The loss of a loved one is always a difficult ordeal to overcome. In addition to mourning, you also have to deal with the administrative formalities following deathparticularly in the case of a retiree. Among the most frequently asked questions is this one: who to notify in the event of a pensioner's death

Many steps to take after death are often complex and can be a source of confusion for bereaved families. In addition to administrative procedures after death "classics", there are often additional features to be taken into account, such as retirement pensions, insurance and any contingency contracts.

According to Insee, more than 600,000 deaths are recorded every year in France. Many of them are retired. It is therefore essential to know the steps and procedures for simplifying your formalities after death while making sure you leave nothing out.

In this article, we will guide you through the steps and administrative steps to take after death of a retiree. We'll also look at the various players to contact and what you need to bear in mind to simplify the formalities. We hope you find this information useful in these difficult times.

We'll be covering a range of topics to explain what to do and who to contact in the event of death of a retiree.

Administrative formalities following the death of a pensioner may vary depending on the situation of the deceased, but also according to his or her personal situation (married, single, with children, etc.) or his or her place of death. It is therefore important to understand the different steps involved to avoid confusion and simplify formalities.

Who to notify in the event of a pensioner's death :

• Steps to take after the death of a pensioner
• Pension formalities
• Insurance formalities
• Formalities related to provident contracts
• Questions and answers to help you cope with this difficult situation

If you want to ensure that all administrative formalities are carried out correctly, and need assistance in preparing your formalities after a deathPostumo is there to support you, step by step.

Who to notify in the event of a pensioner's death? Main organizations and authorities (non-exhaustive list)

The first step is to notify the various relevant agencies and authorities. The people to contact will vary according to each individual's life path, but here are the main people to contact:

The doctor

The attending physician or the physician at the care facility where the death has occurred: he must issue a death certificate, which is essential for next steps.

Police station or gendarmerie

In the event of violent death (e.g. accidental death, suicide), you must alert the police or the national gendarmerie.

The Town Hall

Any adult can declare a death, preferably a close relative, as information on the deceased's marital status will be required.

The town hall of the place of death will be able to issue a death certificate, which will be required for future administrative formalities.

If the person died in a hospital, retirement home or other specialized or health care facility, the facility is responsible for declaring the death.

The employer

You must contact the deceased's employer(s) if he/she was working while retired.

If the deceased was a civil servant, his or her heirs may request payment of a lump-sum death benefit from the employer, whether or not he or she has reached legal retirement age.

The home-based employee

The surviving partner (if registered as a private employer with Urssaf) can continue the employment relationship with the employee. Otherwise, the death of the individual employer automatically terminates the employee's employment contract.

Retirement homes, ehpads, senior residences

Collect the deceased resident's personal belongings, as billing is effective until the room is vacated, which must be within 30 days.

Request reimbursement of sums received for services not provided.

The notary

Calling in a notary is not compulsory. It becomes necessary if the estate includes real estate, if the amount of the estate is equal to or greater than €5,000, or if there is a will or a gift between spouses.

The pension fund

It is important to notify the pension fund on which the pensioner depended, in order to suspend payment of the old-age pension or request a reversionary pension. It is also possible to request reimbursement of funeral expenses if the old-age pension has not yet been paid.

The health insurance fund

The beneficiaries of a deceased pensioner may receive a death benefit. Payment is only possible if the salaried activity ended less than 3 months before the death. It is also possible to obtain this capital sum if the beneficiary was receiving a pension for an accident at work or occupational disease.

If the deceased was a retired self-employed worker, he or she had to have validated at least 80 quarters of insurance with the Sécurité Sociale des Indépendants, and his or her craft or commercial activity had to have been the last one carried out.

In addition, CPAM benefits are payable until the end of the month in which the beneficiary dies. Amounts remaining due at the time of death are paid to beneficiaries on production of supporting documents.

If the insured has not died by the time his or her pension starts, the single lump-sum payment can be paid to the beneficiaries, even if the insured has not confirmed his or her pension application.

If the deceased was retired, the person who pays the funeral expenses may request reimbursement by the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Vieillesse des Travailleurs Salariés (CNAV).

Insurance

If the deceased had taken out a life insuranceIn the case of a death or funeral contract, it is advisable to contact the insurance company to begin the necessary formalities.

In the case of life insurance or a death contract, if the deceased was one of your designated beneficiaries, you will need to change this with your insurer.

