Death of an Employee

Note: This information applies only to regular employees. If you are a graduate student, refer to the Grad Student Death of Employee Web page.

In the event your death, a surviving family member should contact your campus Benefits Office immediately for information concerning benefits upon death.  

Health, Dental, and Vision Plans

Health, dental, and vision care coverage will continue for your covered dependents for six months following your death. If you had met all eligibility requirements for retiree health insurance, health coverage may be continued beyond six months. The first six months of coverage is provided without charge, after which the dependent must pay the full premium.

If you had not met the eligibility requirements for retiree health insurance, coverage beyond the first six months is available to your dependents under COBRA. Please refer to COBRA in the Benefits Handbook or Postdoctoral Employee Benefits Handbook for more information.

Basic and Optional Life Insurance

In the event of your death, your family should contact your campus Benefits Office, which will provide assistance in the claims process.

Flexible Spending Accounts

In the event of your death, a family member should contact your campus Benefits Office, which will provide guidance and assistance with regard to plan balances.  

Basic Retirement Plan

If you are vested in the Basic Retirement Plan and you die before you have annuitized all funds in your TIAA contracts, any unannuitized balance is available to your beneficiary in a lump sum, unless you have chosen another payment option for your beneficiary, as described in your annuity contract.

Your beneficiary may also contact TIAA at 1-800-842-2252.

Your entire balance must normally be distributed to your beneficiary by December 31 of the fifth calendar year after your death.

If elected, death benefits may be payable over the life expectancy of the beneficiary, if the distribution of benefits begins no later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year of your death.

If the designated beneficiary is your spouse, the commencement of benefits may be deferred until December 31 of the calendar year when you would have attained age 73, had you lived.

If you die after all funds have been annuitized, any additional payments will be determined by the annuity option you selected at retirement.

There is no death benefit if you are not vested.

Optional Retirement Plan

If you die before you have annuitized all funds in your TIAA contracts, any unannuitized balance is available to your beneficiary in a lump sum, unless you have chosen another payment option for your beneficiary, as described in your annuity contract.

Your beneficiary may also contact TIAA at 1-800-842-2252 for additional options.

Your entire balance must normally be distributed to your beneficiary by December 31 of the fifth calendar year after your death. If elected, death benefits may be payable over the life expectancy of a designated beneficiary if the distribution of benefits begins no later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year of your death.

If the designated beneficiary is your spouse, the commencement of benefits may be deferred until December 31 of the calendar year when you would have attained age 73, had you lived.

If you die after all funds have been annuitized, any additional payments will be determined by the annuity option you selected at retirement.