How to Report a Death to the NC Retirement System

Notify RSD Immediately

The Retirement Systems Division needs to know about the death as soon as possible. For a retiree, this halts direct deposits into the deceased's bank account — any pension checks deposited after the month of death are state funds that must be returned, and retaining them for two or more months is a Class 1 Misdemeanor under North Carolina law.

There are three ways to report:

Phone

Call the RSD Call Center:

• (919) 814-4590 (local)
• (877) 627-3287 (toll-free)

Have the member's Social Security number, full legal name, and date of death ready. The representative will create a claim file and explain the next steps based on whether the person was an active employee or a retiree.

Online Through ORBIT

Log into MyNCRetirement.com. If you have access to the deceased's ORBIT account (or your own account as a beneficiary), you can submit the death notification through the online portal. This is the fastest route for starting the claim paperwork.

Written Correspondence

Mail or fax documentation to the Retirement Systems Division:

• Address: 3200 Atlantic Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27604
• Fax: (919) 855-5800

Written notification should include the member's name, Social Security number, date of death, and your contact information as the person reporting.

What Happens After You Report

If the Deceased Was an Active Employee

RSD creates a claim file and sends Form 253 to the member's employing agency (the school district, university, or state department). The employer certifies the member's final wages, unused sick leave, and employment status. Once Form 253 comes back, RSD audits the beneficiary designations on file and determines which benefits the family qualifies for: the Return of Contributions, the Survivor's Alternate Benefit, the Lump-Sum Salary Death Benefit, or a combination.

RSD then mails claim packets to every designated principal beneficiary. Expect this phase to take 15 to 30 days.

If the Deceased Was a Retiree

RSD freezes the pension account and audits any payments issued near the date of death. The division reviews the payment option the retiree selected at retirement (Maximum Allowance, Option 2, Option 3, etc.) and checks for the Guaranteed Refund provision and the optional $10,000 Contributory Death Benefit.

Claim forms go to the surviving beneficiary or the personal representative of the estate. Retiree claims typically process faster — 30 to 60 days from the receipt of the certified death certificate and completed forms.

The Documents You Will Need

Regardless of whether the death was an active member or retiree, plan to gather:

• Certified death certificate with the Register of Deeds seal (not a photocopy)
• Form 170S — authorizes direct deposit of survivor payments into your bank account
• Form 290S — sets your federal and NC state tax withholding preferences
• Government-issued photo ID — driver's license or passport for identity verification

If you are claiming as an estate representative rather than a named beneficiary, you will also need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Clerk of Superior Court.

Do Not Wait on the Health Plan

State Health Plan coverage for the retiree's dependents terminates on the first of the month following the death. Surviving spouses and dependent children must contact the SHP Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center at (855) 859-0966 within 30 days to contract for continuation coverage. This deadline runs independently of the pension claim — missing it can jeopardize continuation coverage, so contact SHP promptly about any options that remain.

The NC TSERS Survivor Benefits Guide covers the complete document checklist, the claim sequence for both active and retiree deaths, and the health coverage enrollment steps in detail.

See more North Carolina guides →