Death Notification

How should TRS be notified of a death of a retired member?
Please notify TRS in writing or by phone in the event of a death of a retired member. One copy of the deceased member's death certificate will be required before any distribution can be made to beneficiaries. The funeral home normally provides several copies of the death certificate to the next of kin within a week of the member's death.

Upon notification of a member's death, TRS will contact the beneficiary(s) directly with final settlement information. For retired members, the final settlement includes a $5,000 death benefit and any payment due in accordance with the retirement plan selected by the member when he or she retired. State statutes also provide that beneficiary(s) receive a last benefit check for the month in which the member died. Any and all payments issued to the deceased member for the month(s) after the date of death must be returned to TRS.

How would my account be settled in the event of my death as an active teacher?
Upon the death of a TRS member, your designated beneficiary or estate is entitled to survivor benefits. The amount of those benefits depends on whether you were an active in service, inactive or retired member. "Active in- service" is defined in TRS administrative rules, but generally means a member currently employed by an Oklahoma public education institution.

Upon the death of an active in-service member, the member's beneficiary(s) or estate will receive a lump sum distribution that includes an $18,000 death benefit, total contributions paid during membership, plus interest on those contributions. If one beneficiary had been named as the primary beneficiary, and the member had 5 or more years of Oklahoma service and had reached age 55, or if the member's age and total service equal 80 or more, the beneficiary may be entitled to a monthly benefit instead of the lump sum payment.

Upon the death of an inactive member, the member's beneficiary(s) or estate will receive a lump sum distribution of the member's contribution plus interest on those contributions. Beneficiaries of inactive members do not qualify for the $18,000 death benefit or the monthly retirement benefit payment payable to the beneficiary of active in-service members.

Upon the death of a retired member, the member's beneficiary(s) or estate will receive a $5,000 death benefit, plus any survivor benefits provided under the terms of the retirement option chosen by the member at the time of retirement. Certain retirement plan options provide the beneficiary(s) with a continuing monthly retirement benefit.