Beneficiary Information

Beneficiary Designation

Complete the information below to designate or change a beneficiary or beneficiaries.

Life events, such as marital status changes, birth, death, or adoption, may necessitate changes to your beneficiary designations. Periodic review of your designations is suggested.

Marital Status*

Primary Beneficiary

If no primary beneficiary is living at the time of your death, benefits will be paid to the second class of beneficiaries.

Secondary Beneficiary

If no secondary beneficiary is living at the time of your death, benefits will be paid to the tertiary class of beneficiaries.

Tertiary Beneficiary

Information for Married Participants

If you are married, federal law (and/or the terms of your plan) generally requires that death benefits from the plan be paid to your spouse when you die. If you designate your spouse as your sole primary beneficiary, spousal consent is not required. If you elect to have the death benefit paid, in whole or in part, to another person or organization, your spouse's consent to this election must be witnessed by a plan representative or a Notary Public. (If you are married and cannot locate your spouse, spousal consent is not required. You will, however, need to have your designation witnessed by a plan representative or a Notary Public and your plan representative may request evidence of this designation for their records.)

Trust Information

If your beneficiary is a trust, there shall be no obligation to inquire into the terms of the trust, and payment of the proceeds as provided in the designation will be a full discharge from all liability. If, before payment of the proceeds is made, satisfactory proof is presented that the trust has been revoked or is not in effect at your death, the proceeds shall be paid to the next class of beneficiary or to your estate if there is no such beneficiary. If the trust has been created by a will but fails to come into existence for any reason, the proceeds shall be paid to the next class of beneficiary or to your estate if there is no such beneficiary.

Community Property Information

(Only applicable to plans not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 and in the states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. This is also applicable in Alaska if you and your spouse agree to make it community property through a community property agreement or a community property trust.)

If there has been no previous written notice of community property interest and the space for the consent of your spouse is not completed, then anyone acting on the information contained herein shall be entitled to rely on his/her good faith belief that no such interest exists.

This good faith reliance shall apply to any payment to a named beneficiary even though:

1. You have not obtained the consent of a former spouse having a community interest; or,
2. You and your spouse subsequently divorce; or,
3. Your spouse dies after the date of execution of this designation; or,
4. You and your spouse subsequently sever your interest in the community.

It is important that you and your spouse (when applicable) understand your rights and obligations concerning your death benefit under the plan. Please direct any questions you may have to your plan representative.

Click here for Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity (QPSA) Spousal Consent