Death Benefits
If you happen to pass away before you begin receiving retirement benefits, the death benefit available will depend on your marital status.
If you are married and you die before you retire but are fully vested, your spouse will receive a Pre-Retirement Surviving Spouse’s Benefits. Your spouse will receive a pension equal to the monthly benefit that would have been payable if you had retired on the later of your Earliest Retirement Age or the day before your death and elected a Joint & One-Half Survivor pension payment. Benefits generally begin on the date you would have reached your Earliest Retirement Age. If you were not an Active Participant at the time of your death, they your surviving spouse must wait until the date your would have reached your Normal Retirement Age.
If you are not married or you are not fully vested and you die before you retire, then no benefits will be payable from the Plan on your behalf.
If you are receiving a pension in the form of a Joint & survivor Annuity, then after your death your surviving spouse will receive a monthly income according to the Joint & Survivor Option elected at retirement.