When are plan sponsors required to provide SPDs to alternate payees?

[Guest furthur118]

When are plan sponsors required to provide SPDs to alternate payees? Is it immediately after a QDRO is received and accepted? Or only when requested or when new SPDs are issued?

[QDROphile]

You should give SPD on request. An SPD should be given automatically to an alternate payee who is receiving benefits (as well as summary annual reports). You can provide SPDs more generously. ERISA says alternate payees are to be treated as beneficiaries.