Designating a Beneficiary

You may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries by completing the Plan’s Designation of Beneficiary Form. Federal law and the Pension Plan rules require that if you are married, certain benefits are automatically paid to your surviving Spouse. (See Death Before Retirement Benefits and Death After Retirement Benefits.)

Death Before Retirement Benefits

If you have been married for at least 12 months when you die, your surviving Spouse is automatically entitled to the Plan’s death benefits. You may not name a different beneficiary even if your Spouse agrees. If you have been married for less than 12 months when you die, your surviving Spouse is automatically entitled to the Plan’s death benefits. However, you may name someone other than your spouse if your Spouse consents to that designation on the Designation of Beneficiary Form. As soon as you have been married for 12 months, your Spouse automatically becomes your beneficiary for Death Before Retirement Benefits.

Death After Retirement Benefits

• If you elected the 50% or 75% Joint & Survivor Annuity, benefits are automatically payable to the Spouse to whom you were married at the time of your Annuity Starting Date, even if you are later divorced and remarried.
• If you elected the Single Life Annuity, benefits are automatically payable to your surviving Spouse unless you are not married when you die or you name someone other than your Spouse and your Spouse consents to that designation on the Designation of Beneficiary Form. If you are not married when you die, the beneficiary named on the Designation of Beneficiary Form is entitled to receive the Plan’s death benefits.