Death

If you are a retiree who elected Option 1, 2, or 5 and your primary beneficiary passes away, future monthly annuity payments are automatically increased to the amount of the standard annuity. Therefore, the option to select a new beneficiary is not available.

• Annuity Payment Options
• TRS Benefits Handbook (pdf)

If a designated beneficiary has passed away, please send TRS a copy of the death certificate by fax or mail to update our records.

If a copy of the death certificate is unavailable, you can complete a TRS30D (Change of Beneficiary for Continuing Optional Retirement Annuity (Option Three and Four) form with current information and return it to TRS by fax or mail.

Note: Copy of death certificate is only requested during the guaranteed period (option 3 or 4).

• Change of Beneficiary for Continuing Optional Retirement Annuity (Form TRS30D) (pdf)

You are not required to assign a beneficiary. If you choose not to list a beneficiary, TRS will pay benefits out by Texas Law. This can result in additional documentation for the assigned beneficiary(ies) and could delay the payment of benefits. We highly suggest that you complete and return this form to TRS as soon as possible.

• Naming a Beneficiary Video
• TRS Laws – Chapter 824 (Benefits)
• Designation of Beneficiary (Form TRS 15) (pdf)

You can remove a dependent from your coverage at any time by submitting a written request to TRS. The letter must include the dependent's name you are asking to remove and your manual signature. Once TRS receives proof of the date of death, TRS will process the dependent termination on the fist day of the month following the date of death. We also encourage you to call the Health and Insurance Benefits department at 1-888-237-6762 to report the death and review TRS-Care coverage.

• FAQs: TRS-Care Standard

Once TRS receives notification and updates your coverage to show removal of dependent(s), your premium/deductible will change. In some cases, removing a dependent from coverage, results in a decreased premium. Please contact TRS Health and Insurance Benefits department at 1-888-237-6762 to review your individual circumstances.

No. Enrollment in the TRS-Care program is only available during specific windows of opportunity. Outside the initial enrollment period there are only two other potential options to enroll in the TRS-Care program:

• If you experience a special enrollment event. Generally, special enrollment events may arise from an involuntary loss of comparable coverage or upon the acquisition of a new dependent through marriage, birth, adoption, or being placed for adoption.
• If you turn 65 years of age or become Medicare-eligible. TRS-Care Eligibility and Enrollment

Once TRS has been notified of a member’s death, the beneficiary will receive a letter providing instructions to begin the claims process. TRS will need a death certificate that includes the cause of death. You may learn more about the process by reviewing the following webpage.

• Active Member Death Benefit Information

The death benefits are significant and available to your beneficiary from the first day of your TRS membership at no additional cost to you. For example, for members employed in TRS-covered positions, possible death benefits include a lump sum amount that is equal to twice your annual salary, with the lump sum amount payable capped at $80,000 . Learn more about your survivor’s benefits and how to designate your beneficiary by watching the following video and reviewing information about surviving spouse benefits in the TRS Benefits Handbook. The following are links to both.

• Survivor Benefits Video
• TRS Benefit Handbook (pdf)

The employer will need to prepare and send the following form to TRS to report an active member’s death.

• Notice of Final Deposit of Deceased Member (Form TRS 8) (pdf)

We never want to think about our mortality but understanding your TRS benefits and making sure your loved ones know what to do should you pass away may make it easier for them. The following link has the information you need to prepare your beneficiary.

• Active Member Death Benefit Information
• TRS Benefit Handbook (pdf)

We encourage you to review and update your designated beneficiary annually or whenever life events require changes. TRS uses this information to pay your beneficiary. The following is the link to the required form.

• Designation of Beneficiary (Form TRS 15)

In the event of your death, if there is no valid designation of beneficiary on file at TRS, any benefits due will be paid in accordance with the plan terms in Texas law. Currently, the law provides that in the absence of a designated beneficiary, your surviving spouse is eligible to receive the benefits; if there is no surviving spouse, TRS will pay according to the statutory order of other related survivors or if there are none, TRS will pay the deceased member’s estate. Payment in this manner may not reflect the needs of your family; therefore, it is important for you to have a current beneficiary designation form on file at TRS.

Yes, they are eligible. however, it may cost them more as opposed to enrolling in TRS-Care. The reason why is because when they are an active employee in COBRA they are no longer eligible for state & district contributions.

Yes, and the COBRA maximum period extends for 36 months if the qualifying event reason is a deceased employee.

Yes. Surviving spouses and surviving dependent children of active members may also participate in TRS-Care if certain conditions are met. If you would like to understand about TRS-Care eligibility for you and your family, use the following link to learn the facts.

