What types of absences can prevent an Interruption of Future Service Credit?
A.
Military service, absence for pregnancy, birth, or care of a newborn child, and certain other employment may prevent an Interruption of Future Service Credit . See Sections II(C), II(J) and IV(C) of the Plan Document for more complete information.
Q.
What happens if I have an Interruption of Future Service Credit?
A.
If you have an Interruption of Future Service Credit and you have accrued fewer than five years of Credited Service, then your participation under the Plan ends, and you could lose your Pension Credit. Special rules may apply, such as when you transfer to employment covered by a pension fund that participates in a formal pro rata Pension Credit agreement with the Plan.
If you have accrued five or more years of Credited Service (or Vesting Service), then you have a vested right to future Retirement Benefits. Benefits that are vested cannot be lost even if you have an Interruption of Future Service Credit. [Section V(F)]
Q.
What happens if I have an Interruption of Future Service Credit with fewer than five years of Credited Service, and I later return to employment covered by the Plan? Can I forfeit Credited Service?
A.
If you are not vested and you have a Break in Service (fewer than 400 hours of Credited Service, and no more than 500 hours in Covered Employment and Non-Covered Employment, each year for five consecutive years), then you have a Forfeiture of Service. If you subsequently return to work in Covered Employment, you are treated as if you are working in Covered Employment for the first time.
If you return to Covered Employment in fewer than five years and you have at least the minimum hours of service in the same Plan Year, you will not forfeit the credit you had at the time of that specific Interruption of Future Service Credit.
Q.
Suppose I transfer to Non-Covered Employment with an employer under the Plan??
A.
If you were not vested in your benefits when you transferred to Non-Covered Employment with an employer under the Plan, then you may become vested in your benefits from this Plan based in part on credit for Non-Covered Employment. You will be 100% vested if you have five years of Vesting Service, regardless of how much Credited Service you earn. Non-Covered Employment does not increase the amount of your pension benefit. Contact Retirement Services for more information about this.[Section II(X)]