On proof of death of any member in good standing who shall have been a member for at least six (6) months continuously previous to his death, a burial expense benefit of $550.00 shall be paid to his beneficiary.

(a) Members of the United Association who have been in good standing for a period of years as designated below, shall be entitled to the respective burial expense benefit:

6 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS $ 550.00

5 YEARS TO 10 YEARS 850.00

10 YEARS TO 15 YEARS 1200.00

15 YEARS TO 20 YEARS 1300.00

20 YEARS TO 25 YEARS 1450.00

25 YEARS TO 30 YEARS 1900.00

30 YEARS TO 35 YEARS 2150.00

35 YEARS AND OVER 2500.00

(b) Suspended members who have been reinstated as provided in Section 158 shall be classed as continuous in these benefits, but not reinitiated, expelled or withdrawn members.

(c) A member eligible for benefits under (a) and (b) above, who is killed on the job while employed under the terms of a Local or National UA Agreement shall be entitled to the maximum benefit.

(d) The United Association is authorized to restructure the Burial Expense Benefit Fund, including exercising the option to engage an insurance carrier if the terms of an insurance contract would assist in building reserves, provided the net benefit after taxes for all members remains at least as great as under the present benefit structure.

(e) The General President is directed to appoint a Committee to continue monitoring the Burial Expense Benefit Fund and to submit an updated report to all local unions at least six months prior to the next convention.

When becoming a member of the United Association each member shall designate the person to whom the aforesaid benefit money shall be paid upon blanks furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer to the Local Union.

(a) It is the intent of this Constitution that the monetary benefit payable hereunder is not a payment of money or gratuity to the named beneficiary, but is in reality a burial expense benefit payment. Whether or not a beneficiary is named the burial expense shall be first applied to the payment of the funeral or burial expenses. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall pay the burial expense benefit directly to the named beneficiary when (1) a bill from the undertaker is filed with the General Secretary-Treasurer either by the beneficiary, or some other person, member of the family, organization or agency, or (2) a statement is filed with the General Secretary-Treasurer by the undertaker or funeral director that the undertaker or funeral director has been guaranteed payment of his bill either by the named beneficiary or by some other person or member of the family, organization or agency. The General Secretary-Treasurer may, at his discretion, without the consent of the designated beneficiary, pay the amount of the burial expense benefit to the undertaker who is to bury the deceased member, provided the undertaker or funeral director will not seek or hold the International liable for the balance, if any, of the funeral bill.

(b) In the event that no beneficiary is named, or the beneficiary named is deceased and no members of the deceased member’s immediate family or relatives of the deceased member, or the undertaker, secure letters of administration on the estate of the deceased member, then the burial expense benefit will be paid by the General Secretary-Treasurer to the undertaker or funeral director or, if the undertaker’s bill has been paid by some member of the deceased member’s family, relatives or friends, then the General Secretary- Treasurer shall pay the burial expense benefit to that person who paid the funeral bill.

(c) The General Secretary-Treasurer in his sound discretion may pay the burial expense benefit, even if there is a designated beneficiary, to the person who is more equitably and justly entitled to the burial expense benefit, and to the one who took care of the deceased member in his last illness.

Upon the death of any member entitled to a burial expense benefit the Secretary of the Local Union shall at once notify the General Secretary-Treasurer giving a full record of the membership of such member, as far as can be obtained from the books of such Local Union. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall compare such record with the records of the General Office and notify the Local Union of his findings, and shall pay the burial expense benefit to the beneficiary in accordance with the Constitution.

The General Secretary-Treasurer shall publish the names, ages and causes of death of the members who die and on whose accounts the burial expense benefits have been paid, together with the amounts paid.