Public Employee Press

New beneficiary form for union death benefit

The DC 37 Health and Security Plan has a new form for changing the beneciary for your death benefit. The new form replaces the yellow card used until now.

The "Change of Beneciary Form" is available at the inquiry desk on the third floor at DC 37, 125 Barclay St. in Lower Manhattan. You can also request the form by calling the plan's Inquiry Unit at 212-815-1234 or downloading it from the union's Web site, www.dc37.net. In the Benets section, click "Health and Security Plan," then go to "Eligibility, Enrollment and Retirement," where you will find a link to the form.

The new form lets you name up to three primary beneciaries and up to four contingent beneciaries who get the benet if the primary beneciary dies. The old form did not distinguish between primary and contingent beneciaries. The benet was divided equally among the beneciaries unless you indicated otherwise.

The new form must be notarized. You should keep a copy for your file.

The plan provides a $10,000 death benet to the beneciaries of deceased members who worked full-time, $6,000 for those who worked part-time, and $2,000 for retirees.

If children are named and they areunder 18 years old when the member dies, a custodial letter will be given to the children's surviving natural parent if the child lives with that parent. The benet will be paid in installments of $500 a month.

You should update your form to include changes such as a marriage, birth, death, and new address of beneciaries.