Mutual insurers and provident societies

Apply for a lump-sum death benefit, an annuity, financial assistance or a contribution to funeral expenses.

The bank

It is also important to notify the bank where the retiree had opened an account to block direct debits and close the account if necessary.

Social assistance

Some social assistance benefits are repayable. In fact, some of the social assistance granted to elderly people who do not have sufficient income to pay for the services they need can be recovered from the estate. The paying organization must be notified. The latter has 5 years in which to make the request, but must be notified of the death.

The owner

If the property is rented out, it is advisable to inform the landlord, make arrangements to move the deceased's belongings and draw up an inventory of fixtures on departure. Although it may be difficult for the next of kin to vacate the property immediately, moving quickly will enable the heirs to avoid paying an occupancy indemnity corresponding to the amount of the rent to the landlord.

Suppliers

Whether the deceased lived alone or with a relative, it's a good idea to notify suppliers of electricity, water, gas and Internet subscriptions, for example, to cancel, transfer or change their status. The possibilities for taking action on a contract differ according to the supplier and the type of membership.

The supplier of adapted equipment to keep the pensioner at home must be quickly returned.

Taxes

When the deceased was living as a couple, it may be necessary to make two declarations, depending on the date of death. One for the couple's situation from January 1 to the date of death, and the other from death to the end of the year.

The taxes concerned are: income tax, property wealth tax (IFI), and council tax on second homes.

Essential post-death formalities

Once the various contacts have been notified, it's time to get down to business. formalities required. Here are the main steps to follow:

Taking account of the deceased's last wishes

If the deceased left any last wishes in a will, these must be taken into account to honor his memory. The central file of last wishes must be consulted.

Paying funeral expenses

Funeral expenses may be covered by social organizations, local authorities (Carsat, CNAV, CCAS, Cafat, etc.) or the deceased's mutual insurance company. If this is not the case, the expenses must be paid from the deceased's savings or bank accounts. You can also set up a solidarity fund.

Accepting or renouncing the estate (succession option)

From the time the succession is opened, you have 4 months to exercise the succession option you have chosen: accept the succession up to the amount of the net assets, accept the succession outright or renounce.

Drawing up the declaration of inheritance

The inheritance declaration is used to calculate and pay inheritance tax. The declaration must be filed by heirs, legatees or donees who have not expressly renounced the succession. The deadline may vary, but in most cases, the declaration must be made within 6 months.

Paying taxes

The deceased's income tax and IFI must be paid. In certain cases, an exemption may be granted depending on the situation.

In addition, inheritance can have repercussions not only on the deceased's IFI, but also on your personal situation.

Council tax on second homes depends on your situation on January 1st of the tax year.

You have to pay it if you are the full owner or usufructuary of a second home, i.e. a furnished property that is not your main residence. This is also the case if you rent a second home.

Notify organizations

When you think about who to notify in the event of the death of a pensioner, you also need to think about all the private and public service providers to which the deceased may have subscribed. Contracts for telephone, internet, electricity, gas, water, home insurance, etc. must be cancelled or transferred.

Managing your survivor's pension or widow's allowance

If the deceased was married or in a civil union, it is possible to claim a survivor's pension or an annuity. widow's allowance. You should contact your pension fund, social security or MSA to find out how to proceed.

Taking stock of bank accounts and financial investments

It's important to take stock of the deceased's bank accounts and financial investments to avoid unnecessary debits and charges.

If the deceased had taken out an insurance policy, you should contact the insurance company to find out about the formalities to be followed, or to request payment of the insured sums.

Credits

When a credit institution is involved. Take stock of insurance policies. Check that death insurance is not excluded from coverage. This will give you a better idea of the sums that will be recovered.

Manage digital accounts

Avoid comments on the deceased's profile months after death, turn the account into a memorial account, retrieve important information etc...

Managing the deceased's vehicle(s)

The procedure is complex, and depends on whether you want to keep, sell, donate or scrap your vehicle. How to change your vehicle registration document: compulsory deadlines.

View the calendar of procedures

Steps to take after the death of a pensioner

Formalities relating to the reversionary pension

The reversionary pension is an important consideration after the death of a pensioner. Here are the main formalities to follow:

• Contact the pension fund to which the deceased belonged to suspend payment of the retirement pension.
• If you have a spouse or ex-spouse, you can apply to your pension fund for a reversionary pension. It is important to know which fund you are applying to (which varies according to the deceased's professional activity as a civil servant, craftsman, salaried employee, contract worker, farmer, etc.).
• The survivor's pension is subject to different conditions depending on the fund (age, children).

