A 94-year-old retired teacher from the Los Angeles Unified School District has successfully resumed receiving her pension payments after being mistakenly declared deceased. The California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) had previously suspended the payments for Gloria Wilson, prompting her family to seek assistance in rectifying the situation.
Wilson’s daughter, Melva Williams, reached out to the media after discovering the suspension. The family learned that the pension department had erroneously listed Wilson as dead, which led to the halt in payments. Williams notified 7 On Your Side this week, confirming that the pension funds had been deposited back into her mother’s account.
To resolve the issue, Williams was instructed to submit a letter signed by both her mother and her primary care physician. This process proved to be more complicated than anticipated, as the family faced challenges in complying with the specific requirements set forth by CalSTRS. “Mother signed where she was supposed to, the doctor signed where she was supposed to, but it was something that one of their names needed to be printed,” Williams explained.
The situation was further complicated by a recent update to CalSTRS’ computer system, which was implemented in October 2023. Williams indicated that many retirees who had relocated out of California were experiencing similar issues. “The way he put it was anyone of the retirees that had moved out of state… was running into trouble because of the new computer system,” she said. The glitch in the system led to erroneous claims of deceased status for retirees, raising concerns among those affected.
In response to the family’s inquiry, Thomas Lawrence, a spokesperson for CalSTRS, clarified that the situation was not linked to a system error. He stated, “We regularly verify benefit payments for security reasons and to avoid fraud, and we’re not aware of any benefit payments that have been stopped incorrectly.”
As of now, CalSTRS has communicated that they have resolved the issue with Wilson’s account, allowing her pension payments to continue. The family hopes that by sharing their experience, they can encourage other retirees, especially those who have moved out of California, to verify their pension accounts to avoid similar complications.
The return of Wilson’s pension payments not only alleviates financial concerns for her family but also underscores the importance of accurate record-keeping and communication within pension systems. As retirees navigate their financial security in retirement, awareness and vigilance remain crucial in ensuring that such errors do not disrupt their livelihoods.
