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                                                                  EXHIBIT (4)(h)


                  SUNAMERICA ANNUITY AND LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY

              RETURN OF PURCHASE PAYMENT DEATH BENEFIT ENDORSEMENT

Notwithstanding any provision in the Contract or Certificate ("Contract") to the
contrary, this Endorsement becomes a part of the Contract to which it is
attached. Should any provision in this Endorsement conflict with the Contract,
the provisions of this Endorsement will prevail.

This Endorsement modifies the "DEATH PROVISIONS" section in the Contract, as set
forth below.

The following terms are added to the "DEFINITIONS" section of the Contract:

         "CONTINUATION DATE" - The date on which We receive, at Our Annuity
         Service Center: (a) the Spousal Beneficiary's written request to
         continue the Contract, and (b) Due Proof of Death of the Owner. If We
         receive (a) and (b) on different dates, the Continuation Date will be
         the later date.

         "REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION" - (a) Due Proof of Death that the Owner or the
         Spousal Beneficiary died before the Annuity Date; and (b) an election
         form specifying the payment option(s); and, (c) any other documentation
         We may require.

         "SPOUSAL BENEFICIARY" - The original deceased Owner's surviving spouse
         who is designated as the primary Beneficiary at the time of the Owner's
         death and may continue the Contract as the Owner on the Continuation
         Date.

         "WITHDRAWAL(S)" - Amount(s) withdrawn from the Contract Value.

Item 3 under the section titled "DEATH OF OWNER BEFORE THE ANNUITY DATE" in the
Contract is modified as follows:

       3.    If eligible, continue the Contract as a Spousal Beneficiary. On the
             Continuation Date, We will contribute to the Contract any amount by
             which the Death Benefit exceeds the Contract Value, calculated as
             of the Owner's date of death. This amount is not considered a
             Purchase Payment except in the calculations of the certain Death
             Benefit components upon the death of the Spousal Beneficiary.

The "AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT" provisions are modified as follows:

         WITHDRAWAL ADJUSTMENTS - The amount of the Death Benefit will be
         adjusted for Withdrawals as follows:

              (1) The amount of adjustment will be the amount of each
                  Withdrawal, including any charges and fees applicable to such
                  Withdrawal, if the current Contract Year's cumulative
                  Withdrawals, including this Withdrawal, are taken prior to
                  Your [81st] birthday and are less than or equal to the Maximum
                  Annual Withdrawal Amount, if applicable, as defined in Your
                  Contract; or

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              (2) The amount of adjustment will be a proportion of the Death
                  Benefit equal to the proportion that each Withdrawal,
                  including any charges and fees applicable to such Withdrawal,
                  reduces the Contract Value, if the current Contract Year's
                  cumulative Withdrawals, including this Withdrawal, are taken
                  on and/or after Your [81st] birthday and/or are in excess of
                  the Maximum Annual Withdrawal Amount as defined in Your
                  Contract.

         AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT

         Upon Our receipt of all Required Documentation at Our Annuity Service
         Center, We will calculate the Death Benefit and it will be the greater
         of:

              1.  The Contract Value for the NYSE business day during which We
                  receive all Required Documentation at Our Annuity Service
                  Center; or

              2.  Purchase Payment(s) received prior to the Owner's [86th]
                  birthday reduced by any Withdrawal Adjustments.

         SPOUSAL BENEFICIARY CONTINUATION

         If the Spousal Beneficiary continues the Contract on the Continuation
         Date, the Death Benefit payable upon the death of the Spousal
         Beneficiary will be as follows:

         If the Spousal Beneficiary was age [85 or younger] on the Continuation
         Date, upon Our receipt of all Required Documentation at Our Annuity
         Service Center, We will calculate the Death Benefit and it will be the
         greater of:

              1.  The Contract Value for the NYSE business day during which We
                  receive all Required Documentation at Our Annuity Service
                  Center; or

              2.  The Contract Value on the Continuation Date, plus Purchase
                  Payment(s) received prior to the Spousal Beneficiary's [86th]
                  birthday, and reduced by any Withdrawal Adjustments after the
                  Continuation Date.

         If the Spousal Beneficiary was age [86 or older] on the Continuation
         Date, the Death Benefit will be the Contract Value for the NYSE
         business day during which We receive all Required Documentation at Our
         Annuity Service Center.


Signed for the Company to be effective on the Contract Date.

SUNAMERICA ANNUITY AND LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY


     /s/ MALLARY L. REZNIK                         /s/ JANA W. GREER
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       MALLARY L. REZNIK                              JANA W. GREER
     SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT                              PRESIDENT