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Death & Survivorship

Benefits coverage will change when you or your covered dependent dies. 

PLANS YOU may be able to change HOW TO MAKE CHANGES EFFECTIVE DATE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT

 

  • In the event of your covered dependent's death, you may make your changes online

Log into My Benefits

For support, contact the University HR Service Team.

 Date of the event 31 days after the date of the event

Please note: Benefits discussed here are governed by the plan contracts and policies, Stanford policies and applicable state and federal laws. If there is a conflict between the wording of this information and any policy, contract or law, the contracts, policies and applicable laws govern. We reserve the right to alter, amend or terminate any of the benefits described in this booklet at any time. If this happens, we will notify those affected by the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Faculty and Staff

Senior Staff Housing

To report the death and for assistance, contact the Faculty Staff Housing Office at (650) 725-6893.

Payroll

A paycheck, payable to the deceased’s estate, is issued for any remaining salary due plus any accrued, but unused vacation time.
Contact the deceased employee’s supervisor to report the death.

Parking

Parking permits are non-transferable and should be returned to Parking & Transportation.
 
If the deceased employee has a parking permit, the surviving spouse/registered domestic partner can return it for a refund of unused months. If the deceased employee utilized payroll deductions to pay for the permit, then the permit should be returned to stop any future payroll deduction or a collection notice.
 
For assistance, call Parking and Transportation at (650)723-9362.
To assist us in administering health benefits, please first report the death to the University HR Service Team. A friend or family member may report the death.
 
For assistance, contact the University HR Service Team online or call (877) 905-2985 or (650) 736-2985 to speak to a specialist.
 
You may also download the Surviving Family Booklet for more information.

Medical, Dental and Vision

  • Employee and dependent coverage ends at midnight on the last day of the month in which the employee dies. 


  • Eligible dependent(s) may continue coverage through COBRA (see COBRA section) for up to 36 months. 


  • If the deceased employee was eligible to become an “Official Stanford Retiree” the retiree medical, dental and vision benefits pass to the surviving spouse/registered domestic partner and any eligible dependents. For more information, refer to cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/cobra

The Medical Contribution Assistance Program (MCAP) lowers the amount an eligible employee pays to cover their dependents on the lowest-cost medical plan offered by the university.
  • All contributions stop after last paycheck, and no action is required.
  • If a dependent elects to continue coverage through COBRA, the cost will not reflect the lower amount the employee paid; it will reflect the standard COBRA rate.

For assistance, contact the University HR Service Team online or call (877) 905-2985 or (650) 736-2985 to speak to a specialist.

Spending accounts help employees save money by setting aside before-tax pay for certain health care and dependent day care expenses. When you call the University HR Service Team to report the death, you can ask how to submit claims for reimbursement of eligible expenses.

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account

Coverage ends on the date of death.

Heath Care Flexible Spending Account

  • Coverage ends at midnight on the last day of the month in which the employee dies.
  • Dependent coverage ends at midnight on the last day of the month in which the employee dies.
  • Dependents may extend coverage to the end of the plan year by enrolling in COBRA (see COBRA).
For assistance, contact the University HR Service Team online or call (877) 905-2985 or (650) 736-2985 to speak to a specialist.
 

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation (COBRA) allows dependents to continue health insurance coverage as long as the employee was enrolled in the plan on the date of death. After the death is reported, covered dependents will be supplied information on COBRA eligibility.

  • Dependents may continue Medical, Dental and Vision coverage for up to 36 months.
  • Dependents may continue contributing (on an after-tax basis) to the Health Care Spending Account until the end of the plan year.

For assistance, call the Vita Administration Company at 800-424-3052.

Employee Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance

  • Employee’s coverage ends at midnight on the date of death.
  • Stanford Benefits will send a claim form to each beneficiary on record.
  • Each beneficiary completes the claim form and returns it to the address provided.

Spouse/Registered Domestic Partner and Child Life Insurance

  • Dependent coverage ends at midnight on the date of death.
  • Stanford Benefits will provide information on how to change dependent life insurance coverage to an individual policy.
  • Mail the completed form to Prudential Insurance within 31 days after the end of the month in which the death occurred.

Employee Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)

  • Employee’s coverage ends at midnight on the date of death.
  • Stanford Benefits will send a claim form to each beneficiary on record.
  • Each beneficiary completes the claim form and returns it to the address provided.

