Summary Plan Description Table of Contents
Your Rights Under ERISA
As a participant in the I.B.E.W. Local 701 Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Fund of the Electrical Industry, you are entitled to certain rights and protections under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended (ERISA). ERISA provides that all Plan participants are entitled to:
RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PLAN AND BENEFITS
Examine, without charge, at the Administrative Manager's office and at other specified locations, such as worksites and union halls, all documents governing the Plan, including insurance contracts and collective bargaining agreements, and a copy of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor and available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration.
Obtain, upon written request to the Administrative Manager, copies of documents governing the operation of the Plan, including collective bargaining agreements, and copies of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series) and updated summary Plan description. The administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies.
Receive a summary of the Plan's annual financial report. The Plan Administrator is required by law to furnish each participant with a copy of this summary annual report.
PRUDENT ACTIONS BY PLAN FIDUCIARIES -In addition to creating rights for Plan participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the employee benefit Plan. The people who operate your Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the Plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan participants and beneficiaries. No one, including your employer, your union, or any other person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a welfare benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.
ENFORCE YOUR RIGHTS -If your claim for a SUB Fund 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. Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of Plan documents or the latest annual report from the Plan and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a Federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Administrative Manager to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the administrator. If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or Federal court. In addition, if you disagree with the Plan's decision or lack thereof concerning the qualified status of a medical child support order, you may file suit in Federal court. If you believe that Plan fiduciaries misuse the Plan's money, or if you believe you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a Federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If you are successful the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees. If you have any questions about your Plan, you should contact the Fund Administrator. If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Administrative Manager, you should contact the nearest office of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
HOW TO READ OR GET PLAN MATERIAL -You can read the material listed in the previous section by making an appointment at the Fund Office during normal business hours. This same information can be made available for your examination at certain locations other than the Fund Office. The Fund Office will inform you of these locations and tell you how to make an appointment to examine this material at these locations. Also, copies of the material will be mailed to you if you send a written request to the Fund Office. There may be a small charge for copying some of the material. Before requesting material, call the Fund Office to find out the cost. If a charge is made, your check must be attached to your written request for the material.