Summary Plan Description
Credited Service
Each compensable hour is accumulated as credited service. Credited service is the sum of your credited past service and your credited future service. Credited past service and credited future service are described below.
Credited Past Service
If you worked as a union carpenter in Western Washington prior to January 1, 1960, you may be entitled to a maximum of ten years of credited past service. Each year of credited past service adds $4.00 to your total monthly benefit (please see Credited Past Service).
For additional information about credited past service, please see Article 1.9.
Credited Future Service
If you worked or work as a union carpenter in Western Washington on or after January 1, 1960, you are entitled to credited future service based on the schedule below. The three-quarters years of credited service was added to the plan effective January 1, 1965:
| Hours Worked In A Calendar Year | Credited Future Service |
| 1,000 or more covered hours | 1.00 year of credited future service |
| 750-999 covered hours | .75 year of credited future service |
| 500-749 covered hours | .50 year of credited future service |
Each year of credited future service adds a specific dollar amount to your total monthly benefit based on the number of hours you worked, the hourly contribution rate and the benefit factor for that year (please see Credited Future Service).
Key Point
Credited service is important because it determines your vesting status with this plan. Your vesting status with this plan is important because you must vest in this plan within a certain period of time or risk forfeiting credited service and any corresponding contributions and benefits. Please see Vesting for additional information.
For additional information about credited future service, please see Article 1.8.
Key Point
The following employment categories require employer contributions to the Carpenters Health and Security Plan of Western Washington but do not require employer contributions to the Carpenters Retirement Plan of Western Washington:
- Participants working under certain residential bargaining agreements.
- Participants who are in the first six months of the apprenticeship program (first-period apprentices).
- Participants who are in the first twelve months of the drywall utilityperson program.
If you work in one of these employment categories, you may earn credited service toward vesting even though no contributions are made to Carpenters Retirement Plan on your behalf.
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Life Events
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