Remember to updateneeded beneficiaries

With the semester at an end, you might have a few extra moments to re-evaluate your benefits accounts. Among the most important information associated with your benefits is your beneficiary designation.
 
Your beneficiary will receive the value of the specified benefit if you die. Keeping your beneficiary designation current and as simple as possible will help guard against complications and ensure faster payment of benefits.
 
In addition to reviewing beneficiary information on your WSU retirement (WSU RP or PERS) and tax deferred investments (TDI) accounts, you may want to update your life insurance too. If all the names and other details are current, do nothing else.
 
However, if adjustments are needed, you will want to follow these procedures to make changes:
 
• TIAA-CREF retirement beneficiary changes can be made at www.tiaa-cref.org by logging into your account with your user ID and password. Before you start, be sure to have the proper spelling of the name of the beneficiary and that person’s date of birth and social security number or taxpayer ID number.
 
It is always a good idea to have a primary beneficiary as well as a contingent beneficiary. If you have questions, call TIAA-CREF at 800–842–2776 for assistance.
 
• Changes to PERS retirement via the state Department of Retirement Systems can be made on paper only. You can obtain the form from DRS at www.drs.wa.gov or from WSU Human Resource Services at www.hrs.wsu.edu.
 
Click on “Benefits” and then “Forms.” You can also contact HRS at 335-4521 or e-mail hrs@wsu.edu. Send the completed form to Human Resource Services at mail stop 1014.
 
• Beneficiary changes to life insurance via the carrier ING can be made with the help of HRS staff. Call 335-4521, e-mail hrs@wsu.edu or visit at www.hrs.wsu.edu and click on “Benefits” and then “Forms” to obtain a form. Return the completed form to HRS in French Ad 139 or campus mail stop 1014.

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