The following are suggested steps a family member should take upon the death of a retiree.
If you have further questions, please contact Health Benefits and Employee Services at
(505) 844-4237, option 2.
1.The family member should notify Sandia National Laboratories Health, Benefits & Employee Service's Department, by calling (505) 844-4237, option 2.
2.The amount of pension for the month the retiree deceases will not be affected. Any pension benefits the retiree receives will cease the month following the date of death. After notice is received by Sandia, a Sandia representative will provide this notice to Prudential Retirement to shut off future annuity payments. In the event any annuity payments are made to the participant's account after the month the retiree dies, Prudential will recapture any over-payments by contacting the retiree's bank or their estate administrator.
3.Sandia will send out information to the eligible beneficiary(ies) regarding benefits that are payable as a result of the retiree's passing.
4.Sandia must receive an original death certificate in order to pay any benefits that become due to an eligible beneficiary(ies).
5.If life insurance is available, Sandia will initiate a claim with Prudential Life Insurance. Prudential will then contact the beneficiary(ies) directly to obtain information required to process the claim. If the retiree had voluntary life insurance coverage through MetLife, the beneficiary(ies) should contact MetLife Customer Service at 866-492-6983 to submit a claim.
6.Sandia will notify OneExchange by Towers Watson (formerly Extend Health) of the retiree's passing, or the passing of their spouse, in order to stop any health insurance benefits. Refer to the Sandia Health Benefits Plan for Retirees Summary Plan Description for more information on this process. If there is a surviving spouse of a deceased retiree, that spouse may be eligible for continued health insurance as of the first of the month after the retiree passes away.
OneExchange will contact the surviving spouse within five to 10 business days after Sandia provides notice and will assist the spouse with their surviving spouse coverage.