Wespath COVID-19 Business Continuity Plans

In response to the growing COVID-19 outbreak, on Monday, March 16, Wespath began implementing crisis response business continuity measures to protect our employees and communities, and to ensure uninterrupted support for our plan sponsors and participants.

We will maintain a very small crew of employees in the building with specific assignments for work that cannot be done remotely, such as handling mail, printing checks and other duties essential to participant service. All other employees are now working from home through virtual capabilities. Additionally, all employee travel has been suspended.

We will continue to support participants and plan sponsors through existing online and phone services. Despite some daily routine changes, we are confident we will conduct business as usual and continue to provide unwavering support to you and to our participants.

Direct Deposits
With a limited team on site, paper checks will now be processed every 7-10 business days. We are strongly encouraging participants to sign up for direct deposit so they don't experience a significant delay in receiving their benefits. Existing EFT payments will continue as usual.

As this may also impact CPP death benefits, we will begin sending these funds via direct deposit to the surviving beneficiary(ies).This will allow us to better serve participants during this time. Your conference will be notified of these payments as they occur.

Payments to Surviving Families
In order to provide timely payments to surviving families given current circumstances, we will immediately begin the below processes as it relates to CPP death benefits.

Surviving Spouse, if we have EFT information
We will allow surviving spouses to elect to receive their CPP death benefit electronically through EFT. This will eliminate any mail delays. If we send a CPP payment electronically, we will email the conference a copy of the CPP Benefit Determination Letter indicating that the payment was sent electronically.

Others (Surviving Spouse or Beneficiaries) without EFT information
If EFT information is not available, we will send a CPP death benefit by paper check directly to the beneficiary(ies) instead of the conference. We will e-mail the conference a copy of the CPP Benefit Determination Letter, indicating that the check was mailed due to Wespath not having EFT information.

Retirement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We realize some participants may have questions about their pending or future retirement. Please see the Retirement FAQs for participants for answers to key questions. As new questions come in, we will update the FAQs accordingly.

Status Updates
The COVID-19 situation remains fluid. We continue to follow news stories and seek information to help guide our actions. We encourage you to stay in touch with your Wespath conference liaison or plan sponsor manager for updates, information, questions or concerns. Should your participants have questions, please have them contact https://www.wespath.org/about-wespath/contact-us. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Working together, we will get through this time while continuing to serve our participants and others. Please visit our website at wespath.org/about-wespath/Coronavirus for ongoing updates as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.

Contacting Wespath
While the business continuity plan is activated, we request that conferences and participants avoid sending information and documents to Wespath via U.S. mail, when possible. Since there is limited staff on site, there could be mail processing delays, which could directly impact participant benefits (e.g., if there are delays in processing disability grant forms and new CPP disability applications). Please refer to the e-mail address that is listed on Wespath forms.

If you have questions about Wespath's response, please contact Tony Prestipino at tprestipino@wespath.org or 1-800-269-2244, ext. 4560 or at 224-998-8043.

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