In order for your pension benefit to start you will need to notify the Plan Administrator's Office at least 90 days before your benefit will begin. You may contact the Trust office to request an application form. At the time that you apply for your pension benefit it will be required that you provide satisfactory evidence of your age. The most satisfactory evidence is a copy of your birth certificate. If you are married, it will be necessary for you to provide evidence of your spouse’s birth date, similar in nature to that required for yourself, as well as proof of marriage. If you have been divorced, you will need to submit a copy of the divorce decree or QDRO.

Benefits may begin on the first day of the month specified in your Pension Application, but no earlier than the month following the month in which you turn 57 for Early Retirement and Special Early Retirement, and 55 for Rule of 85 Retirement.

Generally speaking, the benefit is reduced for retirements prior to age 62. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Please refer to your Plan booklet for additional guidelines.

If you have become permanently disabled by a bodily injury, disease, or mental disorder incurred while you were employed or available for employment in the jurisdiction of the Union, and have earned at least 501 Covered Hours in the Plan Year you became permanently disabled (or in either of the two previous Plan Years), and have a written determination from the Social Security Administration of total and permanent disability and a disability onset date, you will be eligible for a disability benefit. A Social Security Disability may be evidence of your disability but will not be the sole criteria to determine if you will receive a disability pension. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to your Plan Booklet.

You will continue to receive your Pension Statement on an annual basis. Please be sure to update the Trust office with your change of address if you move.

Yes, please refer to your Summary Plan Description for details.

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.