You become vested after you have earned ten (10) or more years of credited service, without a break-in-service;OR you earned five (5) years of credited service and you have worked at least 200 hours in any plan year (January 1 through December 31) after January 1, 1991. Please refer to the Plan booklet for clarification on credited service, break-in-service, and how you can lose any pension benefits accumulated under this pension plan.

At least 60 days prior to your desired retirement date, please contact the Trust office and request the retirement application. Retirement dates are always the first of a month. You will need to fill out the forms and provide a copy of your birth certificate, your spouse’s birth certificate (if married), your marriage certificate (if married), and any divorce decrees and QDROs (if ever divorced).

You must be at least age 55 and vested in order to elect early retirement.

This Plan is funded through employer contributions. Your employer pays contributions, per a collective bargaining agreement, to finance the Plan. No contributions are required by or permitted from you.

Yes, the benefit is reduced by one quarter of one percent for each month that your retirement precedes age 62. If you have fifteen (15) or more years of credited service, and 200 hours of service in the 24-month period immediately before the date of your early retirement, your monthly benefit is reduced by one twelfth of one percent for each month your retirement date is before age 62.

Annually, usually in April, or you may receive a statement anytime upon request, simply call or send an email to A&I, your Trust Administrator.

A participant is considered totally and permanently disabled for a disability pension if the plan requirements for a disability retirement are met. You must be totally and permanently disabled before your 62nd birthday; and you have earned five (5) years of credited service; and you have been credited with at least 200 hours of service in the 24-month period immediately before your total and permanent disability begins. Definition of total and permanent disability – you must be disabled by bodily injury or disease and not be able to perform job duties for any occupation you are qualified for. The disability must be permanent and continuous during your lifetime. This is further defined in Section 3.3 of the Plan Document.

If you were vested and married for more than one year when you died, your surviving spouse will receive a monthly joint and survivor pension equal to 50% of the benefit you had earned to the date of your death; OR a lump-sum payment equal to the total non-forfeited employer contributions that have been made to the plan on your behalf. If you were not married or not vested, your beneficiary will receive a lump-sum benefit equal to the total non-forfeited employer contributions that have been made to the plan on your behalf.

If you return to work as a Longshoreman under this Plan after having been retired, you will not be eligible to receive your retirement income for any month in which you work 40 or more hours. Your benefit will be “suspended”.