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PEP Jan-Feb 2016
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Public Employee Press

Be sure to update your beneficiaries

DC 37 members and retirees have a union-provided death benefit that helps their beneficiaries meet funeral and other expenses.

Too often, though, the beneficiaries do not see the money. This problem occurs when members fail to update their beneficiary information following a marriage, divorce, birth of a child or an establishment of a domestic partnership.

"One of our services is helping beneficiaries process their death benefits," said Willie Chang, administrator of the DC 37 Health & Security Plan. "But it's not uncommon that we discover that members have failed to update their records."

"There is nothing we can do in these situations," Associate Administrator and Plan Counsel Audrey Browne said. "We're legally bound to provide the people named as beneficiaries with the benefit."

The Health & Security Plan provides a $10,000 death benefit for full-time workers, $6,000 for part-timers and $1,000 to $2,000 for retirees. Beneficiaries usually contact the plan to arrange for the payment of the benefit. The plan also attempts to track down named beneficiaries who don't call.

Beneficiaries must present a death certificate to obtain the benefit.

"We recommend that members review their personal records periodically and decide whether to change their beneficiaries when major life events, such as marriage, occur," Chang said.

A "Change of Beneficiary Form" may be obtained by calling the plan's Inquiry Unit at 212-815-1351.

The form is also available on the Health & Security section of the union's website (www.dc37.net). Click on "Eligibility, Enrollment & Retirement" to find it. The form must be notarized before it is returned to the Health & Security Plan.

— GNH

 
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