses, registered domestic partners, children, parents, and siblings — regardless of who you expect to receive benefits
• Provide your Social Security number and the deceased member's SSN or CalPERS ID
• Declare your relationship to the deceased and your marital/partnership status
• Elect whether you want a monthly allowance or a lump-sum payment (if both are available)

CalPERS uses the complete family disclosure to verify statutory rights under the California Public Employees' Retirement Law (PERL). Omitting a family member — even someone you don't think is entitled to anything — can delay processing while CalPERS resolves the incomplete record.

Supporting Forms You'll Also Need

Direct Deposit Authorization (CalPERS-1288): Sets up direct deposit for your monthly survivor allowance. Submit this with the initial application package so payments can start as soon as your claim is approved.

Tax Withholding Election (myCalPERS-1289 or myCalPERS-1192): Establishes your federal and California state tax withholding for survivor allowances. CalPERS requires this before releasing monthly payments.

Certification of Trust (Form PERS-BSD-1962): Only needed if a trust is named as a beneficiary. The trustee completes this form with notarized acknowledgment. CalPERS pays monthly allowances to a trust only if it's a revocable living trust where the annuitant was the sole beneficiary during their lifetime.

Certified Documents CalPERS Requires

Beyond the CalPERS-issued forms, you'll need to gather these certified documents:

• Certified death certificate with cause and manner of death explicitly stated (CalPERS rejects certificates missing this information)
• Certified marriage certificate or Secretary of State domestic partnership registration
• Certified dissolution decrees or death certificates for all prior marriages or domestic partnerships of the deceased
• Birth certificates for minor or disabled dependent children who may be eligible for benefits

"Certified" means issued by the county vital statistics office or court clerk with an official seal — not a photocopy, not a hospital-issued birth record. Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate; you'll need them for CalPERS, Social Security, banks, and insurance companies.

Common Mistakes That Delay Processing

CalPERS targets a 45-day processing window, but the clock starts only when they receive a complete application with all required documents. The most common delays come from:

• Death certificates that omit the cause or manner of death (common when a coroner investigation is pending)
• Missing dissolution decrees for a prior marriage that ended decades ago
• Incomplete family member disclosures on the application form
• Unsigned or undated forms

The CalPERS Survivor Benefits Guide includes a document assembly checklist that maps every required item to its source, along with instructions for tracking down hard-to-find records like decades-old divorce decrees.

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