Spouse benefit provisions of private pension plans reflect the influence of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) . Pension plans are not required by law, but once established, ERISA requires that they provide for annuities to spouses of deceased employees.
Choose people you want to provide for (and review regularly). A spouse, child, niece, or caretaker—designate the ones you love most or who would benefit from your help. Then revisit your decision when a big life change happens, such as divorce, remarriage, birth, or death.
Choose people you want to provide for (and review regularly). A spouse, child, niece, or caretaker—designate the ones you love most or who would benefit from your help. Then revisit your decision when a big life change happens, such as divorce, remarriage, birth, or death.
Surviving spouse, at full retirement age or older, generally gets 100% of the worker's basic benefit amount. Surviving spouse, age 60 or older, but under full retirement age, gets between 71% and 99% of the worker's basic benefit amount.
A lot of people name a close relative—like a spouse, brother or sister, or child—as a beneficiary. You can also choose a more distant relative or a friend. If you want to designate a friend as your beneficiary, be sure to check with your insurance company or directly with your state.
The Spouse Is the Automatic Beneficiary for Married People A federal law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), governs most pensions and retirement accounts.
Generally, an ERISA plan participant can select just about anyone to be their beneficiary. Typically, a plan participant selects their spouse, children, or other family members.
If you die with your IRA account and no beneficiary designated, what happens is the plan documents will determine who the default beneficiary is. So, typically, it's the decedent's estate or the surviving spouse.
Generally, you can review and update your beneficiary designations by contacting the company or organization that provides your insurance or retirement plan. You can sometimes do this online. Otherwise, you'll have to complete, sign, and mail a paper form.