How to Report a Death to CalSTRS: Step-by-Step Process

Report the Death as Soon as Possible

CalSTRS must be notified promptly after a member or retiree dies. Delayed notification creates overpayment problems — if pension payments continue hitting a direct deposit account after the month of death, CalSTRS will claw those funds back through an automated ACH recall or demand repayment from the estate.

You can report the death online or by phone. If you need to send supporting documents, use mail or fax.

Option 1: Online Notification (Fastest)

Submit through the Notification of Death form on CalSTRS.com. You'll need the deceased member's full legal name, Social Security number or CalSTRS Client ID, exact date of death, and your contact details as the reporting family member or executor.

The online form captures your device's IP address for verification purposes — this is standard administrative procedure, not a security concern.

Critical detail: You can attach an electronic copy of the death certificate during the initial online submission. This is a single-opportunity upload. If you skip it during the initial submission, you cannot go back and add it online later. The certificate would then need to be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person.

Option 2: Phone

Call the CalSTRS Contact Center at 800-228-5453 (or 916-414-1099). Be prepared for hold times during peak morning hours. Have the same information ready: full legal name, SSN or Client ID, date of death, and your contact information.

Send Supporting Documents by Mail or Fax

Mail documentation to CalSTRS at P.O. Box 15275, MS 43, Sacramento, CA 95851-0275, or fax to 916-414-5784. You can also visit a CalSTRS Member Service Center in person.

What Happens After You Report

Once CalSTRS logs the death notification, several things happen in sequence:

Account freeze. CalSTRS updates the master record and halts outgoing payments. Any pension deposits issued after the month of death are subject to ACH recall from the member's bank account.

Caseworker assignment. CalSTRS assigns a dedicated caseworker to the file. The caseworker reviews the account — membership tier, coverage type, beneficiary designations, and any community property orders.

Quote letter. Within 60 calendar days of notification, CalSTRS mails Form SB401 (the Initial Quote Letter) to the primary family contact. This package details the specific benefits available, outlines payout choices, and lists all required documentation.

Protect the Bank Account

If the retiree's pension was direct-deposited into a joint account, contact the bank immediately after reporting to CalSTRS. Post-death deposits will be recalled, and if those funds were spent, the bank may overdraft the account. Separating the joint account or setting aside funds equal to one month's pension payment prevents this.

Don't Stop at CalSTRS

Reporting to CalSTRS is step one of a multi-agency process. You also need to notify the school district benefits office within 60 days to preserve health insurance continuation rights, contact Social Security to file for survivor benefits (especially now that GPO is repealed), and eventually handle tax reporting. The CalSTRS Survivor Benefits Guide maps out all of these steps in order.

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