Death of a Former Employee

Table of Contents

The following information explains the benefits process in the event of the death of a former employee on LTD. Refer to the previous section, “Death of an Active Employee” for information on deferred compensation, pension plans (IPERS or POR) and Social Security.

Life Insurance Benefits

Contact an Iowa Department of Administrative Services representative at  [email protected]. The representative will complete the employer section of the Group Life Insurance Claim form and send a Beneficiary Statement to each beneficiary.

The completed Beneficiary Statement(s) and a death certificate should be submitted to: 

Iowa Department of Administrative Services

Attn: Group Life Insurance

Hoover State Office Building, Level A 1305 E. Walnut St

Des Moines, IA 50319-0150

Survivor Income Benefit

The LTD carrier will pay a Survivor Income Benefit to an eligible survivor upon receiving proof of the individual’s death. The Survivor Income Benefit is equal to 3 months of gross disability benefit payments minus any overpayment that may exist on the claim. The Standard must receive satisfactory proof for survivor income benefits within 1 year of the date of the individual’s death. The survivor income benefit will only be paid:

  1. To the surviving spouse; or
  2. If no surviving spouse, in equal shares to the individual’s surviving children who are under the age of 25 and primarily depend on the LTD claimant for support and maintenance. If there is no surviving spouse or surviving children under the age of 25, no benefit will be paid. Contact the Iowa Department of Administrative Services at [email protected] for assistance.

Health and Dental Insurance

Health and dental insurance will continue through the end of the month in which an LTD claimant dies. Family members who were covered by the decedent’s group plan are eligible for COBRA for up to 36 months. In addition, a surviving spouse may be eligible for health and dental insurance continuation in the retired/disabled “direct pay” group if the former employee was drawing an IPERS monthly pension benefit. Contact the Iowa Department of Administrative Services at  [email protected] for assistance.