Benefits Handbook

A Separation from Service will occur in the event of your death. If you incur a Separation from Service due to death before your 409A BEP Benefit has commenced, the timing of the payment made to an eligible surviving Spouse or Domestic Partner depends on your age and your employment status at the time of your death.

If you are employed and you have attained at least age 50 at the time of your death, a survivor benefit will be paid to your Eligible Survivor; a Spouse or Domestic Partner, commencing the first of the month following your date of death.

If you are not yet age 50 at the time of your death, a survivor benefit will be paid to your Eligible Survivor; a Spouse or Domestic Partner, commencing the first of the month following the month in which you would have attained age 55. For more information about the survivor benefit paid in the event that you die before your BEP benefit has commenced, see "Death Before 409A BEP Benefit Commences" for details.

If you accrued a vested Grandfathered BEP Benefit prior to January 1, 2005 and if the survivor benefit is payable to an eligible surviving opposite-sex Spouse, different rules govern the time and form of payment of the grandfathered portion of your BEP benefit. See "Grandfathered Survivor Benefits" for details.

For more information about the survivor benefit paid in the event that you die after your BEP benefit has commenced, see "Payment Form Options" for details.