Beneficiary (spouse) dies before participant

[Guest cosmo01]

What is the effect if a participant is in pay status and has elected to receive a joint and survivor annuity and his spouse dies before he does. If he later remarries is the new spouse now entitled to the survivor annuity or does the annuity die with the first spouse? Is there any authority on this point?

[david rigby]

Most J&S forms of payment are fixed at the point of commencement. Thus, if the spouse dies first, it usually has no effect on the benefit to the participant. But a review of the plan document should help determine if that is correct for your plan.