NC TSERS ORBIT Death Claim Filing: How to Report a Death Through MyNCRetirement

When a TSERS member or retiree dies, the Retirement Systems Division needs to know immediately — both to halt further direct deposits into the deceased's bank account and to start the claim process for survivors. The fastest way to report the death is through the online portal at MyNCRetirement.com, the same system known as ORBIT that members use during their careers to manage their retirement accounts.

Two Ways to Report

RSD accepts death notifications through two channels:

1. Online: Report through the MyNCRetirement.com portal
2. Phone: Call the RSD Call Center at (919) 814-4590 or toll-free at (877) 627-3287

Both methods notify RSD and start the eligibility review. RSD halts monthly payments for retirees and creates a claim file for active-member deaths. The online method is available 24/7 and avoids the phone queue, which can run long during business hours.

What You Need Before You Start

Have these details ready before contacting RSD:

• The deceased member's full legal name
• Their Social Security number
• The date of death
• Your relationship to the deceased (spouse, child, named beneficiary, employer representative)
• Your contact information (phone, mailing address)

You do not need the death certificate to report the death. A certified copy of the death certificate — with the Register of Deeds seal — will be required later when you submit the actual claim paperwork, but the initial notification can proceed without it.

What Happens After You Report

Once RSD receives the death notification, the system moves through a sequence:

Within 1–5 business days: RSD freezes the deceased's monthly pension disbursements (for retirees) or flags the account (for active members). For retirees, RSD initiates an overpayment audit to identify any direct deposits made after the month of death.

Within 2–4 weeks: RSD audits the account. For active member deaths, RSD sends Form 253 to the member's employing agency to certify final wages and sick leave. For retiree deaths, RSD reviews the retirement option selected at retirement (Form 6/6E) to determine what survivor benefits apply.

Claim packet mailed: Once the initial audit is complete, RSD mails a claim packet to the designated beneficiary. This packet contains the specific forms required for that claim — Form 170S (direct deposit authorization), Form 290S (tax withholding), and if applicable, the SAB election form comparing the monthly annuity to the lump-sum refund.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting for the death certificate before reporting: Report the death immediately. Every day of delay means another day that pension payments could deposit into the deceased's bank account. Payments issued after the month of death must be returned — the longer the delay, the larger the overpayment to repay.

Assuming the employer will report it: For active employee deaths, the employer does notify RSD and handles Form 253. But for retirees (who have no current employer), the family must report the death. RSD has no automatic way to learn that a retiree has died unless someone tells them.

Closing the bank account before reporting: If the deceased retiree's bank account is closed before RSD can reclaim post-death payments through the automated banking system, the estate representative must reimburse RSD directly — a slower and more complicated process.

After the Initial Report: What to Watch For

The claim packet from RSD arrives by mail, not through the online portal. Watch the mail for 2–4 weeks after reporting. If nothing arrives, call the RSD Call Center to confirm the notification was processed and ask about the expected timeline.

While waiting for the pension claim packet, there is a separate urgent deadline: surviving spouses and dependents must contact the State Health Plan at (855) 859-0966 within 30 days of the death to maintain health insurance coverage. This is not part of the pension claim process — it is a separate enrollment action with its own hard deadline.

For the complete claim process — from initial death report through final payment and tax paperwork — our NC TSERS Survivor Benefits Guide walks through every step, form, and timeline in sequence.

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