If the first time you retired was after your normal retirement age, any You will be considered as having applied only when the Fund Of- benefits you earn after you return to work will be paid in the same fice has received all parts of your completed application and any form as your benefits were being paid before the suspension. required supporting documents. Payment cannot begin before the Your payments can resume no later than the first of the third month completed application is received. If your completed application is after the month in which you left disqualifying employment, and not received in the Fund Office within 180 days of your request for after you have notified the Fund Office that you have done so. The it, your application will be denied. initial payment will include any amount withheld during the peri- If you are applying for a disability pension, be sure to include the date od after your disqualifying employment has ended and before your of your disability. Do not delay filing for a disability pension while your pension benefits resume. application for Social Security disability benefits is still pending. However, if you receive pension benefits for months in which your The requirement that a formal application must be filed with the check should have been suspended, the Trustees may deduct that Fund Office also applies to spouses, other beneficiaries, and alter- amount from your pension when it starts again, as described in the nate payees. To avoid delays, survivors should request an applica- Section entitled “Overpayments.” tion as soon as possible after a participant’s death. HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR In order for your application to be processed, you must submit proof of your age, such as a valid copy of your state issued ID, driv- PENSION BENEFITS? ers’ license or birth certificate with your application. If you are mar- ried, you need to submit proof of age for your spouse and proof of Except when benefits are paid automatically (see page 26), you marriage. Provide legible copies of the required documents. must submit a formal application in order to receive benefits from OVERPAYMENTS the Fund. The simplest way to apply is to complete your applica- tion online. The Fund will officially receive your application the If for any reason payment of benefits to an individual under this same day it is submitted online. Fund exceeds the amount of benefits that should have been paid, However, you may write, e-mail, or fax the Fund the Trustees are entitled to take any and all actions necessary and Office to request an application. You may also appropriate to recover the overpayment. This may include with- request an application by calling the Fund’s toll- holding of future benefit payments or requiring the individual to free number: 1-800-424-9608, or request one repay the overpaid benefits. online at www.iamnpf.org. WHEN BENEFIT PAYMENTS BEGIN When you request an application, be sure to include all of the Normal, early, 30 and Out, 20 and Age 62 and vested deferred following: pension benefits can be effective on the first day of the month after › Name the Fund Office receives a completed application or following your › Address last day of work, if later. › Date of birth Federal law requires that the explanation of available benefit pay- › Social Security number ment options be provided to the participant and spouse, if appli- › Name of your last contributing employer cable, no more than 180 and no less than 30 days before the date › Type of benefits for which you are applying payments actually commence. › Intended pension effective date › Spouse’s name Disability benefits cannot become effective until you are totally › Marital status and permanently disabled for at least six months. The effective › Spouse’s date of birth date of a disability pension is the later of the first day of the sev- › Phone number enth month after you became permanently disabled or the first › Email address day of the month following the date you file your pension applica- To comply with federal law, you cannot apply for your pension ear- tion. (See “Disability Pension” on pages 17 and 18.) lier than 180 days before your intended pension effective date. RETROACTIVE ANNUITY STARTING DATE However, at any time before that you may visit our website to es- timate your benefits or request, in writing, an estimate or other The Fund requires that you submit a completed application to the information from the Fund Office about your pension benefits. Fund Office before you can start receiving your benefits. Generally, \\ How Do You Apply for Pension Benefits? 24