Informing Others5 min read

Notifying Employers, Banks, and Government Agencies After a Death

Beyond family and friends, dozens of institutions need to be formally notified after a death. Here's a practical guide to the major categories and how to approach each.

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After a death, dozens of institutions need to be notified. Each has its own process, its own documentation requirements, and its own timeframe. This guide walks through the key categories — employers, banks, and government agencies — with specific instructions for each.

Notifying the Employer

Who to contact

Call the HR department or, if the company is small and there's no HR, the direct manager or owner. Identify yourself, your relationship, and provide the date of death. Ask who the primary contact should be for follow-up questions.

What the employer will handle

  • Final paycheck: The employer must pay all earned wages through the date of death. State law governs exactly when this must be paid — typically within 1–2 weeks. Ask specifically about the final paycheck amount and timing.
  • Accrued vacation/PTO: Many states require employers to pay out unused vacation or PTO. Ask specifically about this.
  • Life insurance through employer: Many employers provide group life insurance as a benefit. Ask HR whether the deceased had employer-provided life insurance and who the beneficiary was. The HR department will initiate the claim process.
  • 401(k) or retirement plan: Ask HR for the contact information for the plan administrator so you can begin the beneficiary claim process.
  • Health insurance (COBRA): The death of an employee is a COBRA qualifying event for covered dependents. HR must notify the COBRA administrator within 30 days. Ask for the COBRA election packet. See our article on COBRA after a spouse dies.
  • Pension: If the deceased had a pension, ask HR about survivor benefits or beneficiary payments.

Documentation the employer will need

  • Death certificate (certified copy)
  • Your identification and relationship documentation
  • Letters testamentary (if you are the executor) for receiving financial benefits

Notifying Banks and Credit Unions

Process

Visit the bank in person with a certified death certificate and your identification. Ask to speak with a representative in the estate services or bereavement department (many larger banks have this). Bring your letters testamentary if you have them; if not, bring what you have and inquire about what will be needed.

What happens to accounts

  • Joint accounts: Typically pass automatically to the surviving joint holder, who may need to present a death certificate to remove the deceased's name
  • Accounts with payable-on-death (POD) designation: Transfer directly to the named beneficiary outside of probate — the beneficiary presents a death certificate to claim the funds
  • Sole accounts without beneficiary: Become estate assets, requiring executor authority (letters testamentary) to access

What to ask the bank

  • Are there any joint accounts or POD designations?
  • What is the balance in each account?
  • Are there any outstanding automatic payments that should be stopped?
  • What is the process for the executor to access sole accounts?
  • Is there a safe deposit box? (See our article on accessing a deceased person's safe deposit box)

Notifying Government Agencies

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Call 1-800-772-1213. Report the death, inquire about survivor benefits, and ask about the $255 lump-sum death payment. The funeral home often handles the initial report — confirm this and follow up. See our article on reporting a death to the SSA.

Medicare and Medicaid

Call 1-800-633-4227 (Medicare). Notify Medicare of the death to stop coverage. If the deceased was on Medicaid, contact your state's Medicaid office — Medicaid estate recovery (MERP) may apply. See our article on Medicare and Medicaid after a death.

Veterans Affairs (VA)

If the deceased was a veteran, call 1-800-827-1000. Stop any VA disability or pension benefits and inquire about survivor benefits (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, VA pension for survivors, burial benefits). See our article on VA benefits for surviving family members.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

If the deceased was a federal employee or retiree, contact OPM at 1-888-767-6738 to stop federal pension/annuity payments and inquire about survivor annuity benefits.

State pension systems

If the deceased was a state or local government employee, contact the relevant state retirement system directly.

IRS

No immediate notification to the IRS is required. However, you will need to file a final federal income tax return for the deceased and potentially an estate tax return. See our taxes after a death guide.

Documentation to Have Ready

For all notifications, have available:

  • Multiple certified copies of the death certificate (at least 10)
  • Your government-issued photo ID
  • Documentation of your authority to act (relationship documents, letters testamentary)
  • The deceased's Social Security number
  • Account numbers where known

For a complete prioritized notification list, see our guide to who to notify first. For the complete notification overview, see our who to notify after a death guide.

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