Procedure for
survivor or beneficiary of deceased retired city employee:
1. Contact mortician and assemble all information needed
for a decision. It is strongly urged that employee make plans
in advance of the need for funeral arrangements as it would
save the survivors (a lot of) grief and expense. The mortician
can be of help in relations with the Veterans Administration
and Social Security and in obtaining copies of the death certificate.
2. Notify concerned agencies and associations of the death
and the time and place of the funeral and burial.
3. Notify the City Employees’ Retirement System (CERS),
360 E. Second St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 473-7200 or
(800) 779-8328, telling them your relationship to the deceased,
and giving deceased’s name, Social Security number,
and date of death. After they have received a copy of the
death certificate, they will assign a counselor who will contact
you with further instructions.
4. If the place of death was in the County of Los Angeles,
a copy of the death certificate may be obtained from the Los
Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, County Clerk. Their main
office is at 12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, CA 90650. For a
recorded message call (562) 462-2137 or (800) 201-8999. Tell
them if the deceased was a veteran. If the death occurred
in any other county or state, contact the Bureau of Vital
Statistics of that jurisdiction.
5. Contact the City Employees’ Retirement System to
make arrangements for continuation, if desired, of any family
health or dental insurance which had been carried by the deceased.
6. Contact the Social Security Administration, (800) 772-1213,
to determine if any Social Security benefits are available
to survivors. Try to have the deceased’s Social Security
or Medicare card available. The nearest Social Security Administration
office can be located by looking in the telephone directory
in the United States Government section.
7. Contact the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, (800)
827-1000, to determine if the deceased was a veteran and for
benefits information. If available, give them the veteran’s
branch of service, serial number and the file number.
(a) Insurance: If the veteran had insurance, ask what steps
are necessary for beneficiaries to collect.
(b) Pension: If deceased had been receiving a pension, ask
if the dependents (spouse or children) are entitled to benefits. |
(c) Benefits:
Ask if the deceased veteran had any other benefits, burial
expense, etc.
8. Contact the Los Angeles Federal Credit Union to determine
if the deceased was a member, (800) 252-4009. They will make
arrangements to pay off existing loans and for transferring
existing shares and insurance benefits to the estate of the
deceased. Credit Union office locations:
Main Office: 300 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale, CA 91205 (213)
484-8640 and (800)252-4009
L.A. Main Branch: 201 N. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA,
90012, (213)485-5000
Van Nuys Branch: 6411 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite I-J, Van Nuys,
CA 91406, (818)909-4115.
If the deceased was an employee of the Dept. of Water &
Power, Police Dept. or Fire Dept., contact their respective
Credit Unions.
9. Contact the Los Angeles City Employees Association (also
known as City Employees Club of Los Angeles) to determine
if the deceased carried any insurance with that group. 350
South Figueroa St., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90071, (213)
620-0388, (800) 464-0452
10. Taxes: You should contact someone knowledgeable about
estate matters to advise you on current laws and procedures
relating to estate and inheritance taxes and property matters.
For information on California taxes, contact the Franchise
Tax Board, (800) 852-5711, and the Controller’s Office,
(916) 445-6321. For information on federal taxes, contact
the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040.
11. Employees are urged to have a beneficiary designated
for each of their safe deposit boxes, checking and saving
accounts.
If the retired employee’s spouse dies:
1. Notify the City Employees’ Retirement System
2. Send a copy of the death certificate to CERS
3. Notify the CERS to cancel spouse’s health and dental
coverage.
4. Request CERS to send new beneficiary forms.
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