Eligibility for Benefits

You initially become eligible for coverage on the first day of the calendar month after you work 500 hours in Covered Employment within a 6-month period during which your Employer makes contributions on your behalf. You must work at least one hour in four of those six months.

Your Initial Eligibility

Your Plan coverage begins on the first day of the calendar month after you have worked 500 hours in Covered Employment in a six-consecutive-month period (which must include at least one hour in four of those six months) during which your Employer contributed to the Fund on your behalf.

Covered Employment is work for which a contributing Employer is required to make contributions on your behalf to this Welfare Fund under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73.

Example: Your Plan Eligibility

John begins working on March 1, 2009 and works steadily through August 2009, accumulating more than 500 hours by the end of August 2009 and working at least one hour each month. John is eligible for coverage under the Plan on September 1, 2009.

If you are an Apprentice and you attend the 10½-week pre-apprentice program, you are eligible to participate in the Fund immediately after you successfully complete the program.