EXHIBIT 1(5)(b)

ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
OPTION TO ACCELERATE DEATH BENEFITS
(LIVING BENEFITS RIDER)

This rider is a part of the contract to which it is attached. The Insured under
this rider is the Insured under the contract. This rider does not apply to
any benefits provided by rider.

BENEFIT - While this rider is in force, you may elect to receive a portion of
the net death benefit called the "Living Benefit," prior to the Insured's
death under either the Terminal Illness Option or the Nursing Home Option,
subject to the definitions, conditions and limitations in this rider. This
option may only be exercised once.

DEFINITIONS - "Option Amount" means that portion of the death benefit which you
elect to apply under this rider. The Option Amount must be at least
$25,000 and may not exceed the lesser of:

- - one-half of the death benefit on the date the option is elected; or

- - the amount that would reduce the face amount to our minimum issue limit for
this contract; or

- - $250,000.

"Option Percentage" is the Option Amount divided by the death benefit.

"Living Benefit" is the Option Amount which has been reduced for interest and
other factors. It is the lump sum benefit under this rider, and is the
amount used to determine the monthly benefit. The Living Benefit will
not be less than the surrender value of the contract multiplied by the
Option Percentage. The following factors will be used to calculate the
Living Benefit:

- - age;

- - sex, unless the contract is issued on a unisex basis;

- - life expectancy;

- - Contract Value;

- - Outstanding Loan;

- - rate of interest currently being credited to the Fixed Account including those
values which are subject to Outstanding Loan;

- - Face Amount;

- - current monthly deductions; and

- - an expense charge of $150.

An amount equal to the Outstanding Loan multiplied by the Option Percentage
will be deducted from the Living Benefit. The remaining Outstanding Loan
will continue in force.

The assumptions we use to calculate the Living Benefit may change from time to
time. The factors used to compute the Living Benefit will be set and
changed only prospectively; that is, based on changes in future
expectations. We will not change these factors to recoup any prior losses
or distribute past gains under the rider.

FORM 1030-96

"Eligible Nursing Home" means an institution or special nursing unit of a
hospital which meets at least one of the following requirements:

1. it is Medicare - approved as a provider of skilled nursing care services;
or

2. it is licensed as a skilled nursing home or as an intermediate care
facility by the state in which it is located;

3. it meets all the requirements listed below;

- - it is licensed as a nursing home by the state in which it is located;

- - its main function is to provide skilled, intermediate or custodial nursing
care;

- - it is engaged in providing continuous room and board accommodations to 3 or
more persons;

- - it is under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical
nurse (LPN);

- - it maintains a daily medical record of each patient; and

it maintains control and records for all medications dispensed.

Institutions which primarily provide residential facilities are not Eligible
Nursing Homes.

"Proof of claim satisfactory to us" includes:

- - a request signed by the Insured to disclose all facts concerning the
Insured's health;

- - records of the attending physician, including a prognosis of the Insured; and

- - if we request, a medical examination of the Insured at our expense conducted
by a physician we choose.

CONDITIONS - Upon Written Request you may elect to receive payment under one of
the accelerated death benefit options subject to the following conditions:

- - the contract is in force;

- - a written consent has been given by any collateral assignee, irrevocable
beneficiary and the Insured if you are not the Insured; and

- - the Insured qualifies for the option you elect.

TERMINAL ILLNESS OPTION - If you provide proof of claim satisfactory to us that
the Insured's life expectancy is 12 months or less, you may elect to
receive equal monthly payments for 12 months. For each $1,000 of Living
Benefit, each payment will be at least $85.21. This assumes an annual
interest rate of 5%.

If the Insured dies before all the payments have been made, we will pay in one
sum the present value of the remaining payments due under this rider
calculated at the interest rate we use to determine those payments as part
of the net death benefit.

If you do not wish to receive monthly payments, you may elect to receive the
Living Benefit in a lump sum.

NURSING HOME OPTION - If (1) the Insured is confined to an Eligible Nursing
Home and has been confined there continuously for the preceding six
months; and (2) you provide proof of claim satisfactory to us that the
Insured is expected to remain in the nursing home until death, you may
elect level monthly payments for the number of years shown in the table
that follows. For each $1,000 of living benefit, each payment will be at
least the minimum amount shown in that table. The table assumes an annual
interest rate of 5%.

FORM 6005-96

You may elect a longer payment period than that shown in the table. If you do,
monthly payments will be reduced so that the present value of the monthly
payments for the longer payment period is equal to the present value of
the payments for the period shown in the table, calculated at an interest
rate of at least 5%.

PAYMENT PERIOD MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR PAYMENT PERIOD MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR
IN YEARS EACH $1,000 OF LIVING BENEFIT IN YEARS EACH $1,000 OF LIVING BENEFIT

1 $85.21 16 $ 7.49
2 $43.64 17 $ 7.20
3 $29.80 18 $ 6.94
4 $22.89 19 $ 6.71
5 $18.74 20 $ 6.51
6 $15.99 21 $ 6.33
7 $14.02 22 $ 6.17
8 $12.56 23 $ 6.02
9 $11.42 24 $ 5.88
10 $10.51 25 $ 5.76
11 $ 9.77 26 $ 5.65
12 $ 9.16 27 $ 5.54
13 $ 8.64 28 $ 5.45
14 $ 8.20 29 $ 5.36
15 $ 7.82 30 $ 5.28

We reserve the right to set a maximum monthly benefit, which will not be less
than $5,000.

If you do not wish to receive monthly payments, you may elect to receive a
single sum equal to the Living Benefit.

EFFECT ON CONTRACT - The death benefit of the contract will be decreased by
the Option Amount. Such decrease will be effective on the Monthly
Processing Date following the date of your Written Request.

New Specifications Pages will be issued. These pages will include the
following information:

- - the effective date of the decrease; and

- - the amount of the decrease and the reduced face amount.

The Contract Value will be reduced in the same proportion as the reduction in
the death benefit. There will be no surrender charge on the reduction in
Contract Value. The allocation of the Contract Value between Earnings and
Payments will remain the same.

EXCLUSION - No benefit will be paid under this rider if a claim results,
directly or indirectly, from a suicide attempt or a self-

FORM 6005-96

inflicted injury (while sane or insane) for any period during which a suicide
exclusion is applicable.

TERMINATION - This rider will terminate on the first to occur of:

- - the end of the grace period of a premium in default; or

- - the termination or Final Payment Date of the contract while the Insured is
alive; or

- - at any time on your written request.

GENERAL - The contract Specifications Pages will show the date of issue of
this rider.

The Living Benefit will be made available to you on a voluntary basis only.
Accordingly:

(a) If you are required by law to exercise this option to satisfy the claim of
creditors, whether in bankruptcy or otherwise, you are not eligible
for this benefit.

(b) If you are required by a government agency to exercise this option in
order to apply for, obtain, or retain a government benefit or
entitlement, you are not eligible for this benefit.

Except as otherwise provided, all conditions and provisions of the contract
apply to this rider.

Signed for the Company at Dover, Delaware

FORM 6005-96