Email send by: CWA 1101 retiree
A DEATH BENEFIT THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE MEMBERS THAT WERE ON THE
BELL ATLANTIC PAYROLL AS OF AUGUST 1986.
THIS BENEFIT IS OVER & ABOVE THE LIFE INSURANCE THAT OUR MEMBERS
RECEIVE FROM THE COMPANY.
THE LIFE INSURANCE IS ONE YEARS SALARY AT THE TIME OF DEATH OR WHAT THE
SALARY WAS WHEN YOU RETIRED. THAT BENEFIT BEGINS REDUCING AT THE AGE OF
65 AND GOES TO 1/2 OF YOUR SALARY AT THE AGE OF 70. IT DOES NOT REDUCE ANY
MORE THAN 50% OF THE YEARS SALARY AT THE TIME THAT YOU RETIRED.
2nd Update: There is a bit of a debate over the Life Insurance reduction above (death benefit). See:From 1101 Member Leslie F. Boas. Also see the 2008, Summary of the Tentative Agreement, line 14 (below):
Summary of the Tentative Agreement
14. Retiree Life Insurance
a. Company-paid retiree life insurance benefits will be frozen at one-time the wage level attained on 8/2/2008.
District 1 called Les on March 5th and said they will look into the Death Benefit reduction, Les asked them to please get back to him before March 15th. Les can be contacted by writing to the webmaster at webmaster@cwa1101.net
THE DEATH BENEFIT WOULD BE ALSO A YEARS SALARY, BUT NO MORE THAN
$39,000.00. THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY DOES NOT REDUCE WITH AGE. THE
COMPANY DOES NOT INFORM OUR MEMBERS OF THIS BENEFIT. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT YOU CALL THE BENEFITS CENTER @ 877-489-2367 AND ASK IF YOU QUALIFY
FOR THIS DEATH BENEFIT AND IF YOU DO, ASK THEM TO SEND YOU A CERTIFICATE
ACKNOWLEDGING THIS BENEFIT FOR YOUR RECORDS.
A FAMILY MEMBER HAS ONE YEAR FROM THE TIME OF YOUR PASSING TO COLLECT
THIS BENEFIT. AFTER THE ONE YEAR THE DEATH BENEFIT IS GONE.. PLEASE
PASS THIS ON TO AS MANY OF OUR RETIRED & ACTIVE MEMBERS THAT WERE ON
THE PAYROLL AS OF AUGUST 1986.
Update:
I called the Benefits Center today and after 1.5 hrs & three people later, I finally found someone who knew what I was talking about and yes, I do qualify. So it’s worth calling about. When you call, press the Life Events button, then Report a Death. This group is the only one trained on how to calculate your qualifications, determine the death benefit and will send you a confirmation. I spoke to Mary S. who was wonderful and told me to advise everyone to MAKE SURE you go through the menu as above….
Correction: The phone number is 877-489-2367