The Fund provides a benefit for your survivors or your Beneficiary in the event of your death. Your Beneficiary does not need to submit a claim form, but must submit a certified copy of your death certificate. After the Fund Office receives the official death certificate showing that you have died, the Fund will pay your Beneficiary the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits.
Payment will be made in a lump sum to your Beneficiary on record at the Welfare Fund Office. If you have not designated a Beneficiary to receive your death benefits under the Fund or if your Beneficiary dies before you, your Death Benefit will be paid to the following persons, if living, in the following order and priority:
1.Your spouse,
2.Your surviving Children, in equal shares,
3.Your father,
4.Your mother,
5.Your brothers and sisters, in equal shares, or
6.The personal representative of your estate.
If the Death Benefit becomes payable to a person who is under 21 years of age, the amount may be paid to the person who is under 21 years of age without requiring the appointment of a guardian, by paying the amount to any person over the age of 21 years who:
- Submits satisfactory proof to the Board of Trustees that he or she is supporting and maintaining the person who is under 21 years of age; and
- Gives assurance satisfactory to the Board of Trustees that the money paid to him or her will be used to support and maintain the person who is under 21 years of age.
You may change your Beneficiary at any time by obtaining the proper form from the Welfare Fund Office and then completing and returning it to the Fund Office.
Once you retire, your death benefit coverage is terminated six months after the effective date of your retirement. If you are no longer eligible under the Plan for any other reason, you are no longer eligible for the Death Benefit unless you elect COBRA Continuation Coverage. The Death Benefit is included among the COBRA benefits offered only to you as the Employee. If you do not elect COBRA continuation coverage for yourself, then you will cease being eligible for the Death Benefit upon loss of coverage under the Plan.