Effective Date (Annuity Starting Date)

The first date for which your pension is payable is called the Effective Date or Annuity Starting Date. Except as outlined under Required Payments below, the Fund Office cannot pay a pension to you unless you are retired and have filed a pension application.

Pensions are usually effective on the first day of the month after the completed pension application is received by the Fund Office. Commencement of payments may be delayed due to administrative processing. However, once payments commence, they will be retroactive to the first of the month following receipt of the application or later if requested by the Participant.

Disability Pension payments cannot be effective before the date you are determined to be Totally and Permanently Disabled. To assure that your pension will be paid as soon as possible, it is advisable to file your pension application with the Fund Office at the same time that you apply for Social Security Disability benefits and promptly send the Social Security Disability Award letter you receive from Social Security to the Fund Office.

Your Effective Date must be at least 30 days after the Fund Office gives you a written explanation of the forms of payment and estimates of the monthly pension amounts under each form. You will have a period of not more than 90 days before your pension begins or fewer than 30 days after you receive the written explanation to make your election. The 30-day minimum period may be waived if you and your Spouse agree to the waiver, you are given at least 7 days to change an election, and your pension begins no earlier than the 8th day after the Fund Office provides the written explanation. The 30-day minimum period is also waived if your benefit is being paid in a lump sum because the value of your lifetime benefit is $5,000 or less.