8 expected to la st for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. The permanence and degree of such impairment must be supported by medical evidence . The Plan Administrator may require that your disability be determined by a licensed physician. How will my benef its be paid to me? The following provisions apply to the extent permitted under the i nvestment arrangements in which the plan assets are invested. Lump - sum distributions. If you terminate employment and your vested account balance does not exceed $5,000, then your vested account balance might only be distributed to you in a single lump - sum payment. Distribution methods. If you terminate employment and your vested account balance exceeds $5,000 (or another amount as provided in your investment arrangement) , then your vested account balance might be distributed to you under the following methods provided they are permitted under your investment arrangements :  a single lump - sum payment  instal lments over a period of not more than your assumed life expectancy (or the assumed life expectancies of you and your beneficiary)  an annuity contract that the Vendor provides or purchases with your vested account balance  ad - hoc distributions. You may request a distribution of some or all of your Plan accounts, at any time following your termination of employment, subject to any reasonable limits regarding timing and amounts as the Plan Administrator or your investment arrangements may impose. Require d beginning date. There are rules that require that certain minimum distributions be made from the Plan. Distributions are required to begin not later than the April 1st following the end of the year in which you reach age 70 1/2 or terminate employment, w hichever is later. You should see the Plan Ad ministrator if you think you might be affected by these rules. Mandatory annuity distribution (subject to waiver). Subject to the provisions of your investment arrangements, if you are married on the date your benefits are to begin, you will automatically receive a joint and 50% survivor annuity, unless you and your spouse waive the annuity and elect an alternative form of payment. This means that you will receive payments for your life, and afte r your death, yo ur surviving spouse will receive a monthly benefit for the remainder of his or her life equal to 50% of the benefit you were receiving at the time of your death. You may elect a joint and 75% survivor annuity instead of the standard joint and 50% survivor annuity. You should consult an advisor before making such election. If you are not married on the date your benefits are to begin, you will automatically receive a life annuity, unless you waiv e the qualified annuity and elect an alternative form of payme nt. This means you will receive payments for as long as you live. However, regardless of your marital status, if your vested account balance does not exceed $5,000, then, depending on the ter ms of your investment arrangement, your vested account balance might be distributed to you in a single lump - sum payment and you might not receive the qualified annuity. May I elect another distribution method? Waiver of annuity. If your vested benefit in the Plan exceeds $5,000, then when you are about to receive any distribution, the Plan Administrator will explain the joint and survivor annuity or the life annuity to you in greater detail. You will be given the option of waiving the joint and survivor annuity or the life annuity form of payment during the 180 - day period before the annuity is to begin. IF YOU ARE MARRIED , YOUR SPOUSE MUST IRREVOCABLY CONSENT IN WRITING TO THE WAIVER IN THE PRESENCE OF A NOTARY OR A PLAN REPRESENTATIVE. You may revoke any waiver. Th e Plan Administrator will provide you with forms to make these elections. Since your spouse participates in these elections, you must immediately inform the Plan Administrator of any change in your marital status. Other distribution method. If your vested account balance exceeds $5,000 and if you and your spouse elect not to take a joint and survivor annuity, or if you are not married when your benefits are scheduled to begin and have elected not to take a life ann uity, you may elect to rece ive distribution of your account balance under any alternative distribution method as described above. ARTICLE VIII DISTRIBUTIONS UPON DEATH What happens if I die while working for the Employer? If you die while still employed by the Employer, then your vested account balance will be used to provide your beneficiary with a death benefit. Who is the beneficiary of my deat h benefit? Married Participant. If you are married at the time of your death, your spouse will be the beneficiary of 50% of the death benefit distributed as a qualified annuity. Any remaining amount of your death benefit which is not payable to your spouse as a qualified