Last verified 2026-09-06; facts checked against the primary sources below

CalSTRS death benefits: notification and survivor claims

Report the death to CalSTRS and keep the confirmation before following the caseworker's claim instructions. The online notification and the survivor-benefit application are separate steps. Sending notice does not tell you which benefits, if any, will be payable.

How do you notify CalSTRS?

Start from CalSTRS reporting a death, which links to its online notification form. CalSTRS asks for the deceased person's name, Social Security number or Client ID, date of death, and a contact person's name, address, and phone number.

The notification FAQ also lists date of birth and the informant's relationship, mailing address, phone, and email. Use the official form for personal details. Save the email confirmation after submission.

Can you upload the death certificate later?

The certificate can be attached online only with the original notification. If you have already submitted that form, CalSTRS says to mail, fax, or hand-deliver the certificate separately. Its FAQ publishes these routes:

Confirm delivery instructions if a caseworker has already contacted you. Keep a record of the method and date used.

What happens after notification?

CalSTRS says a caseworker will contact the primary contact if a benefit is payable. The reporting guide explains that application instructions follow by letter and that additional records may be requested. Missing marriage, partnership, death, or recipient-designation records can delay payment.

Its published general payment window is within 120 days after receiving all necessary information, not 120 days from the death or first notification. That is not a guaranteed date for an individual claim. Ask whether the file is complete before using it as a planning assumption.

Which survivor benefit applies?

CalSTRS's Defined Benefit Program has Coverage A and Coverage B. Membership history and coverage elections matter, as does whether the member died before or after retirement. The survivor-benefits overview links to the applicable rules. Ask the caseworker to identify the coverage and benefit under review before making plans around a payment amount.

A practical follow-up checklist

Use a separate row for each outstanding request:

• Record the notification confirmation and primary contact.
• Record whether the death certificate was attached or delivered separately.
• List the caseworker's requested records and who will obtain each one.
• Ask for confirmation of receipt rather than assuming delivery completed the claim.
• Keep a copy of the benefit decision and any explanation of missing information.

Our free estate-document checklist gives you a place to organize the paperwork. A separate CalPERS pension or federal retirement benefit needs its own notification and application.

This guide covers administrative preparation. CalSTRS determines the benefits and recipient for each case.