Southwest Service Administrators, Inc.

How do my work hours translate into benefits with the Pension Plan?
After you have met your 1 year waiting period, you will earn 1 year of vesting service for every year that you work at least 520 hours. Once you have worked at least 520 hours in a plan year, your total hours worked will determine your benefit amount. The more hours you work, the greater your benefit will be. You will also earn benefit credit for the hours you worked. You cannot earn more than 1 benefit credit per calendar year. The amount of benefit credit earned is dependent on the number of hours you work and is illustrated in the Benefit Credit Chart. Prior to January 1, 2011, your benefit credits earned were used to calculate your pension benefit amount.

What is Vesting Service?
Vesting Service refers to your non-forfeitable right to receive benefits from the plan when you terminate employment. In general, you are vested in your plan benefit if you are an employee of a Participating Employer on your Normal Retirement date. You are also vested if you earned 5 years of Vesting Service and more than 1 hour of service after 12/31/1998 or if you earned 7 years of Vesting Service with 1 hour of service after 12/31/1991.

What is a Benefit Credit?
Benefit Credit was used to calculate the amount of your pension benefit through December 31, 2010. The more Benefit Credit you earned, the larger your pension benefit will be. For each calendar year (subsequent to 1975) in which a Participating Employer had contributions made to the Pension Plan on your behalf, you shall receive Benefit Credit based upon your Hours of Service in that calendar year according to the Benefit Credit Chart.

What is the Normal Retirement date?
Normal Retirement date is the date you reach age 62 if hired prior to June 20, 2004 or the date you reach age 65 if hired on or after June 20, 2004.

How do I find out how much my pension benefit will be?
Go to Pension Lookup or you may complete and print the Online Benefit Statement Request Form and mail to the fund office at P.O. Box 42006,  Phoenix, AZ 85080-2006.

How do I apply for my pension benefit?
Complete and print the Online Pension Benefit Application and mail to the fund office at P.O. Box 42006, Phoenix, AZ 85080-2006.

How do I set up a direct deposit for my pension benefit?
Complete and print the Online Electronic Deposit Authorization Form and mail to the fund office at P.O. Box 42006, Phoenix, AZ 85080-2006.

What is Prohibited Employment?
If you are younger than age 70 ½ and working in Prohibited Employment, you may not be entitled to receive a pension benefit for the month(s) you worked in Prohibited Employment. If you are under age 62, any employment in the Retail Food Industry within the States of Arizona or New Mexico is considered Prohibited Employment. If you are age 62 or older, work in any calendar month that is at or exceeding 40 hours (or work that is at or exceeding 8 days) in the same industry; and in the same trade or craft; and in the same state is considered Prohibited Employment.

How do I change the bank account information for my direct deposit pension benefit?
Complete and print the Online Electronic Deposit Authorization Form and mail to the fund office at P.O. Box 42006, Phoenix, AZ 85080-2006.

How do I change my address?
Complete and print the Online Change of Address Form and mail to the fund office at P.O. Box 42006, Phoenix, AZ 85080-2006.

How do I change my Federal Tax Withholding?
Complete and print the Online W-4P Federal Tax Form and mail to the fund office at P.O. Box 42006, Phoenix, AZ 85080-2006.

Can I change my payment type?
No, payment type cannot be changed once the pension starts.

What will happen to my direct deposit pension benefit if the bank account is closed unexpectedly?
Your deposit will be rejected and you will be contacted by phone in order to have a manual check issued.

When do changes need to be received in order for my next monthly benefit to be updated?
The fund office must receive all changes by the 15th of the month in order to be updated for the next monthly benefit.

Can I fax information to the fund office?
The fund office can only accept documents with original signatures to prevent fraudulent activity.