Insurance formalities

If you are aware that you have taken out life, death or funeral insurance, you should contact the insurance company to find out how to release the capital.

Here are the main steps to take:

• Contact the insurance company to start the necessary formalities.
• Provide the documents requested by the insurance company: these may include a death certificate, death certificate, deed of notoriety, medical certificate from the attending physician, etc.
• Wait for the death benefit to be paid.

If you think a policy has been taken out but can't find any information, it is possible to find information on a possible life, death or funeral insurance policy. To do this, you'll need to use the FICOBA (banking institutions) and AGIRA (insurance companies) services.

You should also consider modifying your own contracts if the deceased was part of your beneficiary clauses.

The death of a loved one is a difficult ordeal to overcome. However, it is important to be aware of the various steps to be taken so that children, surviving spouses and heirs can manage the administrative aspect of this departure as simply as possible.

By contacting the appropriate people, completing the necessary formalities and taking into account the deceased's last wishes, you can move forward serenely during this difficult period. Don't hesitate to enlist the help of professionals if necessary, especially when it comes to drawing up an exhaustive list of organizations to contact in the event of death or for detecting a death grant and eligible social or financial assistance.

FAQ Steps to take after the death of a pensioner

Who are the main people to contact following the death of a pensioner?

The main people to contact following the death of a pensioner are the attending physician or the doctor at the care facility where the death occurred, the town hall of the place of death, the pension fund, insurance companies and the bank.

How do I obtain a death certificate?

The death certificate must be issued by the attending physician or the physician of the care facility where the death occurred.

How do I pay for funeral expenses?

The heirs can ask the deceased's bank to deduct the sums advanced to pay the funeral expenses from his or her accounts, up to a limit of €5,000 on presentation of the invoice.

Social security, the CNAV or can help you pay for certain funeral expenses. You can also turn to your local CCAS. Please note: it's essential to take the necessary steps yourself, as none of these benefits are automatically granted.

In the event of the death of a retired person, the person paying the funeral expenses (it is not compulsory to be an heir or beneficiary) can request reimbursement from the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Vieillesse des Travailleurs Salariés (Cnav) if it owes money to the deceased (retirement pension arrears).

In the event of the death of a civil servant, the heirs can request payment of a lump-sum death benefit from the administration employing the deceased (the lump-sum death benefit is paid subject to certain conditions). Please note that the civil servant must have been active (in service, on secondment, on leave of absence for health reasons or serving in the armed forces) until his or her death. The amount depends on the situation of the deceased, in particular whether he or she was above or below the legal retirement age at the time of death.

People whose resources do not allow them to pay funeral expenses, and whose estate assets are not sufficient to cover them, can ask the commune to take charge of the funeral.

If the deceased received a supplementary retirement pension or was affiliated to a mutual insurance company, the person paying the funeral expenses can apply to these organizations for financial assistance towards the cost of the funeral.

Finally, it is also possible to use a solidarity kitty to obtain a sum corresponding in full or in part to the funeral expenses.

What is a declaration of inheritance?

The declaration of inheritance is a compulsory document that determines the heirs and settles inheritance tax. It must be filed within six months of the death. Your notary can help you with this declaration, but you will always remain responsible to the tax authorities.

Who notifies the pension funds in the event of death?

In the event of the death of a pensioner, it is usually the family or next of kin who must notify the pension fund to which the deceased belonged. The pension fund must be informed as soon as possible in order to suspend payment of the deceased's retirement pension. It is important to provide the pension fund with the necessary information, such as the name and surname of the deceased, his or her Social Security number, and the date and place of death.

The pension fund can then inform you of the steps you need to take to obtain a reversionary pension, or adjust your reversionary pension payment.

How does complementary pension reversion work after the death of a pensioner?

The reversion of a supplementary pension is a scheme that enables a surviving spouse to receive part of the deceased spouse's supplementary pension. The amount of the reversion depends on several factors, including the length of the deceased spouse's contribution period and the age of the surviving spouse.

In order to receive a reversionary pension, certain conditions must be met.

Firstly, the surviving spouse must have been married to the deceased at the time of death. Secondly, the surviving spouse must have reached the minimum reversionary age, which varies from one pension scheme to another. Finally, the surviving spouse's income must not exceed a certain ceiling.

