Rochester IBM Alumni Club

 

In Case of the Death of an IBMer

Some day we, as a friend, or an executor, will have to report a death of a retiree or a spouse. When that happens, the last thing you need to trouble your life is to try to find out all the people that have to be notified.

Here is a listing that will ease that chore:

  1. Select a funeral home. They will contact the Social Security office as well as the Veterans Affairs Office, and they will arrange for death certificates.
    Social Security phone numbers
         1-800-772-1213 (national) or
         1-877-405-3631 (Rochester)
    Olmsted County Veterans Services
         1-507-328-6355
     
  2. Call IBM Services Center
         1-800-796-9876

Take the benefits option and follow the prompts. You will need the social security number or the IBM Employee number. Based on the answers to some question they will ask, they will forward a complete packet of forms, as well as instructions covering IBM benefits of the deceased.
 

  1. Contact your life insurance company.
     
  2. Contact all financial organizations
    ( banks, stock brokers, etc.)
     
  3. Contact Medicare
    1-800-633-4227
     
  4. Contact IBM Stockholder Relations if there is IBM stock involved
    1-888-426-6700
     
  5. Contact IBM Group Life insurance
    1-800-247-5628
     
  6. Contact John Hancock Long Term Care Insurance (if applicable)

1-800-255-8991.

You will also need a list of vital information. Funeral homes have a form that you can fill out. You can stop at any funeral home and get a copy and fill most of it out ahead of time. You need such things as retiree’s IBM Employee number, social security numbers, names and addresses of all surviving relatives, occupations, clubs belonged to, church affiliation, former residences, and memorials to be sent to.

NOTE: There are a lot of choices and options when you dial the Service Center number, 1-800-796-9876. There are options about employees compensation, address changes, stock account, pensions, IBM insurance, etc. Have patience while listening to the options. Give it a try and if it doesn't work, redial the number and take option 0 to get quickly to a real person.