A
A Journeyman Bonus Credits – A rate that is 1/3 of the current Benefit Rate added to the Benefit Rate that is applied to active A Journeyman participants that are vested and continue to work after reaching the Normal Retirement Age of 62 or meeting the Rule of 85.
Accrued Benefit – The pension benefit which has accrued on a Vested Participant’s behalf and which is payable at Normal Retirement Age.
Active Participant – A person who is working in Covered Employment.
Agreement And Declaration Of Trust – Establishing the Electrical Workers Local No. 26 Pension Trust Fund originally entered into as of July 1, 1961, as amended and restated.
Annuity A – Payment made every month in the same dollar amount.
Annuity Starting Date – The first day of the first month for which an Employee is entitled to receive benefits under the Plan.
Avoid (Bridge) A One-Year Break-In-Service – May be bridged for the following reasons: disability (up to a maximum of three years), unemployment (up to two years), strikes and lockouts, military service, or absence due to pregnancy, childbirth, adoption or infant care.
B
Bargaining Unit Alumni – A person who formerly was an Active Participant in the Plan, who earned a Vested pension under the Plan and who now works for a contributing employer in a capacity not covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Beneficiary(ies) – A person(s) designated by the participant to receive all or a portion of any available death benefits payable on the participant’s behalf under the Pension Plan.
Benefit Hour of Service – An hour for which an Employer makes Employer Contributions or is obligated to make Employer Contributions into the Pension Fund on behalf of an Employee.
Benefit Rate – The rate that is multiplied by the number of Benefit Units earned by a participant to determine the participant’s pension benefit amount. There are different Benefit Rates for A Journeyman and Residential Wireman.
Benefit Units – The lesser of: (a) the number of actual Years of Participation in the Plan; and (b) the total number of years and quarters of participation determined by dividing total benefit hours by 1600.
C
Collective Bargaining Agreement – An agreement negotiated between the Union and the DC Chapter of NECA or an Employer, pursuant to which a participating employer is required to pay contributions to the Fund.
Covered Employment – A job covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement between your employer and IBEW Local 26 that requires your employer to make contributions on your behalf to the Pension Plan.
Credit by Hours – Determined by dividing your total benefit hours by 1600.
Credit by Years – The number of actual Years of Participation in the Plan.
E
Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System (ERTS) – A program that allows participants who may be working in another IBEW Local’s jurisdiction to choose where their pension contributions are sent (their home local) or reciprocated.
Employee – is an employee of an Employer on whose behalf the Employer is obligated to make contributions to the Fund pursuant to the terms of an agreement with the Union or the Pension Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Employee” shall not include anyone who is a sole proprietor of an Employer or anyone who owns or controls at least a 15% interest in a partnership which is an Employer, provided that an individual shall not be deemed to possess such “control” if the individual’s sole relationship with the Employer is as an employee performing work covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Employer – is an employer contractually obligated to make employer contributions to this Plan on behalf of its employees.
Employer Contributions – The monies that an Employer is obligated to pay to the Pension Fund pursuant to the terms of a written agreement with the Union or the Pension Fund on behalf of the Employees in Covered Employment.
M
Military Service – The period of time during which an Employee leaves Covered Employment to enter the United States Armed Forces.
Minimum of 400 Hours – To avoid a Break-in-Service, you must work a minimum of 400 hours each calendar year.
N
Normal Retirement Age – The date on which a Vested Employee attains age 62, or the 5th anniversary of participation, if later.
O
One Year Break-In-Service – A year in which an Employee earns less than 400 Vesting hours of service.
P
Pension Fund – The Electrical Workers Local No. 26 Pension Trust Fund.
Pensioner – An Employee who has begun to receive and is still receiving benefits under the Plan.
Permanent Break-In-Service – An Employee who has not been credited with at least five (5) Years of Vesting Service and who has incurred five (5) consecutive One Year Breaks-in-Service shall incur a Permanent Break-in-Service and all Years of Vesting Service earned prior to such time will be permanently canceled.
Personal Representative – Someone you designate to act on your behalf.
Plan – The Electrical Workers Local No. 26 Pension Plan, as amended.
Plan Year – The period from January 1 through December 31.
Pop-Up – An increase applied to a Pensioner’s benefit in the event that the Pensioner elected a Joint & Survivor Benefit form and the Pensioner’s spouse dies before the Pensioner.
Prohibited Employment – Employment in the same industry, trade or craft and geographic region in which other participants are working under the Plan at the time of your retirement.
Q
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) – A court order that meets the requirements of a QDRO under applicable law and the Fund’s QDRO procedures.
R
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) – Effective January 1, 2021, an Employee’s pension benefit must commence by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of: (1) the calendar year in which the Employee reaches age 72; or (2) the calendar year in which the Employee retires. Effective January 1, 2024, an Employee’s pension benefit must commence by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of: (1) the calendar year in which the Employee reaches age 73; or (2) the calendar year in which the Employee retires.
Retirement – The complete, continued and final cessation of work in Covered Employment.
Rollover – You may elect to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account (IRA).
S
Spouse – The term “Spouse” shall mean, with respect to an individual, the person to whom such individual is lawfully married in a binding marriage in accordance with the laws of a State of the United States or the District of Columbia, or, in the case of a marriage outside the United States, the person to whom such individual is lawfully married in a binding marriage in accordance with the laws of such foreign jurisdiction that the Trustees determine to be consistent with the public policy of the United States.
Suspension of Benefits – No benefits shall be payable for any month in which a Pensioner is employed in “Prohibited Employment” for 40 or more hours per month, provided the Pensioner is less than 70 ½ years of age.
T
The Rule of 85 – You are eligible to receive an unreduced pension if your age plus your Years of Vesting Service add up to 85 or more.
Totally & Permanently Disabled – You are considered Totally and Permanently Disabled if, as a result of an injury, disease, or mental disorder, you are unable to engage in any gainful occupation in which you could be reasonably expected to engage in, giving consideration to your experience, training, age, and education, provided it is reasonably certain your condition will continue for the remainder of your life.
Trustees – Persons who have accepted appointment to act as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s Trust agreement.
U
Union – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 26.
V
Vested – You become fully (100%) Vested when you have five years of Vesting Service. Once fully Vested, your right to a pension benefit cannot be taken away.
Vesting Hour of Service – An hour for which an employee is paid for the performance of duties in Covered Employment.
Y
Years of Participation – The number of full years between when you first begin participation, and when you last participate, not including any years in which you worked less than 400 hours.
Years of Vesting Service – You earn one Year of Vesting Service for each calendar year in which you work at least 1600 hours in Covered Employment.