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We extend our heartfelt condolences to you and the family and wish to express how sorry we are for the loss of your beloved.
When having to deal with a death in the family, it is difficult to understand what needs to be taken care of and when, and whom to contact within the World Bank Group (WBG).
The purpose of the information below is intended to help you, the survivor spouse/partner or executor of the estate, navigate as quickly and smoothly as possible to the specific information that you will need to take care of all the actions required within the WBG.
Whenever you contact any WBG unit please make sure always to mention the UPI number of the deceased retiree.
The information is being presented as an online WBG Guide with active links.
The information was provided by WBG retiree volunteers of the Members Helping Members (MHM) community who have tried to make the information as accurate as possible. It does not cover every possible action, and only pertains to WBG departments and benefits. It is not a substitute for seeking professional or legal advice. Please always consult with lawyers, funeral homes, estate planners, tax officials, etc. for any questions you have. If you have any questions for MHM volunteers email us at MHMhelp@wbgalumni.org.
The information is divided into the following sections:
Disclaimer: Information contained in this Q&As is based on contributions from members. It is not a substitute for seeking professional advice on specialized matters when making any personal decisions. The information is mainly U.S. focused, however, there is also general information on who to contact within the World Bank Group when the retiree passes away.
The purpose of the below information is intended to help you, the survivor spouse/partner or executor of the estate, navigate as quickly and smoothly as possible to the specific information that you will need to take care of all the actions required within the WBG. This is a living document which we will regularly review and update. Feel free to write us with your comments and suggestions or questions at MHMhelp@wbgalumni.org.
September 23, 2022
If you are in the U.S., obtain a minimum of 15 official Death Certificates . These are needed for the Pension Administration, Life Insurance, BFSFCU (bank) accounts, Executor of the Estate, and other U.S. organizations, banks etc.
In the U.S., funeral homes, cremation organizations, or other person/entity in charge of the deceased person’s remains will prepare and register the Death Certificate with the local or state Vital Records Office within days.
Hospitals/Medical Facilities in the U.S. usually do not issue Death Certificates.
You can request copies of the Death Certificate from the local or state Vital Records Office, or DMV (Dept. of Motor Vehicles). Make sure you ask for Certified Death Certificates.
In Washington, DC:
In the state of Maryland (MD):
In the state of Virginia (VA):
For all other states in the U.S.: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm
If in the U.S.: the funeral home sends the information to the U.S. Social Security Administration, and the deceased will no longer receive Social Security deposits as of the end of the month.
If the survivor spouse/partner wants to continue receiving Social Security from their deceased spouse, the spouse will have to contact the Social Security Administration.
Medicare is part of the Social Security Administration and will therefore also be stopped.
Therefore, it is good to contact the U.S. Social Security Administration:
Their website is: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html
To report a death or apply for benefits call 1 800 772 1213
Yes, it will be stopped for the deceased spouse/partner, and therefore, contact the U.S. Social Security Administration:
Their website is: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html
To report a death or apply for benefits call 1 800 772 1213
However, if the surviving spouse/partner is receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits on his/her own, those do not stop, just the ones related to the deceased spouse/partner.
September 23, 2022
Inform the WBG Pension Administration:
Phone: +1 202 458 2977
Fax: +1 202 522 1723
Email: 1pension@worldbank.org
Always mention the UPI.
Website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/human-resources/steps-to-report-death-of-retiree
A family member or Executor of the Estate has to inform Pension Administration.
Inform Pension Administration as soon as possible but within 15 days of the death so that they can act on the pension and notify other relevant WBG departments, such as HR Operations.
If the Death Certificate is not in English, include a translation (which does not have to be certified). The Death Certificate can be sent at the time of initial notification to the Pension Administration.
Always mention the UPI.
HR Operations can be contacted at:
Email: hroperations@worldbank.org
Phone: +1 202 473 2222
Always mention the UPI.
Within 10 working days after receiving the notification that the person is deceased, the Pension Administration sends forms to be filled out and returned quickly.