Spouse/Registered Domestic Partner and Child AD&D

  • Dependent coverage ends at midnight on the date of death.
  • Stanford Benefits will provide information about changing dependent AD&D insurance coverage to an individual policy.
  • Mail the completed form to Prudential Insurance within 31 days after the end of the month in which the death occurred.
For assistance, contact the University HR Service Team online or call (877) 905-2985 or (650) 736-2985 to speak to a specialist.
 

 

  • If the employee was not on LTD at the time of death, no action is required.
  • Employee’s coverage ends on the date of death.
  • Employee’s coverage ends on the date of death.
  • Call Genworth to report the death.
  • Dependents enrolled in coverage can contact Genworth within 31 days from the date of death to continue coverage.

For assistance, call Genworth at 800-416-3624.

Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan (SCRP)

  • All contributions stop with the employee’s last paycheck.
  • Call Stanford Retirement Manager to report the death at 888-793-8733.
  • The investment company(ies) will mail a package to the beneficiaries on file providing information on payment options.
  • Each beneficiary completes the distribution form and returns requested information to the investment company(ies).

Staff Retirement Annuity Plan (SRAP)

The normal form of distribution is an annuity, but you may choose to receive your benefit’s present value in a lump sum. For assistance,  call the Stanford University Pension Center at 877-249-6648.

Tuition Grant Program (TGP)

Visit the Tuition Grant Program webpages to review eligibility guidelines.

For assistance, contact the University HR Service Team online or call (877) 905-2985 or (650) 736-2985, option 5, to speak to a specialist.

Stanford Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)

  • Benefit ends on the date of death.
  • No action is required.

Staff Tuition Reimbursement Program (STRP)

  • Benefit ends on the date of death.
  • No action is required.

Junior Faculty Child Care Assistance Program

The employee’s spouse/registered domestic partner, or executor may apply for reimbursement of any qualified expenses incurred before the employee's death.

Adoption Assistance Program

  • The employee’s spouse/registered domestic partner, or executor may apply for reimbursement of any qualified expenses incurred before the employee's death.
  • Reimbursements can be made up to six months after the adopted child has been placed in the employee’s home.

Child Care Subsidy Grant (CCSG)

  • If a grant was awarded, 1/24th of the amount goes into a dependent day care Flexible Spending Account each pay period. When an employee dies, the award amount stops with the last paycheck.
  • Surviving spouse/registered domestic partner can submit claims and request reimbursement up to the account’s balance at the time of the employee’s final paycheck. Eligible expenses must be incurred between January 1 and December 31 of the grant year.
For assistance, call the WorkLife Office at (650) 723-2660.

Retirees and Emeriti

  • The retiree’s coverage ends at midnight of the last day of the month in which the retiree dies.
  • The retiree’s medical benefits pass to the surviving spouse/registered domestic partner (and any eligible dependents).
  • The surviving spouse may remain enrolled in the Stanford retiree medical plan until they are remarried, or a surviving registered domestic partner until entered into another registered domestic partner relationship.
  • If both retiree and spouse/registered domestic partner dies (or if there is no spouse/registered partner), the benefits pass to the eligible surviving dependent child.
For assistance, contact the University HR Service Team online or call (877) 905-2985 or (650) 736-2985 to speak to a specialist.
 
 
  • Report the death.
  • Retiree’s coverage ends on the date of death.
  • Dependents enrolled in coverage can contact the Continental Casualty Company (CNA) within 31 days from the date of death to continue coverage.
For assistance, call CNA at (800) 528-4582.
If the retiree had been receiving periodic payments in the form of a single life annuity, report the death by contacting the Stanford Retirement Manager. Future payments stop.
 
If the retiree had been receiving an annuity or other periodic payments, but not a life annuity:
 
  • Call Stanford Retirement Manager to report the death at 888-793-8733.
  • The investment company(ies) will mail a package to the beneficiaries on file providing information on payment options.
  • Each beneficiary completes the distribution form and returns requested information to the investment company(ies).
 

The normal form of distribution is an annuity, but you may choose to receive your benefit’s present value in a lump sum.

For assistance, call the Stanford University Pension Center at 877-249-6648.

Visit the Tuition Grant Program webpages to review eligibility guidelines.

For assistance, contact the University HR Service Team online or call (877) 905-2985 or (650) 736-2985, option 5, to speak to a specialist.

The surviving spouse/registered domestic partner of Emeriti faculty and senior staff may continue to use the Emeritus “A” parking permit.

For assistance, call Parking and Transportation at (650)723-9362.