Death of Participant

The death of a loved one can be one of life's most stressful events. To help you through this difficult time, here are some items of importance to consider which may affect your benefits under the Health Fund and Pension Plan.

Forms

Death Benefit forms are prepared specifically for a BeneficiaryThis term means the person or persons whom a Participant last designates to receive benefits in the event of his or her death. However, if you have been married at least one year at the time of your death, your spouse will be your Beneficiary unless you and your spouse select a different Beneficiary. If there is no surviving designated Beneficiary, the death benefits will generally be paid to the Participant's estate. Beneficiary designation forms are available from the Administrative Office. . For this reason, the Death Benefit forms are not available through this website. Please contact the Pension Benefits Department.

Additional Information:

Health Benefits

• Extended Coverage/COBRA

Pension Benefits

• Retirement Benefit Options

• Death Benefits

Benefit Plan Checklist

• If the Participant had current Active Coverage under the Health Fund at the time of death, his/her dependent(s) will be entitled to coverage for the remainder of the Eligibility Cycle as well as any additional eligibility the Participant may have had for any Extended Coverage/COBRA.
• Once all Active and Extended Coverage has been exhausted, the dependents will be eligible for COBRAThe acronym for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 which allows for the purchase of coverage after loss of eligibility due to certain qualifying events Continuation Coverage.
• If the Participant was younger than age 60 at the time of death and had accumulated at least 68 earned quarters of eligibility, and was married for at least two years, coverage will continue until the earliest of the following:

  • five years from the date eligibility would have otherwise terminated;

  • the date the surviving spouse remarries

  • the date the surviving spouse becomes eligible for Medicare or another group health insurance plan; or

  • for dependent children, the date they no longer meet the definition of an eligible dependentAny dependent of a participant who meets the criteria for eligibility established by the Fund..

• Please note, at the time of election, the surviving spouse coverage may be delayed until the Participant would have otherwise turned age 60. Coverage will continue until the surviving spouse remarries. Coverage of dependent children will be concurrent with the survivor coverage until the survivor coverage terminates or the child no longer meets the definition of an eligible dependent, whichever occurs first.
• If the Participant, at the time of death, was age 60 or older, had accumulated at least 68 earned quarters of eligibility and was married at least two years, the surviving spouse will receive coverage under the Certified RetireeA participant who satisfies certain requirements is designated as a Certified Retiree. Health Plan, as if the participant had retired and then immediately died, until the surviving spouse remarries.
• If the Participant, at the time of death, was age 60 or older, had accumulated at least 68 earned quarters of eligibility and was married less than two years, the Fund will extend surviving spouse coverage for six months or until the surviving spouse remarries, whichever is earlier.
• If you are a loved one of a Participant and need to notify the Pension Plan of a Participant's death, please contact the Pension Benefits Department by phone. The Pension Benefits Department will confirm the following information about the Participant:

  • Participant's Name

  • Participant's ID Number

  • Participant's Date of Death

  • Participant's Spouse's Name, Address and Telephone Number, (if applicable)

  • Person handling Participant's estate, Address and Telephone Number

  The Pension Benefits Department will then mail the necessary materials to the appropriate person.
• If the Participant was already receiving a pension benefit before death, any benefits to the beneficiary will depend upon the option chosen by the Participant and spouse, if applicable, at retirement.
• If the Participant was not receiving a pension benefit before death, any benefits to a beneficiary will be based upon Pension Plan rules. Please see Death Benefits under Benefits.