#DECAGE (OPEB mode)
Returns the member’s decrement age, i.e., age on the anniversary of the valuation date in the year of decrement, unrounded (OPEB mode only).
If rounded results are desired, use with #ROUND, #INT, or #FLOOR.
For inactives, decrement age is based on the field value of the Date of decrement (or decrement age) parameter of the Inactive Data topic of Census Specifications.
Age is measured on the anniversary of the valuation date in the year of decrement, regardless of the setting selected for decrement timing under the Decrements topic of Valuation Assumptions. For example, under a midyear decrement timing assumption, if the valuation date is 1/1/2012 and a plan member is age 56 on the valuation date and age 57 one half year later, at 7/1/2012 (the decrement date in the 2012 calendar year), #DECAGE will return a value of 56, not 57, for 2012. Under midyear decrement timing, because ProVal calculates benefit amounts by averaging benefit payment values at the beginning and end of the year, the effect will be to use a #DECAGE value of 56.5 (averaging 56 at 1/1/2012 and 57 at 1/1/2013) to calculate benefit payment amounts for decrement year 2012.
Syntax:
#DECAGE
Examples:
1) COPAY * {1 #ZMINUS [0.05 * (#ROUND #DECAGE #ZMINUS 40)]}
For future retirees, percentage of COPAY declines, at 5% per year, from 100% at decrement age 40 to 0%, which occurs at decrement age 60, using rounded decrement ages.
2) RETFORM * (#DECAGE>=50)
Retirement benefit formula applies only to retirees who decremented from active status at or after attaining age 50. Note that, because the value returned by #DECAGE is not rounded, a retiree who decremented at age 49.8 does not get this retirement benefit.
The second example involves a change in benefit eligibility upon attainment of a particular age, which preferably should be coded by using the eligibility parameters of the Benefit Definition, not by using the formulas of the Gross Benefit Definition and Participant Contribution. If decrements are assumed to occur at midyear, unless the eligibility parameters are used, liability values will be distorted (because of averaging beginning and end of year benefit amounts and payment form values).
Related Operators: