Summary Plan Description Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Funding Improvement Plan
- Pension Plan Highlights
- Beginning Work
- Leaving Work
- Getting Married or Divorced
- Preparing for Retirement
- Receiving a Pension
- Choosing a Payment Option
- Returning to Work
- In the Event of Death
- Administrative Information
- Definitions
- Table 1: Early Retirement Pension Reduction Factors for Benefits Accrued on or Before May 31, 2018
- Table 1A: Early Retirement Pension Reduction Factors for Benefits Accrued on or After June 1, 2018
- Table 2: Deferred Pension Early Retirement Reduction Factors
- Table 3: Actuarial Equivalent Reduction Factors for Pension Before Suspension of Benefits
Beginning Work
Covered Employment
Work performed during the Contribution Period for an Employer who contributes to the Pension Fund in a job covered by a written Agreement with the Union.
Becoming a Participant
As a Participant in the Pension Plan, you are eligible to earn Pension Credits and Vesting Service. Generally, you become a Participant in the Plan on the earliest January 1 or July 1 after you complete a 12 consecutive month period beginning with your employment commencement date during which you work at least 500 Hours of Work. If you fail to work at least 500 Hours of Work during that period, you will become a Participant following any subsequent calendar year in which you work at least 500 Hours of Work.
Example
Cal starts working on April 1, 2020, and completes 500 Hours of Work before April 1, 2021. Cal becomes a Participant on July 1, 2021.
Hours of Work
Each hour for which you are paid or entitled to be paid by a Contributing Employer for the performance of duties, including back pay. However, if you work for a Contributing Employer in a job not covered by this Plan, that non-Covered Employment will also be counted as Hours of Work under the Plan if it is continuous with (immediately before or after) Covered Employment with that same Employer.
You will cease to be a Participant as of the last day of the calendar year in which you incurred a one year break in service if you have not acquired a right to a pension. Your participation will be reinstated retroactively as of your reemployment commencement date if you complete a 12-consecutive month period during which you complete at least 500 Hours of Work.
Hours of Work
An Hour of Work is each hour for which you are paid or entitled to be paid by your Employer. This includes back pay, irrespective of mitigation of damages that are awarded or agreed to by the Employer and any period when no duties are performed, such as vacation time, jury duty, sickness, etc. Hours of Work also include your Continuous Employment with the same Employer even if part of that work is not in a job covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Hours of Work in Continuous Employment may be used toward earning Vesting Service.
If you earned Pension Credits and Vesting Service for work performed before you became a Participant, those hours may be credited retroactively once you become a Participant.
Earning Vesting Service
You earn a right to a pension benefit once you are “vested” in the Plan. You become vested once you complete 5 Years of Vesting Service (or reach Normal Retirement Age, if earlier). Otherwise, Years of Vesting Service earned before a permanent break in service will not count in determining your eligibility for a Deferred Pension.
Generally, you earn one Year of Vesting Service for each calendar year during the Contribution Period in which you complete at least 500 Hours of Work. For information about earning Vesting Service before December 31, 1971, contact the Fund Office.
Earning Pension Credits
Generally, you earn one Year of Vesting Service for each calendar year during the Contribution Period in which you complete at least 500 Hours of Work.
Pension Credits are used to determine the amount of your pension benefit. They are also used to determine eligibility for certain types of pension benefits. You earn Pension Credits under the Plan as follows:
On and after January 1, 1972: You earn one Pension Credit for each calendar year in which you complete at least 500 Hours of Work.
From June 1, 1971, through December 31, 1971: You earn one Pension Credit if you complete at least 291 Hours of Work during this seven-month period.
From June 1, 1961, through May 31, 1971: You earn one Pension Credit for each year (June 1 through May 31) during which you perform the majority of your work in the electrical industry under the jurisdiction of I.B.E.W. Local 701.
Before June 1, 1961: Pension Credits cannot be earned before June 1, 1961.
You may also earn Pension Credits for certain non-work periods due to disability and military service.
Example
In 2020, Joe worked 1,000 Hours of Work. At the end of 2020, Joe was credited with one Pension Credit because he worked at least 500 Hours of Work in the 2020 calendar year.
Pension Credits for Periods of Disability
Rules often differ for work performed during the Contribution Period (beginning June 1, 1971, when Employers were first required to contribute to the Fund on the Participants’ behalf) and for work performed before the Contribution Period.
If you have earned at least one Pension Credit during the Contribution Period (after May 31, 1971), you may receive additional Pension Credits if you are absent from Covered Employment due to a disability. Pension Credits will be granted if you are:
Disabled and your disability is confirmed by evidence satisfactory to the Board of Trustees; and
Unable to perform work in Covered Employment because of your disability.
If, however, you are disabled due to drug addiction, chronic alcoholism, intentional self-inflicted injury, or because you were engaged in an act of crime, you will not receive Pension Credit during your disability. In addition, you will not be entitled to receive non-work Pension Credits while receiving any pension under the Plan.
You will be credited with 20 non-work hours for each week you are absent from Covered Employment because of disability.
You will not receive Vesting Service or Pension Credits for your military service if you separated from the Uniformed Services with a disqualifying discharge or under other than honorable conditions.
Military Service
In addition to your Hours of Service, you may also receive Vesting Service and Pension Credits for qualified military service under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994.
If you re-enter Covered Employment on or after December 12, 1994, you will be credited with Hours of Service during your service in the Uniformed Services. You will be credited with Hours of Service based on your average contribution rate for all completed calendar months in the calendar year you left Covered Employment to enter the military. If you did not have any completed months in the calendar year, then the preceding calendar year will be used to calculate the average. The hours of contributions will be based on the average number of hours in Covered Employment you worked for all completed calendar months in the calendar year you enter the military, up to 1,750 hours each calendar year. Any additional Pension Credit will be granted as required by federal law.
You must notify your Employer and the Plan before you enter the military and after you return from service. Contact your Employer or the Fund Office for additional information.
To receive Vesting Service and Pension Credits for your time in military service, the service must be qualified military service (as defined in the Plan) and you must meet all requirements of USERRA, including not having a separation from service with a disqualifying discharge or under other than honorable conditions, and reemployment or availability for employment within 90 days of discharge or after recovery from military service disability or as specified by USERRA.
If you die while in qualified military service, the Plan will treat you as if you had returned to covered employment before your death. This provision is effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2007. You will be entitled to any additional benefits, such as survivor benefits, that are available to any Participant who dies while still an active Employee. Survivor benefits may include the Pre-Retirement Death Benefit and the Pre-Retirement Surviving Spouse Benefit (if you are married).