Death of Participant

The passing of a loved one is perhaps the most painful event in life. No one should have to grieve alone. At this time of a loss it is important to surround yourself with your personal support group who can help console and counsel you. Your personal support group includes family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and your religious community. In some cases you may wish to seek the guidance of a professional counselor. In coming to terms with your loss, you will take some time to recollect your loved one. You can appreciate the blessings that their presence brought to your life, even if the time they could stay with you seems to have ended too soon.

With the support of your friends and family you will be able to gather the strength to complete the necessary details that must be faced by the survivors. There is much to do; the linked check list gives you a starting point from which to work. It is advisable that the tasks be divided up, if possible, between loved ones. In this manner, the necessary steps can be completed, without any one person bearing the entire burden. It is natural and normal that the pain and grief of the survivors will take time to heal. Make full use of your personal support network.

Plan Checklist

Items regarding the Health Plans apply only to participants in the Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Plans. However, if you participate in another electrician health plan, it is likely that similar considerations will apply.

• In the event of the death of a participant, the Administrative Office should be notified. Staff at the Administrative Office are ready to help as much as possible, and to make sure the survivors understand the benefits, obtain the necessary forms and assist with submitting the required documentation.
• If you are the participant and are planning for what must come, the following plan issues will be pertinent. You will want to make sure that your beneficiaries have been properly designated for Plan benefits using the Beneficiary Designation forms for the Health Plan, DB and DC Pension Plans.
• The Health Plan benefits for covered participants which go into effect at death include: a life insurance benefit of $50,000 for Active participants and a death benefit of $1,000 for retirees.
• If the participant was already retired before death, DB Pension Plan benefits to the beneficiary will depend upon the elected pension option (for example, the pop-up form) . The DB Pension SPD links on this page cover all of the optional forms in detail.
• If the participant was not already retired before death, benefits to the beneficiary will be according to the rules governing the Pre-Retirement Death benefit.
• In the event of the death of the retired participant, (or of a pre-retiree who met the rules for retiree coverage), the participant's dependent spouse may continue to be covered by the Health Trust by making the appropriate election and monthly self-payments.

Also Consider...

If you have any questions on this topic, contact the Fund Office.