benefit payments are effective on the first day of the month after Note: Your RP Schedule Effective Date as described on page 6 is determined your last day of work, or after the Fund Office receives your complet- based on when you submit a complete application for benefits, whether or not ed benefit application, whichever is later. However, even if you sub- you elect a Retroactive Annuity Starting Date. mit an incomplete application, you may elect to have your benefits PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS paid as of the first day of the month after the Fund Office receives Upon receipt of your application for non-disability pensions, the your incomplete application as long as certain requirements are Fund Office will send you any additional forms and requests for met. This is referred to as the “Retroactive Annuity Starting Date.” information that may be needed. If the Fund Office determines that your benefit application is incom- Every effort will be made to complete the processing of your applica- plete, you will be notified as soon as possible with a written request tion within 90 days after receipt by the Fund Office. This 90-day period for additional information. If you would like your benefits to be paid will begin upon receipt of your signed application form by the Fund from the first day of the month following the date on which the Fund Office even if you have not submitted all of the information needed for Office received your incomplete application, it is important that you the Fund to make a decision on your application. For applications for and your spouse (if applicable) sign this form and return it to the disability pensions, this 90-day period will be 45 days. Fund Office with all of the requested additional information within 90 days. Otherwise, your benefit payments may be effective the first If a decision on your application cannot be made within 90 days of the month following the date on which the information needed to of receipt by the Fund Office, a letter will be sent to you, prior to complete your benefit application is received in the Fund Office. This the expiration of the 90 days, explaining the special circumstances means that you could miss out on benefit payments to which you requiring another 90 days to take action and the date by which a would otherwise be entitled. decision is expected to be reached. In addition, if: If final action cannot be taken by the end of the second 90-day pe- 1. the employer you retired from was a new contributing riod (a total of 180 days), you will be sent a written explanation in employer; and advance of the expiration of the second 90-day period. At this time, 2. the date you retired was after the date your employer you will be awarded any partial benefits that can be determined began making contributions but before the date that the with the available information. employer was finally approved and accepted retroactively Upon receipt of your application for a disability pension, the Fund as a contributing employer; and Office will send you a written request for any additional informa- 3. you apply for benefits no later than one year after the date tion that may be needed. that your employer was finally approved and accepted retroactively as a contributing employer, Every effort will be made to complete the processing of your applica- you may elect your benefits to be paid retroactively to the first of tion within this initial 45-day period after receipt by the Fund Office. the month after you retired. This 45-day period will begin upon receipt of your signed application To take advantage of this provision, you must be eligible to begin form by the Fund Office even if you have not submitted all of the infor- receiving benefits as of the Retroactive Annuity Starting Date (the mation needed for the Fund to make a decision on your application. later of the first day of the month following your submission of an If a decision on your disability application cannot be made within 45 incomplete benefit application or the first day of the month follow- days of receipt by the Fund Office, a letter will be sent to you, prior to ing your Intended Retirement Date). the expiration of the 45 days explaining the “special circumstances” If you elect to have your benefits paid as of your Retroactive Annui- requiring an additional 30 days to take action and the date by which ty Starting Date, you will not actually receive any benefit payments a decision is expected to be reached. The notice of this extension until after the processing of your application is completed. However, will specifically explain standards upon which the entitlement to a your first benefit payment will include payments retroactive to the disability pension is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a de- first day of the month following the date on which you first submit- cision on your application and the additional information needed to ted your incomplete application (your “Retroactive Annuity Starting resolve these issues. Date”). You will also receive interest from this date. If prior to the end of this first 30-day period (75 days after receipt in In order for the Fund to pay benefits retroactive to the date that you the Fund Office), the Fund Office determines that another 30-day submit an application, you will have to complete the Election of extension is needed, you will be sent another notice with similar Retroactive Annuity Starting Date form, described above. content. 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