Benefit Application and Appeals Procedure

In this Section:

1. Notices of Claim Denials
2. Appeal Procedures

If you are planning to retire and wish to commence receipt of benefits from this Plan, you should apply about three months before you expect to stop working. For distributions following severance of all employment with all contributing employers, you should apply approximately nine months after you stop working.

You may obtain benefit application forms from the Fund Office at the address shown in this document. Application forms are also available on the Trust Fund’s website at (www.oefi.org).

No benefits can be paid unless and until an application has been filed. An application shall be considered to be filed as soon as it and all required related information is received by the Fund Office. If you have not provided all the necessary information and documents, the Fund Office will inform you of the additional information and/or documents needed, as soon as reasonably possible.