The following example demonstrates the impact of an Excess Withdrawal on the Protected Income Base and Enhancement Base, the Protected Annual Income amount and the Contract Value. The example assumes that the Contractowner makes a $12,000 withdrawal, which causes a $12,370 reduction in the Protected Income Base and Enhancement Base.
Prior to Excess Withdrawal:
Contract Value = $60,000
Protected Income Base = $85,000
Enhancement Base = $85,000
Protected Annual Income amount = $3,825 (4.50% of the Protected Income Base of $85,000)
After a $12,000 Withdrawal ($3,825 is within the Protected Annual Income amount, $8,175 is the Excess Withdrawal):
The Contract Value is reduced by the amount of the Protected Annual Income amount of $3,825 and the Protected Income Base and Enhancement Base are not reduced:
Contract Value = $56,175 ($60,000 - $3,825)
Protected Income Base = $85,000
Enhancement Base = $85,000
The Contract Value is also reduced by the $8,175 Excess Withdrawal and the Protected Income Base and Enhancement Base are reduced by 14.553%, the same proportion by which the Excess Withdrawal reduced the $56,175 Contract Value ($8,175 ÷ $56,175)
Contract Value = $48,000 ($56,175 - $8,175)
Protected Income Base = $72,630 ($85,000 x 14.553% = $12,370; $85,000 - $12,370 = $72,630)
Enhancement Base = $72,630 ($85,000 x 14.553% = $12,370; $85,000 - $12,370 = $72,630)
Protected Annual Income amount = $3,268 (4.50% of $72,630 Protected Income Base)
On the following Benefit Year anniversary, the Contract Value has been reduced due to a declining market, but the Protected Income Base and Enhancement Base are unchanged:
Contract Value = $43,000
Protected Income Base = $72,630
Enhancement Base = $72,630
Protected Annual Income amount = $3,268 (4.50% x $72,630)
In a declining market, Excess Withdrawals may significantly reduce your Protected Income Base, Enhancement Base, and Protected Annual Income amount. This is because the reduction in the benefit may be more than the dollar amount withdrawn from the Contract Value. If either the Contract Value or the Protected Income Base is reduced to zero due to an Excess Withdrawal the rider will terminate.
Surrender charges are waived on cumulative withdrawals less than or equal to the Protected Annual Income amount. Excess Withdrawals will be subject to surrender charges unless one of the waivers of surrender charge provisions set forth in this prospectus is applicable. Continuing with the prior example of the $12,000 withdrawal: the $3,825 Protected Annual Income amount is not subject to surrender charges; the $8,175 Excess Withdrawal may be subject to surrender charges according to the surrender charge schedule in this prospectus. See Charges and Other Deductions – Surrender Charge.
Withdrawals from IRA contracts will not be considered Excess Withdrawals (even if they exceed the Protected Annual Income amount) only if the withdrawals are taken as systematic installments of the amount needed to satisfy the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(9). In addition, in order for this exception for RMDs to apply, the following must occur:
1. | Lincoln’s automatic withdrawal service is used to calculate and pay the RMD; |
2. | The RMD calculation must be based only on the value in this contract; |
3. | No withdrawals other than RMDs are made within the Benefit Year (except as described in the next paragraph); |
4. This contract is not a beneficiary IRA; and
5. The younger of you or your spouse (joint life option) are age 55 or over.
If your RMD withdrawals during a Benefit Year are less than the Protected Annual Income amount, an additional amount up to the Protected Annual Income amount may be withdrawn and will not be subject to surrender charges. If a withdrawal, other than an RMD is made during the Benefit Year, then all amounts withdrawn in excess of the Protected Annual Income amount, including amounts attributable to RMDs, will be treated as Excess Withdrawals.
Distributions from qualified contracts are generally taxed as ordinary income. Distributions from nonqualified contracts that are includable in gross income are also generally taxed as ordinary income. See Federal Tax Matters for information on determining what amounts are includable in gross income.