Death Benefit
If you are an eligible Active Member, your beneficiary will receive a payment of $25,000 upon your death from any cause either on or off the job while eligible for this benefit under the Plan.
If you are an eligible Retiree, your beneficiary will receive a payment of $3,000 upon your death from any cause while eligible for this benefit under the Plan.
Your coverage for Death Benefits as an eligible Active Member or a Retiree will be continued if you become totally and permanently disabled while you are eligible for benefits with the Fund and die from causes related to that disability within two years of the date your disability began.
Claims
In order for the Death Benefit to be processed, the Health and Benefit Fund must be notified of the event. Please contact the Health and Benefit Fund at 212-331-1800.
The Fund Office will send the named beneficiary documents that must be completed for the benefit to be processed.
Naming Your Beneficiary
Be sure to complete a Beneficiary Designation Form (PDF) that designates your beneficiary for your death benefit. You may change your beneficiary at any time.
Your beneficiary for your Death Benefit is the same as your beneficiary for the Sick Fund.
If you do not name a beneficiary, or if your beneficiary dies before you, or is determined by the Trustees, in their sole and absolute discretion, to be unable, incompetent or unavailable to receive your death benefit, your death benefit will be paid to your estate.
Any attempted assignment or alienation by the beneficiary of your Death Benefit prior to actual receipt from the Fund will be considered null and void. In such cases, the money will be held by the Trustees for such purposes as they in their sole discretion deem proper.
FAQs
As an Active Member, what is our hospital and medical coverage?
The Health and Benefit Trust Fund offers hospital and medical benefits to active eligible participants. Medical benefits include coverage for preventive care, doctor visits, hospital stays and other medical services. The Health and Benefit Trust Fund shares most of the cost of medical services when you visit in-network providers, meaning you pay less out-of-pocket for your health care. For more information, go to the Medical Benefits page.