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Finance and Support Services Division
Office of Human Resources

Loss of a Loved One

When you experience a loss, suffering doesn't pause when you arrive at work; it affects your life at work and at home. The university offers support services to help you cope with your loss and balance responsibilities.

Our office also provides support in helping you update your benefits elections and other HR materials.

shallow focus on purple flowers in a cemetery
Expand FAQ List

  • Leave, Benefits and Resources

    • A supervisor shall grant leave with pay for a death in the employee’s immediate family, including the employee’s spouse, the employee’s and spouse’s parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren. An employee’s stepparent and stepchild are included in the definition for purposes of this leave.

      Guidelines for using funeral leave can be found in UPPS 04.04.30 Section 09.01.

    • Review ERS details for reporting the loss of a loved one.

      If you need assistance with processing this change, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 5.2557 or hr@txstate.edu.

    • After a loved one has passed, you may also want to review and update your life insurance and retirement savings beneficiaries.

      • Changes to your life insurance can be made through ERS
      • Changes to your retirement savings program can be made through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
      • Changes to your ORP and voluntary 403(b) plans are made directly with the vendor.
      • Changes to your TexaSaver account can be made through the TexaSaver website.

      If you need help processing these changes, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 5.2557 or hr@txstate.edu.

    • If your loved one was a dependent listed on your taxes, you may consider updating your tax withholding information.

      There is no deadline to update your tax withholding; you may update this information at any time. 

      Most employees can update their federal tax withholding through the SAP Portal (by clicking on Payroll-Benefits My W-4).

      The Office of Human Resources cannot recommend the number of allowances you claim on your W-4, but we can help you with the process of updating this document.

    • Bobcat Balance is your work life and employee assistance program. This program provides free and confidential services and resources to help you through various life experiences, including resource information on: counseling, financial planning, legal services, and more.