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APC/LIUNA Pension Plan FAQs
...If I Still Have an Account with the APC/LIUNA Pension Plan, Shouldn't I Be Receiving Regular Statements?
...Information Packet on the Pension Fund? What Packet?
...If I Never Submitted a Census Card to the Fund Office, Do They Have Records of My Monthly Contributions?
...How Do I Submit a Change of Mailing Address?
...Do I Have to Do Anything If I'm Leaving Unit 4, Even If Just Temporarily?
...How Long is the Vesting Period? Am I vested?
...But I Thought I Had to Wait 5 Years?
...When Can I Apply for My Monthly Pension Benefit?
...When Can I Apply for a Lump-Sum Payout?
...How Does APC's Disaffiliation from LIUNA Affect My Benefits Under the Supplemental APC/LIUNA Pension Plan?
...Can I Get Back the Money I Put In?
...How Can I Find Out What My Options Are or Will Be as a Retiree?
...How Do I Get Forms for the Pension Plan?
...Who Should I Talk to If I Have Questions About My LIUNA Pension Fund Account?
...When I Called the LIUNA Pension Fund Office, They Didn't Seem to Know Who I Am. What Should I Do Now?
...Why Can't APC Help Me With My Pension Fund Account?
Who is Eligible to Participate in the Supplemental APC/LIUNA Pension Plan?
The supplemental APC/LIUNA Pension Plan is no longer open to new participants, as APC is no longer affiliated with LIUNA.
If I Still Have an Account With the APC/LIUNA Pension Plan, Shouldn't I Be Receiving Regular
Statements?
Yes. If you are not receiving annual statements,
you probably never submitted the census card included with the packet we sent you when you began participation in the Plan. This
card provides the Pension Fund office in Washington, D.C. with the
information necessary to begin sending you statements.
Information
Packet on the Pension Fund? What Packet?
This packet was also sent to all past and present participants in August 2007, as we disaffiliated from LIUNA. If you don't remember receiving the packet, use the APC/LIUNA Pension
Plan Request to ask that we mail another one to you. It will include a census card for you
to complete and send to the Pension Fund office. (NOTE: Make sure APC has your current mailing address.
If I Never Submitted
a Census Card to the Fund Office, Do They Have Records of My Monthly
Contributions?
Yes. Over the years the California State Controller's Office
provided APC with a monthly report of all payroll deduction contributions
to the Pension Plan, and a copy of each report was forwarded by APC
to the Pension Fund Office in Washington, D.C.
How Do I Submit a Change
of Mailing Address?
Notify the Pension Fund office using the "Change
of Address Notice" provided in the information packet sent to you soon after you began participating in the Plan (and again upon APC's disaffiliation from LIUNA). If you don't have a copy of this form, you may download one from the LIUNA Pension Fund's website, www.lnipf.org.
As always, current members should also let APC know of any change in their contact information by submitting a Member Information Change Request directly to APC's Statewide Office.
Do I Need to
Do Anything If I'm Leaving Unit 4, Even If Just Temporarily?
You should always keep the LIUNA Pension Fund office apprised of any changes in your contact information. In addition, you should contact them if you are unsure of your various options under the Plan depending on your employment status, age, etc.
How Long is the Vesting Period? Am I vested?
The Plan had no vesting period. All Plan participants were immediately vested, as all contributions were made by the employee. Remember, every cent you put into the Fund was an after-tax contribution which belongs to you. It remains in your account until you either begin receiving monthly pension benefits or receive a lump sum payout of all the money in your Pension Fund account (including interest).
But I Thought I Had to Wait 5 Years?
If you joined the Plan when credit was being offered for past service (on or before
May 31, 2000), you would have become eligible for past service credit after making contributions into the Plan for five years (or 60 months). This was not a vesting period, but a requirement for receiving past service credit. In other words, this "waiting period" had nothing to do with vesting—all the money you contributed belonged to you from the first day of your participation in the Plan. (And you've already paid taxes on it!)
When Can I Apply for My Monthly Pension Benefits?
In order to start receiving monthly benefits, you must EITHER (1) have left CSU employment and be at least 55 years old, OR (2) have reached age 70-1/2.
When Can I Apply for a Lump-Sum Payout?
In order to receive a lump-sum payout of everything you've paid into the Plan (plus interest), you must have left CSU employment. (Note: A payout would be in lieu of monthly pension benefits.)
How Does APC's Disaffiliation from LIUNA Affect My Benefits Under the Supplemental APC/LIUNA Pension Plan?
