Section VII: Death Benefits

1. PRERETIREMENT DEATH BENEFIT FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE
   If you are married and die before you retire, your spouse will be entitled to a survivor benefit, as long as you are vested in a pension benefit.
   
   If you have attained your early retirement age at the time of your death, the survivor benefit will begin on the first day of the month following the date of your death. If you have not attained your early retirement age at the time of death, payments will start on the first of the month on or following the day you would have attained early retirement age.

   The amount of the spouse's lifetime monthly benefit will be equal to 50% of the monthly benefit you had earned at the time of your death, reduced to reflect both the early retirement reduction (if applicable) and the continuation to your surviving spouse.
   
   If there is no surviving spouse, no death benefit is payable.
   
   

2. SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH BENEFIT
   If you die before retirement, an additional death benefit equal to $3,000 for each full year of Credited Service (up to $30,000) will be paid to your designated beneficiary provided you had 175 or more Hours of Service in covered employment within the twelve months preceding your death.
   
   If you die after retirement, this additional death benefit is payable to your designated beneficiary, provided you had 175 or more Hours of Service in covered employment within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding your retirement and you retired with a vested benefit. For purposes of this section, credited service excludes any reciprocal credit for service under another plan. The amount payable is reduced 20% for each full year you are retired after your death. A pro rata reduction is made for partial years. This benefit is not available if you worked in Noncovered Plumbing and Piping Industry Service after April 1, 1996, except to the extent that the benefit is attributable to service before July 1, 1996.