What to do when a
retiree dies
1. Things you should have
a. Collect all relevant papers and documents,
including wills, insurance policies, annuities, deeds, statements of
ownership, bills and loans.
b. Originals or copies of death certificates are
needed for most agencies you need to notify; e.g., NYC Teachers’
Retirement System, Social Security, etc.
2. Health and welfare coverage
The Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reduction
Act - COBRA, Public Law 99-2721, Title X - requires the New York City
Employees Benefits Program to offer the opportunity for a
temporary extension of group health and welfare coverage. This
continuation coverage pertains to ALL health benefits, including
optional benefits and Welfare Fund benefits. The rates charged
for continuation coverage are 102% of the group rates for a surviving
spouse or dependent.
Under COBRA, the spouse or dependent child has the
responsibility to notify the Employee Benefits Program and the UFT
Welfare Fund within 60 days of the death of the retiree, divorce,
legal separation, or a child losing dependent status. Notification
should be sent by certified mail to:
NYC Employee Benefits Program
Attention: COBRA
40 Rector Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10006
(212) 513-0470
UFT Welfare Fund
Attention: COBRA
52 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 539-0500
3. Retirement allowance
a. Return the last check received
after the death of the retiree. The Retirement System will return to
the beneficiary the pro-rated amount due for the days prior to the
member’s death.
b.Send an original death
certificate to the Teachers’ Retirement System, which will begin
procedures to notify the beneficiary (ies) if the retiree had selected
an option when he/she retired.
Send the information to the
address below:
NYC Teachers’
Retirement System
55 Water Street
New York, NY 10041
(888) 8NYCTRS
(869-2877)
4. Welfare Fund
The Welfare Fund extends coverage to the surviving
spouse/dependents for an additional
three months beyond the month the member dies.
5. SHIP
You can terminate insurance and
receive refunds of any balances of the Supplemental Health Insurance
Program (SHIP) premium. The surviving spouse may continue to be covered
by SHIP
with proper health coverage (SHIP will explain).
Write to:
UFT SHIP
52 Broadway, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 228-9060
6. Reimbursements
a. Medicare, Part B
If the retiree
and/or the spouse/domestic partner were Medicare-eligible and paid for
Medicare Part B, the surviving spouse/domestic partner or estate would
be eligible for the
reimbursement
up to the date of death of the retiree. Write a letter to:
City of New York
Health
Benefits Program
40 Rector
Street
3rd Floor,
Medicare Unit
New York, NY
10006
b. Optional Rider reimbursement
The surviving spouse/dependents
are eligible for the reimbursements of the optional rider up to the
date of death of the retiree. Contact:
UFT Welfare Fund
52 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 539-0500
7. NYSUT Catastrophe
Contact Catastrophe Insurance in
order to maintain your coverage. Call (888) 386-9788 or write to:
Marsh Affinity
Group Services
P.O. Box
9186
Des Moines, IA
50306-9122
8. Social Security Administration
(contact your local office)
a. Return the check received
after the death of the member. Social Security does not reimburse any
part of the check.
b. Only the spouse may apply for
$255 toward burial from Social Security.
c. Send a death certificate.
9. Veterans Administration (contact
your local office)
a. Reimbursement of up to $150
toward a purchased cemetery plot.
b. All other veteran benefits the
member may have been entitled to.
10. Please send a copy of the death
certificate to:
UFT Membership Department
52 Broadway, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 598-6855
11. UFT-RTC
For more information contact:
UFT-RTC Pension Department
52 Broadway, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 598-9536