What was the "Death Benefit" that Lucent cancelled?

In a letter dated January 2, 2003, Lucent notified U.S. management retireesregardless of their retirement datethat their Death Benefit would be eliminated on February 1, 2003. The Death Benefit was, to quote the pension plan, "In the event of death by accident, the maximum Accident Death Benefit specified in Paragraph 1 of this Section, or in the event of death by sickness, the maximum Sickness Death Benefit specified in Paragraph 2 of this Section, shall be paid, subject to the provisions of Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph 4, to the spouse of the deceased employee if living with him at the time of his death, or to the unmarried child or children of the deceased employee under the age of 23 years. . . or a dependent parent. . ." Retirees currently still have their Life Insurance Benefit. The Life Insurance Benefit is the equivalent to one years salary at the time of retirement until age 65. Thereafter, the Life Insurance Benefit declines 10 percent per year until age 70 when it ...  more