To become a Participant in the Plan you must work for at least 12 months for an Employer who is required to contribute to the Plan on your behalf. This is called Covered Employment . Within this 12-month period, you must complete 700 Hours of Service in Covered Employment beginning on the date when contributions are first made (or due to be made) on your behalf. The date of your initial participation in the Plan will then be the earlier of the January 1 or July 1 following this 12-month period. 

In the event of a divorce, you will need to provide the Fund Office with a copy of your Divorce Decree, which will determine whether or not there is a Qualified Domestic Relation Order (QDRO) in place, a Domestic Relations Order may allocate a portion of your assets in the Plan to your spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent. Upon receipt of a QDRO, the Plan Administrator will determine the validity of any Domestic Relations Order received and will determine if any or all of your benefits may be used to satisfy any obligation.

You may consult with the Social Security Administration to determine whether your pension benefit has an impact towards you receiving a Social Security benefit.

No, your pension benefit cannot be sold, signed over, or pledged to anyone. 

If your claim for a pension or disability benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules.

The Fund Office has up to 180 days to process your claim for a pension benefit, however, we recommend submitting your Pension Application at least 2-3 months in advance of your desired retirement date. 

When submitting an Application to commence your pension benefit you must supply our office with proof age documents for yourself and spouse if you are married, acceptable documents are birth certificate or passports, in the event that this is not available please contact our office to request a listing of acceptable documents that may be submitted to confirm your identity. In addition, if you are a married participant you must supply us with your marriage certificate, in the event of a divorce you must submit a Divorce Decree along with any existing Settlement Agreements or Qualified Domestic Relation Orders.

You may contact the Fund Office to request a tax withholding form that must be completed and returned to the Fund.

You may contact the Fund Office and request a direct deposit form which you must complete and return to the Fund. 

The Fund Office offers the option to receive a paper check that is mailed to your home or by direct deposit that occurs on or about the 1st of every month. If you receive a paper check delivered to your home address, you must allow 10 days before the Fund Office can issue you a replacement check. In the event that you receive your monthly pension benefit in the form of Direct Deposit, you may contact the Fund after the 1st of the month to have your benefit reissued. 

You may contact the Fund Office to request a change of address form that must be completed and returned to our office. 

You may contact the Fund Office to request sample Qualified Domestic Relations Order templates in the event that your Divorce results in an allocation of your monthly pension benefit to a former spouse.