If a survivor’s pension/lump-sum death benefit is due, the following will be requested:
When signing the form you must have your signature witnessed by 2 non-family members (they do not have to have any official status), and attach 3 items:
The WBG reimburses income tax for Net Plan pensioners. To continue this benefit, you need to do the following:
For U.S. taxpayers: please file a U.S. Lump Sum Income Tax Supplement form and/or U.S. Annuity Tax Supplement form with the WBG Tax Office.
For Non-U.S. taxpayers: please file a Non-U.S. Annuity Income Tax Supplement form annually with the WBG Tax Office.
Please note: there is no income tax supplement for 401(k) distributions.
The World Bank Tax Office can be contacted at:
Phone: +1 202 458 4191
Email: TaxOffice@worldbank.org
A lump sum (one amount) death benefit payment will be paid to the beneficiary/ies on file. Pension Administration sends a letter to the beneficiary/ies to inform them of the amount.
About 6 weeks after notification of the death, Pension Administration will start the pension payments to the survivor, on the last day of each month, with a cost of living (COLA) adjustment each May.
Pension Administration makes a final pension payment into the deceased person’s account at the end of the month in which the death occurs.
If any overpayments were made to the retiree these will be recovered from the surviving spouse/partner’s pension.
Because of the complicated way in which the exchange rate is calculated, you are strongly advised to consult the Pension Administration to see whether a change in the currency of payment is to your advantage.
A retiree or survivors can find out what beneficiary(ies) is/are currently on file:
Online: https://pension.worldbank.org, login, Pension Benefits, scroll down and click on Gross Plan Forms & Fact Sheets or Net Plan Forms & Fact Sheets
Gross Plan: https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/pension/Pages/GrossPlan.aspx
Net Plan: https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/pension/Pages/NetPlan.aspx
Pension Administration can be contacted at:
Email: 1pension@worldbank.org
Phone: +1 202 458 2977
Always mention the UPI.
Eligible surviving spouse/WBG registered partner means that you were the spouse on the last day of service, on the pension effective date and who is the named beneficiary for a spouse pension on the pension application, and the same spouse on the date of death. If you meet these conditions you are automatically the “eligible surviving spouse”.
If there is no “eligible surviving spouse” at the time of death, then the benefit will be paid as a lump sum to the designated beneficiary(ies) on file with the Pension Administration.
Children are not the automatic beneficiaries for this purpose unless they are named as the beneficiaries.
You must write within 31 days of the date of death to HR Operations that you want to continue health insurance coverage. Please contact HR more information on RMIP: hroperations@worldbank.org
This refers to Staff Rule 6.12, paragraph 3.07, which can be found here:
https://policies.worldbank.org/en/policies/all/ppfdetail/229e7e44-046d-4907-bf8b-e68f5bb39294
If your deceased spouse/partner was on the Gross Plan and you are on the Net Plan, the RMIP will be subject to change and may need to shift from the Gross Plan RMIP to the Net Plan RMIP when their spouse dies. For any questions related to the RMIP please contact HR Operations: hroperations@worldbank.org
Always mention the UPI.
If you are the surviving spouse/partner and are a U.S. resident of 65 years or older, you must enroll in Medicare your primary health insurance, while Aetna will become the second insurance plan. You must pay the Medicare premium and also the Aetna premium.
HR Operations will reimburse the Medicare premium after you send (by email) HR Operations your Medicare premium statement at the beginning of each year. The Medicare premium reimbursement will be paid along with the monthly pension payment.
HR Operations:
Phone: +1 202 473 2222
Email: hroperations@worldbank.org
Email: hroperations@worldbank.org
September 23, 2022
If an account was held by the Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union (BFSFCU), you must inform them. Always mention the UPI.
Warning: If pension payments were deposited into the BFSFCU account, you may wish to delay this notification until after the last day of the month, when the final pension payment has been deposited since the account will be frozen on receipt of notification, and the final pension payment would then be rejected.
BFSFCU:
Phone: +1 202 212 6400
Fax: +1 202 683 2380
Email: memberservices@bfsfcu.org
The BFSFCU mentions the following:
BFSFCU:
Phone: +1 202 212 6400
Fax: +1 202 683 2380
Email: memberservices@bfsfcu.org
For any 401(k) Plan related questions, please send an email to: 401kplan@worldbank.org
Always mention the UPI.
For any specific questions related to the 401(k) account, which is managed by the company Principal, please contact them directly.
PRINCIPAL’s website: https://www.principal.com
Phone (if in the U.S.): 1 800 986 3343
Email: https://www.principal.com/contact-us
When the retiree member dies, the Society’s membership does not automatically transfer to the surviving spouse/partner. The office sends an email inviting the surviving spouse/partner to join the Society, attaching a membership form. If you (the surviving spouse/partner) wish to join the 1818 Society, you would need to fill out the form and send it back.
When the office receives your completed membership form, the application form will be processed.
The membership fee is waived, so no payment is due.
The Society will post the deceased’s name and date of death in its “In Memoriam” list, which appears in the Quarterly Bulletin.
The 1818 Society’s website is: https://www.wbgalumni.org
A surviving spouse or partner will continue to have access to WBG buildings Monday-Friday from 7am – 7pm, to use the BFSFCU (Credit Union), cafeteria, or to visit the 1818 Society office but will not have garage access.
To ensure that the spouse/partner still has an active ID badge to access the WBG buildings, please contact the ID Office.
The ID Office will be able to verify if the spouse ID badge is active. If you do not have a WBG ID, contact the World Bank ID Office:
Email: ioffice@worldbank.org
Phone: +1 202 458 4486
After passing away of your spouse or the retiree, you may return his/her ID badge to ID Office or keep it because it will stop working.
No, you will have to contact the World Bank Group Fitness Center yourself to cancel the
Membership. Always mention the UPI.
WBG Fitness Center:
Phone MC: +1 202 473 3339
Phone IFC: +1 202 473 3253
Email: fitnesscancel@worldbank.org
September 23, 2022
Initial communications are best by email or phone.
Always mention the UPI.
1818 H Street, NW
MSN C7-702
Washington, DC 20433
USA
Phone: +1 202 458 2977
Fax: +1 202 522 1723
Email: 1pension@worldbank.org
Website for forms and information: www.wbgalumni.org
Or login to: https://pension.worldbank.org
1818 H Street, NW
MSN G2-202
Washington DC 20433
USA
Phone: +1 202 473 2222
Fax: +1 202 522 2150
Email: hroperations@worldbank.org
Website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/human-resources
or https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/human-resources/retirees
1818 H St, NW
MSN MC5-517
Washington, DC 20433
USA
Phone: +1 202 458 4191
Fax: +1 202 614 6331
Email: TaxOffice@worldbank.org
Email: 401kplan@worldbank.org
1775 I Street, NW, Suite 150
Washington, DC 20006
USA
Phone: +1 202 212 6400
Fax: +1 202 683 2380
Email: memberservices@bfsfcu.org
Website: https://bfsfcu.org/
1818 H St., NW
MSN MC 1-104
Washington, DC 20433
USA
Phone: +1 202 458 1956, +1 202 458 1957
Fax: +1 202 522 2417
Email: 1818society@wbgalumni.org
Website: www.wbgalumni.org
1818 H St., NW
MC1-305
Washington, DC 20433
USA
Phone: +1 202 458 4486
Email: ioffice@worldbank.org
ID Office Operation Monday-Friday: 8:00am- 4:00pm
Lost & Found Contact: +1 202 458 4525
Phone MC: +1 202 473 3339
Phone IFC: +1 202 473 3253
Email: fitnesscancel@worldbank.org
September 23, 2022
World Bank Group:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/human-resources/steps-to-report-death-of-retiree
https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/human-resources
or https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/human-resources/retirees
Gross Plan: https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/pension/Pages/GrossPlan.aspx
Net Plan: https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/pension/Pages/NetPlan.aspx
Net Plan 401(k): https://www.principal.com/contact-us
Retiree Medical Insurance Plan (RMIP}: https://policies.worldbank.org/en/policies/all/ppfdetail/229e7e44-046d-4907-bf8b-e68f5bb39294
Retiree Society (1818 Society): www.wbgalumni.org
Death Certificates:
In U.S., state of Maryland:
https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/death.aspx
In U.S., state of Virginia:
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/dmv105.pdf
In U.S., all other states: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm
U.S. Social Security:
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html
September 20, 2022