Designating Your Beneficiaries

Overview

A beneficiary is an individual or entity that will receive all or a portion of the proceeds of that account if you die. You may name or designate one or more individuals, including a trust or your estate, as a beneficiary. You can assign beneficiaries to the following benefits:

Life Insurance

Basic Employer-Paid Life Insurance

Optional Employee-Paid Life Insurance

Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Retiree - Over 65 Life Insurance Plan

Travel Accident Insurance Plan

Retirement Plans

403(b) Base Retirement Plans (BRP)

403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans (SRP)

457(b) Deferred Compensation 

An employee DOES NOT need to designate a beneficiary for the following coverages because the beneficiary is always the employee:

Dependent Life

Spouse Life

You can designate or change your beneficiaries at any time throughout the year. You should consider reviewing and/or updating your beneficiary designations after a life event. Note that following a divorce, your ex-spouse, if named, remains your beneficiary until you update your beneficiary designation.

How to Designate or Update Your Beneficiaries for Life Insurance

New

1. Access the Beneficiary Designation website at www.prudential.com/mybenefits.
2. Select “Register Now”.
3. In the Control Number field, enter 46522, then click “Next”.

Updating

1. Access the Beneficiary Designation website at www.prudential.com/mybenefits.
2. Select “Log In”.
3. Enter User ID and password

If you have any questions regarding this information or would like to receive a paper beneficiary designation form, please contact Prudential at 1-800-778-3827.   Representatives are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

If you are using a telecommunications device for hearing impaired (TDD), please call (800) 496-1214, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

How to Designate or Update your Beneficiaries for Retirement Plans

New Fidelity

1. Access the Beneficiary Designation website at https://nb.fidelity.com/public/nb/msu/home.
2. Select “Register”.

New TIAA

1. Access the Beneficiary Designation website at https://www.tiaa.org/public/tcm/msu/index.htm.
2. Select “Log in” then Register for online access.

Updating

1. Access the Beneficiary Designation website at https://nb.fidelity.com/public/nb/msu/home or https://www.tiaa.org/public/tcm/msu/index.htm.
2. Select “Log In”.
3. Enter User ID and password.

Why Should You Designate Beneficiaries?

If you fail to designate your beneficiaries, at time of a life claim, your benefits will be paid based on the conditions outlined in your plan. This means that any amount of insurance for which there is no beneficiary at your death will be payable to the first of the following:

1. Your surviving spouse
2. Your surviving child(ren) in equal shares or if none;
3. Your surviving parents, in equal shares or if none;
4. Your surviving siblings, in equal shares or if none;
5. Your estate