If you’re employed under a collective bargaining agreement between your employer and U.A. Locals No. 375 or 367 that requires your employer to make contributions to the Plan on your behalf, you will become a Plan participant on the first day that employer contributions are required for you, or if sooner, the first day on which you are eligible to make pretax contributions. 

You will become a Plan participant on the first day that employer contributions are required for you, or if sooner, the first day on which you are eligible to make pretax contributions. 

January 1- December 31

No, you automatically get enrolled in the Plan with your first contribution.

Vesting is ownership of your Plan account balance. You are always 100% vested in the current value of your Plan balance – your own contributions, employer contributions, rollover contributions, and any investment earnings on these amounts. This means that if you leave participating employment at any time or for any reason, you are entitled to receive the full amount of your Plan balance (although you will be subject to any applicable taxes and penalties – see page SPD-5). 

It is also important to note that it is possible the balance in your account could decline to zero if you work only a few hours a year and your share of the Plan’s expenses exceeds the combination of contributions paid on your behalf and net investment gains credited to your account.  

You may receive your vested benefit from the Plan at the following times upon application to the Plan: 

• Early retirement – as early as age 52, providing you end employment and submit written certification that you do not intend to do any further work in the Pipe Trades Industry. (Note: you may be subject to a 10% early distribution penalty tax if you take a distribution prior to age 55 and do not elect to take your account in a series of substantially equal monthly payments. Contact your tax advisor) in a series of substantially equal monthly payments. Contact your tax advisor)
• Normal retirement – when you reach age 62 whether or not you end employment. 
• Permanent disability – if you become permanently disabled.* 
• Termination of employment – if you experience a lapse of 12 consecutive months since your last employment for which employer contributions were made or required to be made to the Plan. 
• Eligibility for retirement under Alaska Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry Pension Plan.
  • *You will be considered permanently disabled if as a result of bodily injury, disease or mental disorder you are incapable of continuing in the employment of your employer or any other participating employer or engaging in any other regular employment or occupation substantially gainful in character which you would otherwise be expected to be capable of in light of your training, experience and abilities, and your disability, on the basis of medical evidence, is found by the Trustees to be permanent and continuous for the remainder of your lifetime

In general, you may not borrow against your supplemental pension.

You direct how your account balance is invested as long as your account remains with the Plan. You have several investment options to choose from. Information is available at  www.millimanbenefits.com or by calling Milliman or the Fund Office. 

If you do not make an initial investment election within 30 days of entering the Plan, your entire account will be invested in the default fund – which is the T. Rowe Price Retirement Fund applicable to your normal retirement age of 62. For example, if you would turn age 62 anytime between 2026 and 2030, your account would be invested in the T. Rowe Price Retirement 2030 fund. 

You can change your investments at any time online at www.millimanbenefits.com

If you die before distribution of your supplemental pension benefits, your surviving spouse or beneficiary is entitled to survivor benefits. If you are married, you must get your spouse’s written, notarized consent if you wish to designate a non-spouse beneficiary. 

If you are married at the time of death, your surviving spouse will be entitled to a lifetime survivor pension based on the value of your account balance. Alternatively, your spouse may choose an immediate one-time lump sum payment or any of the other payment options described in Payment Options on page SPD-3. 

If you are not married at the time of your death, your beneficiary will receive a single lump sum payment of the entire value of your account balance. 

If at the time of death you do not have a living beneficiary on file with the Plan, the death benefit will be paid to the first of your living beneficiaries as follows: 

• Your children, if any, natural or adopted 
• Your mother and/or father 
• Your siblings
• Your estate

The Benefit Office will send you a Designation of Beneficiary form upon request. If you are married and wish to designate someone other than your legal spouse as Beneficiary, you must obtain your spouse’s written consent, witnessed by a Notary Public

Please call the Benefit Office and advise the Pension Department that you are getting a divorce or have already gotten divorced. You will also need to submit a FULL copy of your Dissolution of Marriage Judgment, QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order).

You may download a distribution application from the Documents page of this website, or contact the Trust Office and asked for one to be mailed.  Return the form to: