Retiree Death Checklist and Survivor Benefits Processing
As a retiree, it is important to inform your family members of the steps they should take in the event of your
death. As your surviving family members may be eligible for benefits, it is very important for them to contact
the Employee Service Center (ESC) as soon as possible following your death. By placing this call, family
members help ensure the timely set up of their survivor benefits (if applicable) and help avoid any potential
overpayments from your pension plan (if applicable). In addition, life and/or accident insurance coverage
may be payable upon your death.
Retiree Death Checklist
In order to determine survivorship eligibility, the ESC must first be notified as indicated below.
Step When What to Do
1
Death of retiree
A surviving family member (or someone on the retiree’s behalf or
behalf of the retiree’s estate) should contact the ESC at 1-800 MY
DELTA (1-800-693-3582) to report the death. For international
access: 1-404-677-8000. Follow these steps to reach a survivor
benefit representative.
1. Press “3” to be connected with the Employee Service Center
2. Press “2” for a representative who can assist with reporting
the death of an employee
2
As soon as
possible after
reporting the
death
Within five days after the death is reported, the ESC will send a
letter of condolence to the surviving family member, along with a
Survivor Income Eligibility Statement for Delta retirees and a
Surviving Spouse Statement for Northwest retirees. Also included
is a phone contact list for other companies the survivor may need to
contact (i.e. insurance companies, credit union, etc).
A surviving family member should complete the Survivor Income
Eligibility Statement or Surviving Spouse Statement and return the
completed form to the ESC with the following documentation so the
ESC can determine survivorship eligibility
• Death Certificate of the deceased retiree
• Marriage Certificate (photocopy acceptable) - if applicable
• Birth Certificate of the deceased retiree, the spouse/domestic
partner and dependent children (photocopy acceptable) – if
applicable for spouse/domestic partner and dependent children
• Copies of all Social Security Award Letters for spouse/domestic
partner and dependent children if the retiree is receiving a
pension benefit from the Delta Retirement Plan - if applicable
1 March 23, 2015
Retiree Death Checklist (continued)
Step When What to Do
3
As soon as
possible after
reporting the
death
If life and/or accident insurance coverage is payable upon the
retiree’s death, file a claim with the appropriate insurance company.
• Basic Life Insurance and Optional Life Insurance are
administered by The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
(MetLife). To initiate a claim, call MetLife at 866-939-7409.
• Group Accident, Family Group Accident Insurance and
Private Pilots Accident Insurance are administered by
Administration Concepts, Inc. (ACI). To initiate an
accidental death claim, call ACI at 855-672-1273. The
survivor should indicate under which coverage they are
making a claim, and provide the contract/policy number,
which is ADD N04983233 for Group Accident and Family
Group Accident Insurance, and ADD N04983245 for Private
Pilots Accident Insurance.
If the retiree has a balance in their 401(k) account (Delta Family-
Care Savings Plan, Delta Pilots Savings Plan or the Delta Savings
Plan - Puerto Rico) contact the Delta Service Center at Fidelity by
calling 1-800-554-0262.
4
As soon as
possible after
receipt of the
Benefit
Enrollment
Worksheet
If surviving family members are determined to be eligible for health
insurance, a Benefit Enrollment Worksheet will be sent under
separate cover approximately two weeks after the death is reported
.
Call the ESC at 1-800 MY DELTA to complete benefit enrollment
over the phone.
5
As soon as
possible after
receipt of the
survivorship
eligibility letter
from the ESC
Generally within 15 business days after receiving the completed
Survivor Income Eligibility Statement or Surviving Spouse
Statement, the ESC will send the surviving family member a
survivorship eligibility letter that explains eligibility for applicable
survivor benefits, including survivor and/or pension income benefits,
and information about nonrevenue travel privileges.
• The surviving family members may call the ESC with questions
about survivor benefits.
• The surviving family member may call the ESC for instructions
on adding eligible pass riders.
2 March 23, 2015
Survivor Benefits Processing
The ESC will review the Survivor Income Eligibility Statement for Delta retires and the Surviving Spouse
Statement for Northwest retirees and supporting documentation that a surviving family member (or someone
on his/her behalf) submits. Generally within 15 business days, the ESC will send the surviving family member
a letter that explains eligibility for applicable survivor benefits, including survivor and/or pension income
benefits, information about other benefits and nonrevenue travel privileges, as described in the summary
below
It is important to note:
• All benefits under the retiree (including health insurance) cease once the death is reported.
• If the surviving spouse/domestic partner and/or dependent children are determined eligible survivors,
the benefits will be retroactive to the date of death.
• Not all retirees are eligible for survivor benefits. Call the ESC to determine if you are eligible for
survivor benefits.
Income Benefits
If survivor benefits are payable, all survivor statements (Survivor Income
Eligibility Statement for Delta and Surviving Spouse Statement for Northwest)
and supporting documents must be received at the ESC by the 5
th
day of the
month in order for your 1
st
benefit payment to be processed the following
month.
For Delta survivors, benefits will be set up for payment effective on the first day
of the month following the death. For Northwest survivors, benefits will be set
up for payment effective on the last day of the month following the death.
If your survivor statement and supporting documents are received at the ESC
after the 5
th
day of the month, then your 1
st
benefit payment will be processed
by the second month following the death and will include retroactive payments.
Note: Receipt of the Survivor Income Eligibility Statement or Surviving
Spouse Statement by the 5
th
day of the month does not guarantee
benefits will be paid the following month in all situations due to other
possible processing requirements.
Health Insurance
Information regarding health insurance and a Benefit Enrollment Worksheet
will be sent under separate cover one to two weeks after the death is reported.
The survivor will need to call the ESC once they receive the Benefit Enrollment
Worksheet to complete enrollment over the phone.
Travel Privileges
Information about survivor travel privileges will be included in the Survivor
Eligibility Letter from the ESC.
Pass riders continue to be active in the retiree’s Primary Pass Rider (PPR)
account for 30 days after death is reported. Buddy passes in the retiree’s PPR
account are suspended immediately.
3 March 23, 2015
