BENEFICIARY. To be classified as a beneficiary, you must be either the member's spouse, qualified parent, minor child(ren) or disabled child(ren). Generally, an ERISA plan participant can select just about anyone to be their beneficiary.My mom had a Pension. The Summary Plan Description (SPD) should include your plan's claims procedures. Usually, you fill out the required paperwork and submit it to the plan. Missing Participants Program PBGC has a program called the Missing Participants Program, which connects people to their retirement benefit. Texas Employee Benefits and ERISA. This time he had to fill out a beneficiary designation for a life insurance policy. One of the most neglected areas of retirement planning is beneficiary designation.