COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BENEFIT A. Eligibility You are eligible for a COLA Benefit if, on each March 1, you have received Employee-Paid LTD Benefits for at least 3 of the preceding 12 months. If you have not received Employee-Paid LTD Benefits for at least 3 of the 12 months preceding March 1, you are eligible for COLA Benefits on the following March 1, provided you have received Employee- Paid LTD Benefits for at least 3 of the 12 months preceding such March 1. B. COLA Benefit Rules 1. Your LTD Benefits becoming payable after you are eligible for a COLA Benefit are increased by the COLA Factor in effect for the current year. 2. A new COLA Factor is determined each March 1. 3. Your first COLA Factor is equal to 1.00 plus one-half the rate of increase in the CPI-W for the prior calendar year. 4. Each following COLA Factor is equal to 1.00 plus one-half the rate of increase in the CPI-W for the prior calendar year, times the previous COLA Factor. 5. The maximum increase that we will use is 6%. 6. The Minimum LTD Benefit is not adjusted by the COLA Factor. 7. Your COLA Factor will not decrease, even if the CPI-W decreases. 8. The COLA Benefit does not apply to Retirement Supplement or Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit. LT.CA.01X HIGHER EDUCATION RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS BENEFIT (PLAN D) The Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit provides a monthly retirement contributions benefit while Employee-Paid LTD Benefits are payable, subject to the following provisions: A. Payment of Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit The Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit will be paid to your Employer’s higher education retirement plan to which you participate, on your behalf. The Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit becomes payable on the later of: 1. The date Employee-Paid LTD Benefits become payable; or 2. The date you first would have been required to participate under your Employer’s higher education retirement plan. B. Amount of Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit The Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit is shown in the Schedule of Insurance, subject to any limitations on the amount of the contribution imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA, or any other federal or state laws. If you return to work for your Employer, the Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefit will be reduced by the amount of any employee/Employer contributions transmitted to any one of your Employer’s higher education retirement plans, annuity, savings and deferred compensation plans on your behalf. C. When Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefits End Higher Education Retirement Contributions Benefits end on the earlier of the following dates: 377661-B - 13 6/29/2022