Frequently Asked Questions
NEBF IBEW Local Unions
An employer signs a CBA and is making contributions to NEBF. Are all the employees eligible for past service credit?
Does a participant have to work a full calendar year to get a Benefit Service Credit?
If a member leaves covered employment to serve in the military is he/she entitled to anything from NEBF?
Can we send NEBF copies of payroll reports to be used as proof of a member’s employment instead of the Social Security statement of earnings?
When should we advise NEBF of the death of a participant?
Why did NEBF stop sending the monthly benefit payment when the participant died and his/her spouse is eligible for benefits?
Why do we need to advise NEBF immediately of a participant’s death if his spouse is eligible for benefits?
Is a participant allowed to work and still continue to receive his/her monthly benefits?
Who is the named beneficiary of the NEBF benefit?
Q: An employer signs a CBA and is making contributions to NEBF. Are all the employees eligible for past service credit?
A: Past Service Credits are credits that recognize the years you worked in a job classification that was not Covered Employment, but later becomes Covered Employment for that employer.
You may earn a maximum of five Past Service Credits. These credits are earned on a one-for-one basis (one Past Service Credit for one Benefit Service Credit). Past Service Credits also count toward earning a Vesting Service Credit.
You earn one Past Service Credit in any year you meet the following requirements:
• You earn a Benefit Service Credit while in Covered Employment with your
current employer, and
• Your past employer becomes or remains a Covered Employer, and
• Your past job classification is Covered Employment with that past
employer.
In the event you believe you are entitled to Past Service Credits for time not reflected in NEBF’s records, it will be your responsibility to produce records proving your entitlement to such Past Service Credits.
Q: Does a participant have to work a full calendar year to get a Benefit Service Credit?
A: Generally, you earn Benefit Service Credits by accumulating hours worked in Covered Employment in Good Years. There is a 1,000 hour requirement for each Benefit Service Credit.
You generally earn one Benefit Service Credit for each year you work 1,000 hours or more. The hours in excess of 1,000 can be used to meet the 1,000 hour requirement for other Good Years in which you worked less than 1,000 hours.
For hours to count toward the 1,000 hour requirement, you must have a Good Year. A Good Year is generally a year in which you work 300 or more hours in Covered Employment. You can earn only one Benefit Service Credit in any calendar year.
In the event you believe you are entitled to Benefit Service Credits for time not reflected in NEBF’s records, it will be your responsibility to produce records proving your entitlement to such Benefit Service Credits.
Q: If a member leaves covered employment to serve in the military is he/she entitled to anything from NEBF?
A: You may receive 83 1/3 hours for each month during the term of your military service plus the length of time taken to return to Covered Employment or Non-Covered Employment for a Covered Employer that count toward the 1,000 hour requirement for a Vesting Service Credit, if you meet the following requirements:
• You previously worked in Covered Employment, and
• You leave Covered Employment or Non-Covered Employment for a Covered Employer to enter military service, and
• You enter military service for the first time or because you are recalled, and
• You leave military service after your first term of service or the period of
recall, and
• You return to Covered Employment or Non-Covered Employment for a Covered Employer within three months of leaving military service.
It is important that you notify NEBF when you leave employment to enter the military and when you are discharged and return to employment. NEBF also complies with USERRA, if that law provides greater benefits.
Q: Can we send NEBF copies of payroll reports to be used as proof of a member’s employment instead of the Social Security statement of earnings?
A: No. In order for us to grant pension credits, we will need the Social Security statement of earnings or copies of his/her W2s. Once the participant signs and returns the Social Security authorization form, we will request the earnings statement on his/her behalf.
Q: When should we advise NEBF of the death of a participant?
A: NEBF should be advised as soon as possible by telephone, email or letter. You may submit the death certificate at a later date.
Q: Why did NEBF stop sending the monthly benefit payment when the participant died and his/her spouse is eligible for benefits?
A: Once we receive notification of the death of a participant, the benefits will be suspended to avoid overpayment. The surviving spouse, who may be entitled to half of the participant's monthly amount, will be sent the required forms to establish his/her benefits.
Q: Why do we need to advise NEBF immediately of a participant’s death if his spouse is eligible for benefits?
A: If the participant was not receiving a benefit, NEBF needs to be advised immediately so that we can make contact with the spouse before he/she relocates to a new address.
If the participant was receiving a benefit, we need to be advised immediately to avoid possible overpayment.
Q: Is a participant allowed to work and still continue to receive his/her monthly benefits?
A: If a participant is receiving a disability benefit and returns to any type of work, his/her benefits will be terminated.
If a participant is receiving a retirement benefit and returns to work in the electrical industry, benefits may be suspended for any calendar month he/she works forty or more hours.
Effective September 1, 2007, the NEBF Trustees amended the Plan of Benefits to temporarily allow eligible retirees to return to Covered and Contributory Employment for a period of time without a loss of NEBF pension benefits. Please see the Plan Documents section of this website for more information about the Temporary Return to Work Amendment.
Q: Who is the named beneficiary of the NEBF benefit?
A: NEBF does not provide for beneficiaries; however, NEBF may pay a participant's estate any benefits for which he/she was eligible that were not paid during his/her lifetime.