Death Reporting
On behalf of PERA’s Board and staff, please accept our condolences on the passing of your loved one. We're here to assist you through the death notification process. Follow the steps to report the death of a PERA member, retiree, survivor, or anyone receiving a PERA benefit.
Step 1: Notify PERA of the Death
You can notify PERA of the death online, by telephone, through mail, or in person. The member's employer can also report the death directly to us.
Have the following information ready when you contact PERA:
Date of death
Name and Social Security number or PERA ID number of the deceased
Name, address, telephone number of surviving spouse
Name, address, and telephone number of closest next of kin or the person designated to settle the estate, if there is no spouse
Name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the notice of death
After PERA is notified of a death, staff will audit the account to determine if any additional benefits are payable to the deceased member's survivor beneficiary or estate.
Step 2: Gather Documents Required for Death Benefit Account Audit
Copies of official documents are acceptable; you don’t need to mail the originals. Ensure that all certificates (such as marriage, birth, and death) are issued and filed by the appropriate government office, such as the county clerk or vital records agency. If you’re unable to obtain these documents, contact us to determine next steps.
Note:
Any warrant issued to a retiree or benefit recipient the month after their death must be returned to PERA.
Endnotes
We'll request reimbursement from the financial institution if the payment was electronically transferred into the deceased's account unless we inform the spouse to keep the warrant.
Step 3: Return Information to PERA
Return the completed forms and required documents to PERA.
PERA Death & Disability Division
33 Plaza La Prensa
Santa Fe, NM 87507
Fax: (505) 954-0388
The information provided will be used to identify a beneficiary or estate who may be legally entitled to receive benefits. We'll contact you if additional information is needed.
Death Notification FAQ
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