Puerto Rico Comptroller Carmen Vega Fournier reported the results of an investigation into alleged irregularities in continued payments to the accounts of deceased pensioners in four government retirement systems. The review identified 56,712 payments totaling $13,257,577 to 9,180 accounts, made more than 60 days after the pensioner’s death. It covered payments from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2025.
By system: the Electric Power Authority (PREPA; AEE in Spanish) retirement system, 1,424 payments of $1,055,888 to 201 accounts; the Government Employees and Judiciary Retirement Systems Administration, 24,380 payments of $8,793,181 to 5,658 accounts; the Teachers’ Retirement System, 24,682 payments of $2,418,436 to 3,193 accounts; and the University of Puerto Rico retirement trust, 802 payments of $990,072 to 128 accounts. Payments came between 61 and 12,914 days after death.
Sixteen accounts of deceased beneficiaries still showed payments through August 31, 2026, totaling $128,899. One account of a pensioner who died on February 1, 2016 received 93 check payments through August 31, 2026, totaling $75,462; some checks were endorsed and deposited at a bank in Kansas. The Office concluded the situations violate applicable laws and regulations, and said missing controls and agreements with the Demographic Registry and other entities may have contributed.
It recommended that retirement system administrators consider referrals issued October 27, 2026 and adopt mechanisms to detect deaths promptly and stop payments. It also recommended that the Justice secretary consider the referral, take legal action to recover the funds and prosecute possible illegal appropriation. Report OC-27-35 is available on the Comptroller’s website.