How to Find a U.S. Pension for a Deceased Person
Government employment is known for its exceptional benefits packages that include pensions paid out upon retirement. Many government pensions do not end with the death of the person. In many cases, the deceased's spouse and children will qualify to receive a portion of the deceased person's pension under the plan's survivor benefits. These pension benefits can be significant and worth the time it can take to track them down.
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Instructions
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Get a copy of the deceased person's death certificate and Social Security number. The information provided on these documents will be needed to search for and claim any survivor benefits. Key information in addition to the Social Security number you may need includes date of birth, date of death and the beneficiary information as well.
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Report the death of the person to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. On this agency's website, you will find the necessary forms on the Death & Survivor Benefits page under the online tools section. You can also call the OPM retirement services office at 888-767-6738 if you need more information about your specific circumstances and pension benefits. Once this report is made, you will be contacted about pension benefits still available after the death of the person.
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Apply for Veteran's Affairs death pension benefits if the deceased person qualifies to receive a pension for surviving spouse and children. Qualifications include having an honorable discharge and serving a minimum of 90 days of which one day was during a specified period of war. You can apply by filing out Form 21-534 found on the VA website.
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