Promptly notify the RRB when an employee or spouse dies to avoid possible overpayment. An annuity is not payable for the month in which an employee or spouse dies. It is against the law to cash an annuity check issued to a person who has died. If a payment by check is received after that person's date of death, it must be returned to the RRB or to the Treasury Department address shown on the envelope.
It is also against the law to use direct deposit funds received by a financial institution for a person who had died. If a direct deposit annuity payment is received after that person's date of death, your financial institution is required to return it to the Treasury Department at once.
When an employee dies, survivor benefits may be payable.