About The Welfare Plan

---

Employees may become eligible for benefit coverage if they perform work in Covered Employment under the jurisdiction of a participating Local Union, subject to the provisions shown below:

Initial Eligibility – New Employees

Employees who are not eligible for benefits may become eligible as follows:

A new Employee will qualify for benefits on the first of the Benefit Quarter immediately following the month in which they work 480 hours in Covered Employment in a four (4) consecutive month period or less. Eligibility will remain in effect until the end of such Quarterly Benefit Period as described below:

Qualifying Period

480 hours in any four (4) or less consecutive months.

Quarterly Benefit Period

1. October, November, December

2. January, February, March

3. April, May, June

4. July, August, September

Continuing Eligibility

Once you become Initially Eligible, your benefits will continue, provided you have accumulated a total of 380 or more Hours of Covered Employment within the Qualifying Quarter. Benefits will continue until the end of the Benefit Quarter.

Table of Continuing Qualifying and Benefit Quarters

380 Hours worked during a qualifying quarter provides benefits during the subsequent benefit quarter.

Qualifying Quarter/Benefit Quarter

1. Jun, Jul, Aug/Oct, Nov, Dec

2. Sep, Oct, Nov/Jan, Feb, Mar

3. Dec, Jan, Feb/Apr, May, Jun

4. Mar, Apr, May/Jul, Aug, Sep

Cumulative Eligibility – The Hour Bank

The purpose of the Hour Bank (Bank Hours) is to assist you in retaining your benefits during short periods of illness or seasonably low periods of employment provided you are actively at/or available for work with a Contributing Employer. After establishing Initial Eligibility, any hours of covered Employment you work, in excess of 380 hours in a Qualifying Quarter, will be credited to your account in the Hour Bank. The maximum number of hours that you may accumulate in the Hour Bank at any one time is 840. If you do not work at least 380 hours of Covered Employment in a Qualifying Quarter, the necessary number of hours will, if available in your Hour Bank, automatically be withdrawn to continue your insurance in the next Benefit Quarter after eligibility termination.

Self Pay for Continuing Eligibility

If an Eligible Employee works at least 100 hours in a Qualifying Quarter, he will be permitted to make Self Pay for the next Benefit Quarter. The amount of the Self Pay will be determined by subtracting his hours worked in the Qualifying Quarter including any Bank Hours from 380 hours. Each hour shall be paid at the current contribution rate. Initial Eligibility may not be established through Self Pay. Payments are due by the 10th of the first month of the benefit Quarter during which coverage is being provided.

Termination of Eligibility

Your benefits will terminate on the last day of any Benefit Quarter if in the Qualifying Quarter you do not work at least 380 hours, supplemented by your reserve from the Hour Bank and/or utilization of the Self Pay Provision. Upon termination of eligibility, an Eligible Employee will be provided the opportunity to elect COBRA continuation as outlined in the COBRA Provisions of the Plan.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

Your coverage will be reinstated for benefits as of the first day of any Benefit Quarter following a Qualifying Quarter in which you have accumulated 380 or more hours of Covered Employment. If, however, you have no eligible hours (including Self Pay Hours) reported for a period of four consecutive Qualifying Quarters, you will be required to again meet the Initial Eligibility requirements.

If you believe you have worked sufficient hours for eligibility, please contact the plan office for an application. If you plan to apply in person at the plan office, please be advised that  you will need supporting documentation to enroll any dependents (Marriage Certificate for Spouse, Birth Certificate for Child)