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I do have a copy of the QDRO from the court with jurisdiction. Contact with the Plan Administrator is through NESC and I will call again asking for clarification. However, I have asked that same question four times now and no one seems to even attempt looking at my husband's account with respect to his election in 2013 to receive a reduced pension benefit to provide the 65% Surviving Spouse Annuity for me, his current spouse. Thank you again.

Thank you for your reply. A Pension Income Verification Statement, Ford Motor Company General Retirement Plan dated October 11, 2023, states "Payable to You $2,857.28 per month" and " Pension Payment Option 65% Surviving Spouse Annuity"....there is no mention of identification of spouse. I am of the opinion that with the change in plan administrators (Fidelity to Alight) in 2019 there was an error made. I believe a QDRO was seen and with survivor benefits in my husband's account, the thinking was a mistake had been made by Fidelity and without the history of the account (elections made in 2013 regarding the lump sum payment), Alight "corrected" that mistake by making the ex-spouse the beneficiary. I have spoken with NESC four times and they just refer to a "QDRO on the account". I forwarded several documents indicating my husband's beneficiary designation confirmations showing my name as "beneficiary spouse" 65% Automatic Joint & Survivor. The same result was voiced, essentially "QDRO on the account". NESC has indicated that they are unable to confirm that the ex-spouse received a lump sum payment without permission from the ex-spouse. My question now is who to contact? Thank you again for your response.

According to the National Employee Services Center (NESC) and the MyFordBenefits website husband's former spouse is listed as 100% Beneficiary and NESC stated as of last communication 8/11/2023 "current spouse is not entitled to any benefit" I have had numerous interactions with NESC to determine beneficiary of the General Retirement Plan (GRP). My husband has dementia---I have POA approved by Ford---and have acted on his behalf. Background: Husband took an Early Retirement effective: January 1, 2003 "Total monthly pension benefit $4306.19" At age 62 +1 month (2010) Pension Benefit After Temporary Benefit Ends was $3,146.04 Husband and former spouse were divorced: May 11, 2006 Husband and current spouse were married: July 24, 2010 In 2013 Ford Motor Company offered a lump sum payment to salaried retirees. Both my husband and his former spouse were offered separate election kits and election kit for husband stated four options: Option 1: Lump Sum Payment Option Option 2: Single Life Monthly Pension Benefit Payment (only available to single retirees) Option 3: 65% Joint & Survivor Monthly Pension Benefit Payment (only available to retirees married at least 12 months) Option 4: 75% Joint & Survivor Monthly Pension Benefit Payment (only available to retirees married at least 12 months) The Benefit Election Kit stated: "Our records indicated that you have a Qualified Domestic Relations order (QDRO) on file with the Company as of March 2013. The pension amounts shown in this Election Kit reflect a corresponding reduction for a pension benefit payable to an alternate payee under the terms of the QDRO." His former spouse has a QDRO to receive survivor benefits when the "participant" (husband) dies. Husband took Option 3. Your Monthly Benefit Effective December 1, 2013----Total Monthly Benefit $2,857.28; Benefit to Spouse After Your Death $1,857.23. My birthdate appears on page 14 of the Election Kit paperwork. On or about 2018-2019 Ford Motor Company transitioned from Fidelity Service Center for Ford Motor Company to Alight Solutions. The MyFordBenefits website states that "If you submitted beneficiary choices on paper before April 1, 2019, your choices are on file but won't appear on this site unless you enter them again." There are documents in our files that indicate my husband was in contact with NESC to make sure that I was designated as a beneficiary of the GRP. My questions: If the former spouse did indeed take the lump sum payment, would she have had to sign some sort of form to recind the provisions in the QDRO? In other words, if she did elect to take the lump sum, has she exhausted her right to survivor benefits...in other words, what is the status of the QDRO? Does an amended QDRO need to be filed? NESC seems unable to help in finding verification of beneficiary. Do I need to hire a QDRO attorney who can contact Ford Motor Company to verify that I am the beneficiary of the 65% Joint & Survivor Monthly Pension Benefit which my husband submitted with the Election Kit in 2013. Thank you for any assistance regarding these questions.