Contact NYSTRS as soon as possible to notify us of the death of a retiree, an optional beneficiary, or an active member. You may use the phone numbers provided below to report a death. You'll need to provide the following information:
- Name of the deceased.
- Date of death.
- Membership status:
- Active member and employer; OR
- Retiree; OR
- Beneficiary of a retiree.
- Name, relationship and phone number of the person making the notification.
To Report a Retiree Death
Call NYSTRS at (800) 348-7298, Ext. 6140 to notify us of the death of a retiree. Doing so in a timely manner will ensure the retiree's beneficiary(ies) will receive promised benefits, if payable, in a timely manner.
You will be asked to provide: the decedent's name and EmplID (or Social Security number); date of death; and, name, address and telephone number of a contact person. It will also be necessary to provide NYSTRS with an original or certified copy of the death certificate, which will be returned to you.
See When a Loved One Passes, a checklist intended to assist you with full notification of a death.
To Report the Death of a Retiree's Beneficiary
Call NYSTRS at (800) 348-7298, Ext. 6150 to notify us of the death of a retiree's beneficiary (i.e., option beneficiary or the beneficiary of a Paragraph 2 death benefit payable).
To Report the Death of an Active Member
In most cases, the death of an active member working for a participating NYSTRS employer is reported to us as part of the employer reporting process. However, you may call NYSTRS at (800) 348-7298, Ext. 6110 to notify us.