Wash. Admin. Code § 415-02-261

Current through Register Vol. 24-21, November 1, 2024

Section 415-02-261 - What happens if a beneficiary disclaims a lump sum benefit?

(1) A beneficiary may disclaim a payment in writing with the department as prescribed by the department. If the beneficiary was a primary beneficiary and there are other living primary beneficiaries, the disclaimed benefit will be split among the other primary beneficiaries in the same proportion (rounded) awarded by the member or retiree.

(2) General formula: A member has n beneficiaries, with each beneficiary receiving a percentage and the total percentage equal to 100. When one beneficiary disclaims their benefit, there are then n-1 beneficiaries. The sum of these percentages is now less than 100. To determine the new percentages, divide the original percentage for each beneficiary by the new total of the remaining percentages.

Example: Chris has listed three people as primary beneficiaries: Tom at 34 percent, Carl at 33 percent, and Wilma at 33 percent. Chris passed away. Tom disclaims the benefit with the department. Carl and Wilma each receive 50 percent of the contributions.

Example: Chris has listed three people as primary beneficiaries: Tom at 50 percent, Carl at 25 percent, and Wilma at 25 percent. Chris passed away. Carl disclaims the benefit with the department. Tom receives 67 percent and Wilma 33 percent of the contributions.

Example: Chris has listed four people as primary beneficiaries: Tom at 40 percent, Carl at 30 percent, Wilma at 20 percent, and Liam at 10 percent. Chris passed away. Carl disclaims their 30 percent of the benefit with the department. Tom receives 57 percent (40 divided by 70), Wilma receives 29 percent (20 divided by 70) and Liam receives 14 percent (10 divided by 70) of the contributions.

Example: Chris has listed four people as primary beneficiaries with the following percentages: Person A with "a" percent, person B with "b" percent, person C with "c" percent, and person D with "d" percent.

Chris passed away. Person B disclaims the benefit with the department. Person A receives a/(a+c+d), person C receives c/(a+c+d), and person D receives d/(a+c+d).

(3) If the primary beneficiary disclaims the benefit and there are no other primary beneficiaries, the benefit will pass to the contingent beneficiary designation made by the member or retiree. If there are no contingents, it will pass to the estate of the retiree or per the succession in law for the retirement system and plan of the member.

Wash. Admin. Code § 415-02-261

Adopted by WSR 23-07-044, Filed 3/8/2023, effective 4/8/2023