Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Frequently Asked Retirement Questions


Q. What types of benefits are available? 
A. There are four types of benefits; Single Life Annuity, 50% Joint and Survivorship Annuity, 75% Joint and Survivorship Annuity, Single Lump-Sum Distribution, and Single Lump-Sum Rollover.

Note: A Participant may choose a combination of a partial rollover, partial distribution.  

Q. How can I decide which funds to invest in?
A.
The principal source of information on each investment option is its prospectus. A prospectus is a document which the mutual fund is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to produce each year and which contains detailed information on investing style, past performance, fees assets under investment, as well as other information.
For information related to retirement planning or investment allocations, please contact Fidelity at 1-866-848-6466.
Q. How will my contributions be invested?
A. The Retirement Plan is a “section 404 (c) plan,” the money in your account will be invested according to your instructions. The Board of Trustees, with the assistance of its professional advisors, has designed a program allowing you to decide how your contributions in the Plan are invested. There are three general categories of investments that comprise the self-directed investment program: Managed Lifestyle Portfolios, Publicly Traded Mutual Funds, and Self-Directed Sub Accounts.  These options are described in more detail in the Summary Plan Description beginning on page 13.
Q. How do I become vested in my account?
A. Your account balance is always fully vested. However, benefit payments can be withheld until you provide all the information needed to process your claim. Benefit payments can also be reduced or withheld if there has been an erroneous over-payment. Finally, even though your account balances is always fully vested, you still must meet the requirements of the Plan in order to receive a payment.
Q. Where do the contributions come from?
A.

The Plan is funded with contributions by your employer. The amount of the contribution is determined by the collective bargaining agreement.

After-tax employee contributions are not permitted. However, if you are eligible for a distribution from another tax-qualified pension or profit sharing plan, you may be able to have that distribution transferred to the Plan. The rules relating to the transfer of money from another tax-qualified pension or profit sharing plan are complicated and not all transfers can be accepted by the Plan. Therefore, you should check with the Fund Office before you request a transfer to the Plan to make certain that the Plan can accept it without jeopardizing the tax-favored status of the Plan. 

Q. How do I become a participant in the Retirement Plan?
A. You become a participant in the Plan as soon as an employer is required to make a contribution on your behalf.
Q. When can I receive benefits from this account?
A.
Answer: The basic criteria for each type of benefits are as follows:
Normal Retirement: Age 65 and terminate employment on or after your normal retirement age.
Early Retirement: Age 55 and terminate employment on or after your normal retirement age.
Termination: Any age and no employer contributions including those received under a reciprocity agreement have been made or are owed to you for 6 consecutive months.
Disability: Any age and totally and permanently disabled from engaging in any further employment as a Plumber and Pipefitter.
Death of Participant: Benefits are paid to your eligible surviving spouse or beneficiary and/or beneficiaries' once application(s) and proper documentation is submitted. 
Q. May I borrow from my account?
A. No.
Q. How will I know how much is in my account?
A.
You will receive a quarterly statement on your NWOPP Retirement Plan.
  • You may access your account via the internet. The web site address is http:/www.netbenefits.com/nwopp . To access your account information, you will need a secure browser, your Social Security number and your personal identification number (PIN). The site is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. 
  • You may contact Fidelity directly at (866) 84-UNION, to speak to a financial advisor.
  • On the web-site you can find out your account balance, investment performance, change your PIN, change your investment options or request a prospectus of the various investment options. 
  • You may also contact the Benefit Office at (419) 662-1388. They can provide you with the necessary forms to make changes to your investment options. 
  • Address Change Forms, available on the Participant web-site, must be submitted to the Benefit Office. 
  • Application Forms, available on the Participant web-site, must be submitted to the Benefit Office for processing.  
Q. How are Plan Expenses Allocated?
A. General expenses of administering the Plan will be charged against the various investment funds on a periodic basis. However, as noted earlier, the fee for a self-directed sub-account will be charged directly against your account. Also, the fees incurred by the Plan in reviewing a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) will also be charged directly against your account before the assignment of the benefits to the former spouse occurs.