Contact A&I at least 90 days prior to your desired retirement date to request a retirement application. You will be required to provide photocopies of your birth certificate (or two pieces of identification with date of birth, such as driver's license, passport, or military ID). If you have been previously divorced, you will also need to submit a copy of your divorce decree.

A Participant may elect “Early Retirement” after reaching age 55 provided that you meet the requirements. Your monthly pension benefit will be reduced based on your age when applying for benefits. You may also take an unreduced pension at age 62.

Should you elect to retire and draw benefits before reaching age 65, the amount of your monthly pension benefit will be reduced for each month that your early retirement date precedes your normal retirement date. If you were a covered employee with the Lumber Industry Pension Fund after 1987, then you would take approximately a 5% reduction for each year under age 62. For example, you are currently age 55 and want to begin collecting your benefit, your pension would be reduced by 35%. This amount would remain the same for the duration of your lifetime, and would not increase after you turn 62.

Generally, active and terminated vested participants can expect to receive an annual benefit statement. Retirees do not receive benefit statements.

A Participant may be considered totally and permanently disabled and could be awarded disability retirement from the Lumber Industry Pension Plan if the necessary service requirements are met and Social Security Disability has been awarded under the Federal Social Security Act. For a detailed explanation of the requirements, please refer to your Summary Plan Description or contact A&I.

If you had not yet retired by the time of your death, your spouse or beneficiary may be eligible to receive a pre-retirement death benefit.

If you are retired, the benefit option you selected at retirement will determine what, if any, survivor benefits are to be paid.

Upon notification, A&I will send the necessary application forms to your beneficiary. A photocopy of your death certificate and, if married, a copy of your marriage certificate will be required.

If you are receiving an early retirement benefit and return to work in the Industry in any capacity before you reach age 65, your monthly benefit payments will be suspended if you work 40 or more hours in a calendar month. You are required to promptly notify the Board whenever you engage in any employment in the Industry prior to 65, even if the work is not as a Covered Employee or for a Participating Employer.

If you are age 65 or over and return to work for a Participating Employer in any capacity, your monthly benefit payments will stop if you work 40 or more hours in a calendar month. You are required to promptly notify the Board whenever you engage in any employment in the Industry, even if the work is not as a Covered Employee or for a Participating Employer.

Pension Benefit Payments will resume no later than the first day of the third calendar month following cessation of work or the last calendar month of the suspension period.

Please refer to your Summary Plan Description or contact A&I.