EMPOWER ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

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The requirements to remove a benefit hold may be different depending on the reason the hold was placed, Each paragraph in this subsection lists, in bold type, a document that can cause a hold to be placed, followed by the method(s) to remove a hold placed pursuant to that document. 6.2.1. Draft DRO / Letter of Adverse Interest: If a benefit hold was placed due to receiving a draft DRO, or a letter of adverse interest or similar written notice, QC will direct the Plan's recordkeeper to remove the hold upon receiving any of the following: • Executed DRO (at which time an Executed DRO benefit hold will commence); • Subsequent court order to remove the hold, or that clearly indicates the Alternate Payee has no interest in the Participant's Plan benefit; • Plan Administrator's written direction to remove the hold; or • Notarized letter from the Alternate Payee, or letter from his/her attorney, that requests the removal of the hold, and that names the Plan and the Participant. 6.2.2. Executed DRO: If a benefit hold was placed due to receiving an Executed DRO, QC will direct the Plan's recordkeeper to remove the hold (1) if it approves the DRO, or (2) upon receiving any of the following: • Subsequent Executed DRO that vacates or revises the prior Executed DRO (at which time a new Executed DRO benefit hold will commence); • Subsequent court order that terminates the Alternate Payee's right to the Participant's Plan benefit, including an order to vacate the Executed DRO; or • Plan Administrator's written direction to remove the hold. 6.2.3. Other Court Order / Joinder: If a benefit hold was placed due to receiving a court order, other than a DRO, or a joinder or other similar court document, QC will direct the Plan's recordkeeper to remove the hold upon receiving any of the following: • Executed DRO (at which time an Executed DRO benefit hold will commence); • Subsequent court order to remove the hold, that vacates the court order or joinder that caused the hold, or that clearly indicates the Alternate Payee has no interest in the Participant's Plan benefit: or • Plan Administrator's written direction to remove the hold. 6.2.4. Plan Administrator's Written Direction: If a benefit hold was placed due to receiving the Plan Administrator's written direction, QC will direct the Plan's recordkeeper to remove the hold only upon receiving the Plan Administrator's subsequent written direction to remove the hold. 7. EFFECT OF REMOVING HOLD! SUBSEQUENT DRO Approved DRO Before Hold Removal: If QC approves an Executed DRO before a benefit hold is removed, the Alternate Payee will receive payments from the Plan pursuant to the QDRO. 53 City Council 19 -- 56 9/19/2023