You will receive your plan benefits under the plan’s normal form of payment based on your marital status when you retire, unless you elect an optional form of payment.

For Married Employees
If you are married when you retire, the normal form of payment is a 50% joint and survivor benefit.  Under this form of payment, your pension is reduced and, after your death, 50% of that benefit is continued to your surviving spouse for the rest of his or her life.  This reduction reflects the fact that benefits are payable during both of your lifetimes.  If your spouse dies before you, this form of payment will automatically “pop-up” to the amount that would be
paid to a single employee, as discussed below. 

For a table of reduction factors, see Table 3 at the end of this section.

If you die before you begin to receive plan benefits, your spouse will receive 50% of the benefit you would have received had it begun on the date of your death.

For Single Employees
The plan’s normal form of payment for a single employee is a life annuity.  Under this form of payment, you receive the full benefit earned at retirement for your lifetime.  After your death, no benefits are paid to anyone else.