The Pension and Disability Department
is open from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday except
holidays. Phones are open 8:30am to 4pm
For answers to commonly asked disability
and/or workers' compensation questions review the
information below. Click here for information regarding
commonly asked pension questions.
Questions |
Answers |
What are the differences
between disability and Worker's Compensation? |
State
disability insurance covers off-the-job injuries
or sickness and is paid for by deductions from
your paycheck.
Worker's Compensation takes care of on-the-job
injuries and illnesses caused or aggravated
by work. |
Is there supplemental
disability or worker's compensation? |
No, but
your must send in copies of your disability or
worker's compensation checks to receive credit
for your insurance. |
How do I file for
benefits? |
For
state disability, you must go to your doctor,
who will determine if you need to be off work. the
doctor will give you a note to give to your store
manager. After giving the note to the manager,
call the union office for the state disability
and supplemental forms. On worker's compensation, you must report
the injury to your manager or supervisor immediately
and he/she will complete a claim form and arrange
medical treatment. |
Can I go to my own
doctor when it is worker's comp? |
You're
entitled to be treated by your own personal physician
if you've notified your employer of the doctor's
name and address in writing before the injury. (Forms
are available at the union office). |
How long do I have
to go to the company doctor? |
Thirty
(30) days after reporting the injury and being
treated by the company doctor, then you ca switch
to your own doctor. |
What happens if I go
to my doctor and find out it is worker's comp? |
Get a
note from that doctor stating that your condition
is work related and give the doctor's note to
the store manager or supervisor. |
What happens if I am
permanently disabled? |
If the
injury keeps you from returning to your regular
work, you may qualify for vocational rehabilitation
benefits or training into a new job, which may
or may not be with another employer. |
Does the union have
worker's compensation attorneys? |
Yes. Rose,
Klein, and Marias (909) 944-1711. |
Questions |
Answers |
| What does vesting
mean? |
It means that you
have the right to collect your retirement benefit. When
you become "vested", your pension benefit
becomes "non-forfeitable" which means
that you will be entitled to a pension benefit
when you reach retirement age and retire in accordance
with the rules of the plan. |
| How long does it take
to vest? |
You must have five
(5) years of vesting credit to be vested. |
| Dos it matter if I
am full-time or part-time for vesting credit? |
For Food you need
150 hours of covered service in a calendar year.
For Drug you must have 300 hours of covered
service in a calendar year. |
| What does "benefit
credits" mean? |
A measure used to determine
the amount of your retirement benefits. |
| How do you receive
a full benefit credit? |
Food & Drug: By
working 1800 reportable
hours
in a calendar year. |
| Does it matter if
I am full-time or part-time? |
Yes, full-time earns
1 benefit credit in a calendar year (if 1800
hours are worked).
Part-time earns a pro-rated fraction based
on reportable hours. (Call the Insurance Dept.
for further information). |
| How are my Pension
Credits affected when I am out on disability,
workman's compensation, strikes, etc.? |
You are credited with
six (6) hours of covered service per day for
each day of disability or workers' compensation
up to a maximum of 1800 hours of covered service
during your lifetime. (Provided that your
disability started on or after September 1, 1990)
Drug rules are the same as food for disability
and workers' compensation (provided your disability
started on or after July 1, 1995).
No pension credits are given while on strike. |
| Once I am retired,
how many hours am I allowed to work? |
Forty (40) hours in
a four (4) week pay period, and fifty (50() hours
in a five (5) week pay period. |
| How much is my pension
reduced if I elect the joint and survivors option? |
Food is reduced by
five percent (5%), unless your spouse is more
than five (5) years younger.
Drug is ten percent (10%). |
| If I die before retirement,
will my spouse receive my pension? |
If you are vested and
die before retirement, your surviving spouse
will receive lifetime pension payments (payments
will begin on the first of the month after you
would have reached age 50). |
| If I die, will my spouse
have medical benefits? |
If you die before you
retire, there will be no medical for your spouse. |
| How far in advance
should I apply for pension? |
Three (3) months before
retirement |