A Full Disability Benefit is a lifetime ancillary benefit, not a pension. You can receive a Full Disability Benefit if you:

• are a Participant who is under age 55;
• are determined to be disabled by the S. Social Security Administration (or Railroad Retirement Board);
• are eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (or disability benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act);
• have at least 10 years of Pension Credit, including at least five years of Future Service Credit;
• have at least 435 Hours of Work in Covered Employment in the 24-month period before the date the U.S. Social Security Administration (or Railroad Retirement Board) found you disabled;
• are not subject to the Person for Whom benefit adjustments (see Person for Whom); and
• have not, at any time after September 1, 1988, worked in Non-Signatory Employment, unless you have:
  • Stopped working in Non-Signatory Employment; and
  • Returned to Covered Employment and earned Pension Credit equal to the number of months you were previously employed in Non-Signatory Employment. Please note, your ability to restore eligibility is limited to your first return to work after your Non-Signatory Employment.

Your Full Disability Benefit will be equal to the amount of the Early Retirement Pension that would be payable had you reached age 55 on the day you became disabled. If you are married, you will be offered a choice of a Lifetime Full Disability Benefit and a Joint and Survivor Annuity. Your Effective Date will be the later of:

• The first day of the seventh month after the date upon which the S. Social Security Administration (or Railroad Retirement Board) deemed you disabled;
• The first day of the seventh month after the last month in which you worked in Covered Employment; or
• The first day of the month after a fully completed application was received by the Fund Office.

If you apply for a Full Disability Benefit or are receiving a Full Disability Benefit, you may be required to submit proof of your continued disability from the U.S. Social Security Administration (or Railroad Retirement Board) or other requested documentation. Failure to do so will make you ineligible for a disability benefit. Full Disability Benefits are subject to modification or termination at any time.

NOTE: Prior to November 30, 2007, the Plan provided an “Industry- Related Disability Benefit.” No applications for an Industry-Related Disability Benefit were accepted after November 30, 2007. Please see the Plan document for more information about this benefit.

Discontinuance of Disability Benefits

If you are receiving a Full Disability Benefit or an Industry-Related Disability Benefit you must meet certain ongoing requirements to continue receiving your disability benefit.

If you recover from a disability, any Full Disability Benefit that you were eligible to receive will not affect your ability to apply for and receive an Early or Normal Retirement Pension benefit. However, if you are still disabled when you reach Normal Retirement Age, your Full Disability Benefit will be treated as your Normal Retirement Pension. The amount of your monthly benefit will remain the same.

Your Full Disability Benefit (or Industry-Related Disability Benefit) will be discontinued if:

• You cease to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits from the Social Security Administration (or disability benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act); or
• You work in Disqualifying Employment which includes Non-Signatory Employment.