Summary Plan Description

Disability Retirement

The Plan provides for the payment of a Disability Retirement Benefit if you are totally and permanently disabled and are entitled to receive disability benefits under the Social Security Act prior to reaching age 60, and you meet all of the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the receipt of the Disability Retirement Benefit, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You must be permanently and totally disabled. You are considered permanently and totally disabled when, due to injury or disease incurred while employed by a Contributing Employer, you become unable to engage in any occupation for wage and profit, and have been so disabled for a period of at least 27 weeks.

You will not be considered disabled if the disability was suffered or incurred while you were engaged in a criminal enterprise, or if the disability resulted from an intentional self-inflicted injury; and

2. You must be entitled to receive disability benefits under the Social Security Act and submit a copy of your "Certificate of Social Insurance Award" to the Trustees for their approval; and

3. You must have earned at least 10 Years of Credited Service, of which at least 5 years are Future Credited Service (contributory service). It is important to note that eligibility for the Disability Retirement Benefit is based on the Years of Credited Service, and not on the Years of Participation, that you earn.

Computation Of Benefit

You may estimate the amount of the Disability Retirement Benefit you will receive each month, if you are permanently and totally disabled and meet the eligibility requirements, by following these steps:

1.  Estimate the number of Years of Credited Service you will have earned at the time of your Disability Retirement Date. You can find out the amount of Credited Service you have earned by making a written request to the Fund Office.

2.  Determine your Employer's last Contribution Rate Schedule. Turn to Tables 1 through 6 and look for your Employer's last Contribution Rate Schedule. If your Contribution Rate Schedule is not listed on the Tables, the Fund Office will provide you with your Contribution Rate Schedule upon written request.

3.  Find your Unit Multiplier for Disability Retirement Benefits by referring to Tables 1 through 6, as appropriate. If your Unit Multiplier is not listed on the Tables, the Fund Office will provide you with your Unit Multiplier upon written request.

For all Contribution Rate Schedules with a Unit Multiplier greater than $20, the Unit Multiplier for the Disability Retirement Benefit is limited to $20. However, after you reach Normal Retirement Age, your benefit will be determined on the basis of the appropriate Unit Multiplier for the Normal Retirement Benefit.

5.  The application of the Qualified Joint and Survivor Benefit is explained in the Section entitled "Qualified Joint And Survivor Benefit" at page 43.

Example

Assume that you become totally and permanently disabled through some unavoidable cause before age 60, you are entitled to receive disability benefits under the Social Security Act, you submit a copy of your "Certificate of Social Insurance Award" to the Trustees for their approval, and you have completed 20 Years of Credited Service of which at least 5 years are Future Credited Service. Your Disability Retirement Benefit is $400 (20 years x $20 Unit Multiplier). You will receive this amount every month from your Disability Retirement Date until you reach age 60, at which time you will receive the appropriate Normal Retirement Benefit. This example assumes that you and, if married, your spouse waived all Survivor Options.

Effective Payment Date Of Disability Retirement Benefit

Effective October 18, 1984, the effective payment date of the Disability Retirement Benefit is the date of disability as determined by the Social Security Administration, plus the 27-week period of continuous disability. For example, if the Social Security Administration's "Certificate of Social Insurance Award" finds you totally and permanently disabled as of January 1, 1999, your Disability Retirement Benefit will begin 27 weeks later. But remember, you must file an application and meet the other eligibility requirements to be eligible for the Disability Retirement Benefit.

Suspension Of Disability Retirement Benefit

You will receive the Disability Retirement Benefit only for as long as you continue to remain disabled and receive Social Security disability benefits. The Plan requires that you furnish evidence on a regular basis, but not more frequently than twice a year, that your disability still totally and permanently disables you. Of course, once you reach your Normal Retirement Age, your Disability Retirement Benefit will be terminated and replaced by your Normal Retirement Benefit.

You may be requested by the Board of Trustees to provide evidence to the Fund Office, in the form required, on a periodic basis that you continue to be totally and permanently disabled.

If you do not continue to be totally and permanently disabled, or you engage in any occupation or employment for wage or profit while you are disabled, or you are no longer receiving Social Security disability benefits, your Disability Retirement Benefit will be suspended and you will be liable for the repayment to the Plan of all Disability Retirement Benefits you received after you are no longer totally and permanently disabled, or after you engaged in an occupation for wage or profit while you were disabled, or after you ceased receiving Social Security disability benefits.

When you reach Normal Retirement Age, and your Disability Retirement Benefit is automatically changed to the Normal Retirement Benefit, the benefit is then subject to the benefit suspension provisions of the Plan explained at page 59.

Remember, you may not engage in any occupation or employment for wage or profit while you are disabled.

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