Article 7 – Total and Permanent Disability

Total and Permanent Disability, for the purpose of this Retirement Plan, will mean the disability by bodily injury or disease which on the basis of medical evidence can be assumed to be permanent and continuous during the remainder of the Employee’s lifetime, and which renders the Employee incapable of performing any and every duty pertinent to his occupation as a Carpenter. After benefits have been paid to the Employee for 24 months, the Employee must then be incapable of engaging in any gainful occupation for which he is found to be fitted by training, experience and abilities.

Disability Retirement Income will not be payable to an Employee where the disability results from an intentional self-inflicted injury or the habitual use of drugs or alcoholic beverages.

Disability will not be considered established unless it has continued for a period of not less than six (6) consecutive months. The Trustees may, however, at their discretion, waive the six-month period.

It shall be the responsibility of the Employee to submit satisfactory proof of such disability to the Trustees. Before ruling on any disability of an Employee, the Trustees may designate a qualified physician of their choice to examine the Employee.

The Trustees may, from time to time, require satisfactory proof of continued disability. If the Trustees determine that an Employee’s disability has ceased prior to his attainment of age 65, his Disability Retirement Income will stop with the payment for the month in which his disability ceased.

When an Employee who is receiving Disability Retirement Income reaches his Normal Retirement Date, no further proof of continued disability will be required and further, he shall thereafter receive his Normal Retirement Income or Disability Retirement Income, whichever is the greater.