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Death of a Participant

What You Need to Know…

  • The DGA-PPHP does not offer life insurance. In addition, the Health Plan does not endorse any outside insurance firms or coverage.
  • In the event of your death, your surviving dependents may inherit the same coverage for which you had fully qualified for at the time of your death. To establish survivor coverage, your dependents should contact the Health Plan. At that time, the Health Plan will request a copy of a death certificate. Please contact the Health Plan’s Eligibility Department at (877) 866-2200, Ext. 502 for additional information.

  • A copy of your death certificate will be required to establish Health Plan coverage for surviving dependents, if eligible.

  • Upon notification of your passing, the Pension Department will send a letter to your beneficiaries outlining the documentation and information necessary to apply for death benefits.
  • If you die prior to taking a benefit:
    • If you are five-year vested in the Basic Plan and are married for at least 12 months, your spouse is eligible to receive a monthly benefit for their lifetime beginning on the first of the month following your normal benefit date (usually age 65).
    • If you are ten-year vested in the Basic Plan and your spouse is your beneficiary, they are eligible to receive a lifetime monthly benefit beginning on the first of the month following your death.
    • If you are ten-year vested in the Basic Plan and are not married or your spouse is not your beneficiary, a monthly benefit will be paid to your named beneficiaries beginning on the first of the month following your death, payable for ten years (120 payments).
    • You will automatically become vested in your individual Supplemental Plan account at death, entitling your beneficiaries to payment as follows:
      • Your spouse beneficiary can elect from any of the available Supplemental Plan payment options.
      • Your non-spouse beneficiaries will be entitled to a lump sum payment of your account balance.
  • If you die after taking a benefit
    • Death benefits from the Basic Plan depend upon the monthly benefit payment form you chose at the time the payments commenced.
      • If your monthly benefit was a single life annuity, that benefit ceases the last day of the month in which you die.
      • If your monthly benefit was a ten-year certain and 120 payments have not been paid prior to your death, the remainder of the ten-year guarantee will be paid to your beneficiaries.
      • If you and your surviving spouse elected one of the joint & survivor benefits (100%, 75%, 50%), your surviving spouse will be eligible to receive the survivor benefit for his or her lifetime.
    • If you have a balance in your individual Supplemental Plan account, your spouse beneficiary can elect from any of the available Supplemental Plan payment options, and your non-spouse beneficiaries can receive a lump sum payment.
    • If you are collecting a monthly pension from the Supplemental Plan from an annuity provider, survivor benefits are paid in accordance with the option chosen when you took a benefit.