Non-Assignment of Benefits

You cannot sell, transfer or assign any part of the benefits payable to you or any interest you have in the Plan before you receive those benefits or that interest. The Trustees will not recognize or comply with any such sale, transfer or assignment. Also, the Plan will attempt to protect your Plan benefits from creditors or other claimants who try to take them by court order, garnishment, execution or other legal process to the full extent available under the law.

There are some exceptions to this rule:

• The Plan must comply with a lien from the Internal Revenue Service.
• The Plan must comply with the provisions of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).
• The Plan will allow you to have your premium for Retiree Health &Welfare Plan coverage to be automatically deducted from your monthly pension check.

If the Plan receives competing claims to Plan benefits and cannot determine the proper person or persons to pay, the Plan will file a lawsuit in an appropriate court and ask the court to decide which person or persons should receive the benefits.