• TRS-Care Eligibility and Enrollment

The Initial Enrollment Period in TRS-Care for an eligible surviving spouse of a deceased active member and for an eligible surviving dependent child of a deceased active member expires on the last day of the month that is three consecutive calendar months, but in no event less than 90 days, after the active member died. For instance, if the death occurred on March 15th, the initial enrollment period for eligible survivors ends on June 30th.

• TRS-Care Eligibility and Enrollment

Coverage will become effective the first day of the month following the receipt of the application for coverage by TRS-Care.

• Active Member Death Benefit Information
• TRS Benefit Handbook (pdf)

For a TRS member’s spouse to be eligible for TRS-Care coverage, the TRS member must meet TRS-Care eligibility requirements.

• TRS-Care Eligibility for non-Medicare and Medicare-eligible participants

TRS-Care does not have an annual enrollment period. Your application to enroll in TRS-Care (TRS Form 700A) is due no later than the last day of your Initial Enrollment Period.

Enrollment for TRS-Care begins on the effective date of your retirement and expires at the end of the last day of the month that is three consecutive calendar months, but in no event less than 90 days, after your effective retirement date.

After the initial enrollment period, there is no guarantee that a TRS retiree or surviving spouse will ever be able to enroll later unless the TRS retiree or surviving spouse has an eligible special enrollment event or becomes Medicare eligible.

• TRS-Care Eligibility for non-Medicare and Medicare-eligible participants

The TRS retiree or their surviving spouse’s Medicare eligibility determines their premiums, regardless of their dependents’ Medicare status. For example:

• If you’re a TRS retiree or surviving spouse, and you’re not yet eligible for Medicare, you pay TRS-Care Standard premiums because you are not yet eligible for Medicare.
• If you’re a TRS retiree and eligible for Medicare and you cover your spouse who is not eligible for Medicare, you pay TRS-Care Medicare premiums because you’re eligible for Medicare.

Visit 2025 TRS-Care Plan Highlights (pdf) for TRS-Care Standard and TRS-Care Medicare premiums.

Cobra premiums depend on who is enrolled on the insurance plan. Visit TRS-Care COBRA Premiums to learn more.​

The initial enrollment period in TRS-Care for an eligible surviving spouse of a deceased retiree and for an eligible surviving dependent child of a deceased retiree expires on the last day of the month that is three consecutive calendar months, but in no event less than 90 days, after the retiree died.

For instance, if the death was on March 15, the initial enrollment period for eligible survivors ends June 30. Visit TRS-Care Eligibility for non-Medicare and Medicare-eligible participants to learn more.

A person is not able to backdate their TRS-Care coverage. If you want your coverage to take effect the first of the month after your retirement date, TRS must get your application before your retirement date. This also applies to disability retirees. Visit TRS-Care Eligibility for non-Medicare and Medicare-eligible participants to learn more.

The designated beneficiary of a retiree is entitled to a lump sum survivor benefit payment of $10,000. This benefit is payable on the death of either a service or disability retiree unless the disability retiree exhausted all monthly payments before death. TRS pays this benefit in addition to any joint and survivor (Option One, Two or Five) or guaranteed period (Option Three or Four) annuity that may be payable under an optional form of payment chosen by a retiree at retirement.

• Survivor Benefits Video
• TRS Benefit Handbook (pdf)

The designated beneficiary of a retiree is entitled to a lump sum survivor benefit payment of $10,000. This benefit is payable on the death of either a service or disability retiree unless the disability retiree  exhausted all monthly payments before death. TRS pays this benefit in addition to any joint and survivor (Option One, Two or Five) or guaranteed period (Option Three or Four) annuity that may be payable under an optional form of payment chosen by a retiree at retirement.

• TRS Survivor Benefits (video)
• TRS Benefits Handbook (pdf)

As a retiree, you must designate your beneficiary for survivor benefits on a TRS form. TRS must get your completed form before your death. You may change your beneficiary after you retire. TRS has no restriction on the number of times you may change your beneficiary. If you want to change your beneficiary after you retire, complete a Designation of Beneficiary (Form TRS 15) and send the original to TRS.

To update your beneficiary information, complete a Designation of Beneficiary (Form TRS 15) and send the original to TRS.

In the event of a retired member death, please notify TRS by calling toll-free at 1-800-223-8778. Watch TRS Survivor Benefits (video) to learn more.

Send TRS the date of death and a copy of the death certificate when it is available. Watch TRS Survivor Benefits (video) to learn more.

Once TRS gets notice of the death, TRS will review the member’s file and notify the beneficiary or beneficiaries by mail. TRS will ask for a copy of the death certificate. To learn more, visit:

• TRS Survivor Benefits (video)
• TRS Benefits Handbook (pdf)