OFFICE LOCATION
ILA Employers Welfare Fund
10 Mersey Way,
Savannah, Georgia 31405

MAILING ADDRESS
ILA Employers Welfare Fund
P O Box 1280
Savannah, Georgia 31498

Tel: (912) 233-0218
Fax: (912) 233-5195

OFFICE HOURS
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday,
except for Holidays.

Email: info@ilasav.com

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P E N S I O N

Important Information About Retirement Benefits

Applying For Benefits Under The Plan
To begin receiving benefits under the plan, you must complete and turn in an application form. Application forms are available from the Welfare Fund Office. On the application
form, you will be able to choose the time that your benefit payments will begin and the payment method.

Within 90 days of receiving your application, the Board of Trustees’ Joint Pension Committee will work to send you a written notice about your claim. If the Committee needs more time to make a decision, you will be notified about the delay. The notice will state whether your claim is accepted or denied. If any part of your claim is denied, the notice will explain the reasons for denial under the terms of the plan. The notice will
also specify plan provisions on which the denial is based, as well as explain the plan’s claim review procedures. In addition, the notice will list any information you need to
provide so that your claim can be reviewed. If you do not receive a written notice within the 90-day period, you can assume your claim has been denied.

Appealing A Claim
Within 60 days after you have received the written denial from the Committee, you will have the opportunity to appeal the claim denial to the Committee for a full and fair review. If you do not receive a written denial from the Committee, you have 60 days from the end of the initial 90-day review period to appeal. You, or your authorized representative, may:

v request, in writing, a review by the Committee
v submit comments and issues in writing
v review applicable documents

After you have made the appeal, the Committee will make its decision no later than 60 days after it receives your request for a review, unless the Committee determines in special cases, more time may be necessary for the review. In this case, the time limit may be extended by the Committee for another 60 days. The Committee’s decision on the review will be written, and will be final.

Assignment of Benefits
Because your pension plan benefit is intended to provide security during your retirement years, benefits are not assignable to the claims of any creditor. The plan, however, provides that your benefits may be paid to a divorced spouse, child or other dependents under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).

A QDRO is any judgment, decree or order — including certain property settlement agreements — that provides child support, alimony and/or property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent under state domestic relations law, including community property law. The order must also meet certain requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Tax
Code.

You can obtain a copy of the procedures governing QDRO determinations from the plan administrator without charge. See the Important Information Section for contact information for the plan administrator.

Tax Information
Monthly payments from the pension plan are taxable. The Joint Pension Committee will withhold taxes on your payments. You can, however, elect not to have taxes withheld,
but you are responsible for estimating and paying federal and applicable state or local income taxes. If you underestimate your taxes, you may have to pay a penalty. You decide whether you want to have taxes withheld for you at the time you receive any payment from the plan. You may also change that decision at any time by notifying the Welfare Fund Office in writing.

If part of your benefit is paid in a lump sum, you may choose to have that portion of your payout transferred as a direct rollover to another employer’s plan or to an Individual Retirement Account to avoid additional withholding. If you don’t choose a direct rollover, the plan must withhold 20% federal income tax on your payout.

Before making decisions about your pension payments, you may want to ask a tax advisor about the effect of taxes on your benefit.

When Benefits May Not Be Paid
There are some situations when benefits may not be payable, or may be less than you expect.

v If you do not apply for benefits or fail to provide information needed to compute benefits, no benefit can be paid.
v Federal tax law provides some maximums for benefits payable under the plan. The maximums do not apply in most cases. If the maximums do apply to your benefits, you will be notified before retirement.
v If you terminate employment before becoming vested and are never rehired, then you will not qualify for benefits.
v If you die before becoming vested, your spouse or beneficiary will not qualify for benefits.

Special Rules For Top Heavy Plans
The Internal Revenue Service has issued special rules for plans that become “top heavy.” Generally, the plan will be top heavy if the value of the benefits for the highly-paid employees is more than 60% of the value of the benefits for all covered
employees.

It is unlikely that this plan will ever become top heavy. If it does, you will receive complete information about any adjustments to the benefit formula.

Your Social Security Benefits
In addition to the benefits from the plan, you and your spouse, if eligible, may also receive Social Security benefits. Social Security payments are an important part of your total income when you retire. It is important to know some key facts about Social Security. You can get more information and apply for benefits at your local Social Security office.

The age at which full Social Security benefits begin depends on your year of birth.

To fund your Social Security benefits, each year you and your employer pay taxes on your earnings up to the yearly Social Security taxable wage limit. The amount of your benefit depends, in general, on the amount of your earnings covered by Social Security taxes.

In addition to retirement benefits, Social Security provides:

v benefits for disability
v survivor benefits
v hospital, surgical and other medical benefits under Medicare.

Keep in mind that Social Security benefits are not paid automatically — you must apply for them. You should also apply for Medicare coverage shortly before you reach age 65.
Contact your local Social Security office for details.