FAQ

Health And Welfare Fund

You can download and print off both the accident and claim form from our website. But you will have to complete, then fax to 618-993-8295 or mail to the Fund office, 5100 Ed Smith Way, Suite A, Marion, IL 62959.

Requests for accident forms are based on the diagnostic codes your provider of service puts on a claim. Any claim that falls within the Classification of “Accident” requires us to write for this form. Back pain, pulled muscle, lumbago are examples of diagnostic code that require an Accident form. You must complete this form giving an explanation of the incident as we cannot process until receipt of this form – even if there was not a clear “accident”.

Be sure you inform your doctor that your health plan has wellness benefits so that he/she can code the claim properly as well care. If the claim has a diagnosis other than well care such as hypertension, we must calculate benefits as an illness rather than as well care.

If you have additional questions regarding the Health and Welfare Fund, please contact the Fund Office at:

Southern Illinois Laborers & Employers Health and Welfare Fund
5100 Ed Smith Way, Suite A
Marion, IL 62959
618-998-1300


diannawilson@silehw.org

wendybeake@silehw.org


Annuity Fund

You automatically become a participant when you begin covered employment. Covered employment is employment with an employer who has collective bargaining agreement requiring an Annuity Fund contribution to be made on your behalf.

The Annuity Fund is administered by the Joint Board of Trustees. There are an equal number of union and employer trustees as required by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust. The Annuity Fund is administered at 5100 Ed Smith Way, Suite A., Marion, IL 62959.

The amount your employer contributes for you is specified in your collective bargaining agreement. These contributions are credited monthly to your participant account. Each July 31st, the valuation date, investment income and losses as well as annuity fund expenses and forfeitures are credited to your account. If you are vested when you terminate your employment, you will receive the balance in your account. (see pg. 9-13 in your Summary Plan Description).

You become vested after you have earned one hour of service (see pg. 7 & 14 in your Summary Plan Description Book).

Each year you will receive a statement showing the value of your participant account. If you do not receive a statement, you can contact the Fund Office to get information about your participant account or you can check your balance online.

In general, you (or your beneficiary) are eligible to receive the amount in your participant account when:

  • You reach age 55, retire, and have applied for and are eligible to receive a pension from the Central Laborers' Pension Fund
  • You have 30 years of service, you retire and have applied for and are eligible to receive a pension from the Central Laborers' Pension Fund
  • You die
  • You become totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Trustees
  • You are vested and have a break in service (see pg. 7 & 14in your Summary Plan Description Book)

You may choose to receive your participant account (1) in a lump sum, or (2) as a direct rollover, or (3) as an annuity contract payable as a fixed monthly amount in equal installments over a period of 60 or 120 months, or (4) as an annuity contract payable during your lifetime with 50% of the monthly annuity continuing to your beneficiary until their death (see page 21 in your Summary Plan Description Book).

Spouse's consent is required for any distribution.

If you die before you begin to receive payment of the amount of the amount in your participant account, your designated beneficiary will receive your participant account in a lump sum or payable as a fixed monthly amount in equal installments over a period of 60 or 120 months, whichever the beneficiary elects.

A beneficiary designation form should be completed and returned to the Fund Office. If you have not already completed a form for the Annuity Fund, or if you desire to change a previous beneficiary designation, additional forms may be obtained by contacting the Fund Office or your Local Union or online. If you are married and you and your spouse have been married continuously for at least one year, you may not name someone other than your spouse as a beneficiary without your spouse's written consent (see page 18 in your Summary Plan Description Book).

If you are vested, you are still entitled to receive the money in your participant account. After the one year anniversary of your termination of covered employment, you are entitled to receive the money in your participant account after making proper application. (see page 17 in your Summary Plan Description Book).

A participant who retires or terminates from employment should request an application from the Fund Office or online. Payment cannot be made until an application is received at the Fund Office and approved by the Joint Board of Trustees who are responsible for making sure that all rules of the Annuity Fund are followed.

The money in your participant account is not considered taxable income until you receive it. When the money in your participant account is paid directly to you, it must be reported as taxable income and federal taxes are withheld at a rate of 20%.

If you elect a direct rollover of your participant account into a qualified retirement plan or individual retirement account, the money is not reported as taxable income.

If you select one of the annuity payment forms, only the amount paid to you in a given year is reported as taxable income.

To actually determine what may be the best way for you to take the money in your participant account (lump sum or monthly payments) and tax consequences of any payments you receive, you should discuss your particular circumstances with a competent tax advisor. The Joint Board of Trustees or the staff at the Fund Office cannot help you in this matter.

Yes, under special circumstances, you may be eligible for a hardship withdrawal. The Annuity Fund allows hardship withdrawals for (1) the purchase of your home, (2) to pay education expenses, (3) to pay medical expenses, or (4) to prevent eviction from your home. You may only take a hardship withdrawal three times (see page 19 in your Summary Plan Description Book).

If you have additional questions concerning your Annuity Fund, please contact the Fund Office at:

Southern Illinois Laborers & Employers Annuity Fund
5100 Ed Smith Way, Suite A
Marion, IL 62959
618-998-1300


lesliethompson@silehw.org


Vacation Fund

You automatically become a participant when you begin covered employment with an employer who has a collective bargaining agreement requiring that vacation fund benefits be withheld on your behalf.

You will receive a Withdrawal Authorization Form the first week of April. This form will show your balance as of March 31. The Withdrawal Authorization Form you receive the first week of October will show your balance as of September 30.

When you receive your Withdrawal Authorization Form you are asked to choose one of the following options:

  • Withdraw and receive a check for the amount of your balance.
  • Do not withdraw your balance at this time. If this option is marked your money will continue to roll over.

You must sign, date, check two of the three options and return the form by the due date on the form in order to receive your money.

If the Fund Office received your completed Withdrawal Authorization Form by the date indicated on the form, your check will be mailed by the first week of May or the first week of November. If you choose option 2, your vacation fund money will remain in your account with the Fund.

Yes, you can leave your money in your vacation fund account. All you need to do is sign, date, and choose option 3 and return you Withdrawal Authorization Form by the date indicated on the form and your money will remain in your account for you to withdraw at another time.

When you receive your vacation fund check, your check stub will list all employers that you have worked for that have paid into the vacation fund.

If you have additional questions concerning your Vacation Fund, please contact the Fund Office at:

Southern Illinois Laborers & Employers Vacation Fund
5100 Ed Smith Way, Suite A
Marion, IL 62959
618-998-1300


conniegeorge@silehw.org

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