No Impact on the Pension Fund's Obligations to You as a Participant: The Fund is strictly governed by federal regulations, and those regulations remain in effect regardless of our affiliation with LIUNA.
No Impact If You're Already Receiving Monthly Pension Benefits: You will continue to receive your monthly pension payments pursuant to the rules of the Plan.
The rest of this answer applies only to those who have not yet begun receiving monthly benefits...
You Will Not be Able to Make Further Contributions: Your past contributions will not be impacted, but you will not be able to make additional contributions to the Plan after August 31.
No Impact on Vesting: Remember, you have been 100% vested since your very first contribution—there is no vesting period. It's important to understand that you will not lose a cent of the money you've contributed. Disaffiliation has no effect on your ownership of the money you've put into the Plan.
No Impact on Past Service Credit Unless You Failed to Make 5 Years' Worth (60 months) of Monthly Contributions: If you began making payments into the Plan no later than June 2000 AND made at least 60 monthly contributions (i.e., paid into the Plan monthly for at least 5 years), you are eligible for past service credit. In other words, if you signed up in time to take advantage of the past service credit offer, you'll receive credit for your past service in the CSU as long as you made at least 60 monthly contributions.
No Impact on When You May Apply for Monthly Pension Benefits: In order to start receiving monthly benefits, you must either (1) have left CSU employment and be at least 55 years old, OR (2) have reached age 70-1/2. These are pension-related tax-qualification rules of the Internal Revenue Code that govern the Pension Fund. These rules do not change.
No Impact on When You May Apply for a Lump-Sum Payout: In order to receive a lump-sum payout of everything you've paid into the Plan (plus interest), you must have left CSU employment. This does not change. (Note: A payout would be in lieu of monthly pension benefits.)
For Specific Information on Your Account: Please contact the Pension Fund office directly.
Can I Get Back the Money I Put In?
You may ask the Pension Fund office for a full payout of your contributions plus interest. However, you are not eligible for such a payout until you leave CSU employment. Ultimately, only the Pension Fund office in Washington, D.C. can determine your eligibility for a payout.
How Can I Find Out What My Options Are or Will Be as a Retiree?
You should contact the Pension Fund office directly and ask that they send you information on your options under the Plan. (Some forms are available on the LIUNA Pension Fund's website at www.lnipf.org.)
How Do I Get Forms for the Pension Plan?
You can find various forms on the Pension Fund's website at www.lnipf.org, or contact the Pension Fund office directly asking for the forms required to request either a payout or the "commencement" of your monthly retirement benefit.
Who Should
I Talk to If I Have Questions About My APC/LIUNA Pension Fund Account?
Only the Pension Fund Office in Washington
can answer specific questions about your account.
First, make sure that you've sent your census card to the Pension Fund office. This card was included in the packet we sent you soon after you began your contributions (and once again upon our disaffiliation from LIUNA). (NOTE: If you are receiving annual statements, you've already returned your census card and should not send another one.)
After you've given the Pension Fund office time to process your census card, call (800) 544-7422, or write to The Pension Fund Administrator, LIUNA National (Industrial) Pension Fund, 905 - 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-1765.
When communicating with the Pension Fund office, always identify yourself as a past or present member of the Academic Professionals of California (formerly LIUNA Local 1002), and indicate that you're a participant in the voluntary plan under Article XI (of the Fund's Rules and Regulations), which establishes employee financed participation. (You may also want to remind them that you've already paid taxes on everything you've contributed.)
When I Called the LIUNA Pension Fund Office, They Didn't Seem to Know Who I Am. What Should I Do Now?
If you were ever a participant in the Plan, APC has reported your monthly contributions to the Pension Fund office. However, if you did not complete and mail a "census card" to the Fund office, they won't have a complete file set up on you. A blank census card was included in the packet which APC sent to every past and present participant upon APC's disaffiliation from LIUNA. If you don't remember receiving this packet, use the APC/LIUNA Pension Plan Request to ask that we mail another one. (NOTE: Make sure APC has your current mailing address.
It's also important to remember that, when communicating with the Pension Fund office, you should always identify yourself as a member of the Academic Professionals of California (formerly LIUNA Local 1002), and indicate that you're a participant in the voluntary plan under Article XI (which established employee financed participation).
Why Can't APC
Help Me With My Pension Fund Account?
APC does not administer the Plan. The Plan
was offered as part of LIUNA's member benefits, and the Plan continues to be administered by the LIUNA Pension Fund office.