How to Claim Pension Benefits After a Death | Honorly
INSURANCE & BENEFITS

How to Claim Pension Benefits After a Death

Updated September 2026

Pension benefits do not all work the same way. Depending on the plan and the elections made during the participant's lifetime, benefits may continue to a surviving spouse, be paid to a beneficiary, or end when the participant dies. This guide explains how to identify pension benefits and find out what may be available.

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QUICK ANSWER

Contact the pension plan administrator to report the death and ask what survivor or death benefits are available. Depending on the plan, a surviving spouse or beneficiary may be entitled to continuing payments, an annuity, a lump-sum payment, or another form of benefit. The plan administrator can confirm who is entitled to benefits, what documents are required, and how to submit a claim.

AT A GLANCE
Who can handle it The surviving spouse, named beneficiary, or another person or entity entitled to benefits under the plan
Documents you may need Death certificate, identification, plan information, and any additional documents required by the plan
Does it require probate? Often not when benefits are payable directly to a surviving spouse or beneficiary
What happens to benefits? It depends on the plan and the benefit elections that were made
WHAT'S INVOLVED

How do you claim pension benefits after someone dies?

  1. 01
    Identify each pension plan
    Review current and former employers, unions, and other organizations that may have provided retirement benefits. Old employment records, tax documents, benefit statements, and correspondence can help identify plans.
  2. 02
    Contact the plan administrator
    Report the death and ask whether survivor or death benefits are available, who is eligible to claim them, and what documents are required.
  3. 03
    Find out what benefit applies
    The type of benefit depends on the plan and elections previously made. For example, a joint-and-survivor annuity may provide continuing payments to a surviving spouse after the participant dies. A single-life annuity generally ends when the participant dies. Other plans may provide a lump-sum payment or another form of death benefit.
  4. 04
    Submit the required documents
    Follow the plan administrator's instructions for making a claim. A death certificate is commonly required, along with any forms and additional documentation requested by the plan.
  5. 05
    Look for benefits you may not know about
    If you believe there may be a pension from a former employer, contact the former employer or union first. You can also search PBGC's database for certain unclaimed retirement benefits. If you're having trouble locating a private-sector plan, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration can help you identify the appropriate plan administrator.
  6. 06
    Keep a record
    Save claim forms, correspondence, benefit determinations, and payment confirmations with the estate records.
HOW HONORLY HELPS

How does Honorly help?

We help identify pension plans from current and former employers, contact plan administrators, confirm what survivor or death benefits may be available, gather the required documentation, and coordinate claims and follow-ups.

You focus on your family. We handle the search, paperwork, calls, and follow-through.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about pension benefits

Will a pension keep paying after the person dies?

It depends on the plan and the benefit election that was made. A joint-and-survivor annuity can provide continuing payments to a surviving spouse after the participant dies. A single-life annuity generally ends at the participant's death. Other plans may provide different survivor or death benefits.

What if the company no longer exists?

The pension may still exist even if the former employer does not. PBGC may have information about certain terminated pension plans and unclaimed benefits. The Department of Labor also maintains resources for locating abandoned or terminated private-sector retirement plans.

About Honorly

Let us handle it.

Honorly is an estate settlement service that handles the administrative, financial, and legal tasks that follow a loved one's passing, so families aren't left to figure everything out alone.

We handle the calls, paperwork, and follow-ups that come after a loss, so your family can focus on each other.

Talk to our team