To request reversion of a supplementary pension, the surviving spouse must contact the supplementary pension fund to which the deceased belonged. He or she will need to provide the necessary documents, such as the death certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, as well as the deceased's career and pension statements.

Once an application for reversion of a supplementary pension has been accepted, the surviving spouse will be entitled to a portion of the deceased's supplementary pension. The amount of the reversion will be calculated on the basis of the rights acquired by the deceased during his or her career, and will be paid monthly to the surviving spouse. If the surviving spouse dies in turn, the reversionary pension may be paid to his or her children or to other designated beneficiaries.

How to declare and pay taxes after the death of a pensioner?

The deceased's income and property taxes must be declared and paid. In certain cases, an exemption may be granted depending on the situation.

In the event of the death of your spouse or civil-union partner, if local taxes (taxe foncière or taxe d'habitation) are deducted automatically (monthly or by instalment), it may be necessary to take action on the deductions, in particular to change bank details.

In the event of the death of a single, widowed or divorced relative, there is no need to declare a change in status under the withholding tax system.

The change of status must be made within 60 days:

• from your personal online tax space ("Manage my withholding tax" section, then "Report a change")
• or contact your administrative department to recalculate your withholding tax rate.

Declarations of professional profits (BIC, BA or BNC) must be filed with the business tax department within six months of the death in the case of an actual tax regime.

How do I cancel or transfer the deceased's contracts?

Telephone, internet, electricity, gas, water and home insurance contracts must be cancelled. If the deceased had taken out life insurance policies, you should contact the insurance company to find out about the formalities to be followed.

In the event of a transfer, it may be necessary to terminate the contract and take out a new one, particularly if the person taking over the property was not attached to the contract. If this person is attached to the contract, it is possible to request a change of status.

Cancellation must be made by registered mail to ensure follow-up. However, some organizations allow cancellations to be made by telephone.

How do I apply for a reversionary pension?

If the deceased was married, it is possible to claim a reversionary pension. Contact your pension fund to find out how.

An incomplete file will not entitle you to a reversionary pension.

The complete file includes a pension application and a CERFA form. It must also be accompanied by supporting documents.

The reversionary pension is not automatically triggered; you have to apply for it.

What should I do if I have a contingency contract?

If the deceased retiree has taken out a provident insurance policy, you should contact the insurance company to find out how to proceed, and to ensure that the cause of death and age at death are not among the policy's coverage exclusions.

Another important point: if you have included the deceased in the beneficiaries of your insurance contracts, don't forget to modify their clauses.

How can I find out which pension fund the deceased belonged to?

The pension fund to which the deceased belonged can be identified from his last pay slip or by consulting his account statements.

How to suspend payment of the deceased's retirement pension?

The pension fund to which the deceased belonged must be notified as soon as possible in order to suspend payment of his or her retirement pension.

Sums overpaid after the pensioner's death may be recovered from the sums due as survivor's pension, and those wrongly received by heirs or third parties are recovered under the same conditions. Prescription rules (5-year time limit) apply.

How do I claim my deceased partner's survivor's pension?

If the deceased was married, it is possible to apply for a reversionary pension by contacting the pension fund to which the deceased belonged.

Please note that in the event of remarriage, civil union or cohabitation, some schemes suspend payment, others only suspend payment in the event of remarriage, while others maintain reversion.

In the case of a civil partnership or cohabitation, the reversionary pension is not possible.

Is it possible to receive more than one survivor's pension?

Yes, it is possible to combine several survivor's pensions under certain conditions. You should obtain information from the various pension funds.

How can I contest a pension fund decision?

It is possible to contest a decision by the pension fund by calling on a mediator or by bringing the matter before the competent court.

How do you know if the deceased had life insurance?

For further information, please contact various organizations to find out whether the deceased had taken out life insurance.

Steps to take after the death of a pensioner: how do I obtain a pensioner's life insurance death benefit?

You should contact the insurance company to find out about the formalities to be followed and to provide the necessary documents (death certificate, death certificate, declaration of inheritance, etc.).

The death benefit is paid according to the order of beneficiaries specified by the deceased. In the event of renunciation by the first beneficiary(ies), the capital will revert to the second-ranked beneficiaries.

How can I get financial assistance for funeral expenses?

It is possible to request a financial assistance for funeral expenses, by contacting your pension fund, town hall or mutual insurance company. It is advisable to find out about the conditions under which this assistance is granted.

Resources

1. Service-Public.fr
2. National Old-Age Insurance Fund (CNAV)
3. Health insurance fund