FAQs

What type of plan is the Graphic Arts Industry Joint Pension Trust?
The Graphic Arts Industry Joint Pension Trust is a multi-employer, defined benefit pension plan.

What is a Defined Benefit Plan?
A defined benefit plan provides participants who meet the plan’s vesting criteria with a specific monthly benefit.

How is the Plan funded?
Funding for the Plan comes entirely from employer contributions and investment earnings.

How do I become vested for pension benefits?
A Participant achieves Vested Status upon accumulating five years of Vesting Service if the Participant also accumulates one Hour of Service covered by the Plan after June 30, 1999.  a Participant who does not have one Hour of Service covered by the Plan after June 30, 1999, but has 300 Hours of Service during a Plan Year after June 30, 1987, may also achieve Vested Status upon accumulating five years of Vesting Service.  If a Participant does not satisfy either of these requirements, he or she achieves Vested Status upon accumulating ten years of Vesting Service.

What is a Year of Vesting Service?
 A Participant will receive a year of Vesting Service for each Plan Year (beginning July 1 and ending June 30) during which he or she is paid for at least 500 hours of work for which a Participating Employer is required to make Contributions to this Plan on his or her behalf.

What are the different types of pension benefits?
The Plan provides four basic types of benefits:

  1. Normal Retirement Pension. For Participants who retire from Covered Employment at age 65 or older.
  2. Early Retirement Pension. For Participants who retire directly from Covered Employment at age 55 or older with Vested Status based only on years of Contributory Service.
  3. Vested Pension. For Participants who leave Covered Employment with Vested Status prior to age 55 and those whose Vested Status is not based on Contributory Service.
  4. Disability Pension. For Participants who become totally and permanently disabled, as defined by the Plan, within 12 months of working in Covered Employment with Vested Status based only on years of Contributory Service. Note that eligibility of a Disability Pension is subject to the terms of the Schedule elected by your last Covered Employer under the Rehabilitation Plan- Sept 2010 under Forms and Publications or call the Fund Office.

What are the optional forms of benefit payments?

There are three standard forms of benefits for all local unions:

  1. Single Life Annuity. A participant will receive a pension for his or her lifetime. Upon his or her death, all benefits will stop.
  2. 50% Spouse Joint and Survivor Annuity. A participant will receive a reduced pension for his or her lifetime. Upon his or her death, the surviving spouse will receive 50% of the reduced benefit for his or her lifetime.
  3. 75% Spouse Joint and Survivor Annuity. A participant will receive a reduced pension for his or her lifetime. Upon his or her death, the surviving spouse will receive 75% of the reduced benefit for his or her lifetime.

How do I obtain estimated pension benefits for a particular age?
You may contact the Fund office by phone (571) 800-1860 or by mail and request estimates for the optional forms of benefit payments for a specific age or date.

How do I apply for benefits?
If a participant is actively working in Covered Employment, he or she should contact their local union office and request a pension application.  If a participant is no longer working in Covered Employment, he or she may contact the Fund office and request an application or can download an application from this website.  Please note that we only process applications within six months of a participant’s intended retirement effective date.  All pensions are effective on the first day of the month and we must receive an application in the month prior to a participant’s intended retirement effective date. Normal processing time is approximately 30 to 60 days.

Can I have my pension payments sent directly to my bank as a direct deposit?
A participant may have his or her monthly pension payments sent directly to a U.S. bank via electronic fund transfer.  The Fund recommends having pension payments sent to the bank or financial institution as a direct deposit.  A direct deposit authorization form may be obtained from this website or by contacting the Fund office.  Once a participant is in pay status, he or she may expect that the bank will receive benefit payments on the first business day of each month.

What if I don’t receive my pension check at the beginning of the month?
If a participant chooses to have his or her monthly benefit check sent by mail, he or she may expect to receive payment on or about the first business day of the month.  Sometimes there is a delay by the post office and we ask that you wait until the 10th of the month before requesting for a replacement check. If a check is lost or has not been received, call the Fund Office after the 10th of the month and we will send a replacement check.