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This section explains recent coverage—and why it is important if you want to qualify for your highest possible Plan benefits. It shows the different types of benefits available with and without recent coverage.
Topics Below
About Recent Coverage
Benefits Available With and Without Recent Coverage
Recent Coverage Rules
Important Terms
Recent Coverage Rules at Retirement
Recent Coverage Rules if You Die Before Retirement
About Recent Coverage
In general, you have recent coverage if you work at least 1,500 covered hours during the 60-month period ending just before your pension effective date (or ending with the month of your death if before retirement).
If you have recent coverage when you complete 25 years of contributory service, it's yours for good. You have "locked in" your recent coverage protection. You can’t lose it by leaving covered employment or going on a reduced work schedule. 
Benefits Available With and Without Recent Coverage
Recent coverage is essential if you want to qualify for your highest possible Plan benefits. Click here to see the different types of benefits available to you and your family or Plan beneficiary with and without recent coverage.
Recent Coverage Rules
The Plan has two separate recent coverage rules, one that applies when you retire, and another that applies if you die before retirement.
Here are some important terms you’ll need to understand:
60-Month Period
A period of 60 consecutive calendar months.
Year of Contributory Service
You earn a year of contributory service each year you work at least 500 covered hours.
Earliest Retirement Date
Usually, your earliest retirement date is your 55th birthday. However, if you are not vested when you reach age 55, your earliest retirement date is postponed until the end of the month in which you vest.
Under the Rule of 84 and PEER, your earliest retirement date can be before age 55.
A different date may apply if you become totally and permanently disabled before your earliest retirement date.
Pension Effective Date
Your pension effective date is the date when your Plan benefits are first payable. It must be the first of the month. Click here for details about choosing a pension effective date.
Recent Coverage Rules at Retirement
Many of your Plan’s retirement and after-retirement death benefits are only available if you have recent coverage at retirement.
Here are the three ways you can have recent coverage at retirement. Once you meet any one of them, your recent coverage cannot be lost.
Important Note: There are additional recent coverage rules if you are applying for a disability retirement benefit.
25 Years of Contributory Service—Lock-In Rule
You have 1,500 covered hours in any 60-month period ending after you complete 25 years of contributory service.
Your Earliest Retirement Date
You have 1,500 covered hours in the 60-month period ending just before your earliest retirement date.
Your Pension Effective Date
You have 1,500 covered hours in the 60-month period ending just before your pension effective date.
Recent Coverage Rules if You Die Before Retirement
If you die before retirement, many of your Plan’s death and survivor benefits are only available to your family and Plan beneficiary if you have recent coverage when you die.
Here are the two ways you can satisfy the recent coverage requirement if you die before retirement.
25 Years of Contributory Service—Lock-In Rule
You have 1,500 covered hours in any 60-month period ending after you complete 25 years of contributory service.
Your Date of Death Before Retirement
You have 1,500 covered hours in the 60-month period ending with the month of your death.
Example: Participant A—2 Plan Years
Participant A joined the Plan a few years ago. She first established her recent coverage by working at least 1,500 covered hours in a single calendar year. As long as she continues to work at least 500 covered hours each calendar year—and does so until her earliest retirement date (usually age 55)—she doesn’t have to worry about losing recent coverage. But if she goes on a reduced work schedule for more than a year, it could affect her recent coverage. Without recent coverage, she would not qualify for her highest possible benefits.
Example: Participant B—11 Plan Years
Participant B left the Plan when his former employer stopped making pension contributions about eight years ago. Two weeks later, he started work with another contributing employer and began earning covered hours again to maintain his recent coverage and qualify for his highest possible benefits. Now he has 11 years as a full-time participant.
As long as he continues to work 500 covered hours each calendar year all the way up to age 55, he preserves his recent coverage at retirement. He’ll also have it should he become totally and permanently disabled or die. Then he and his family won’t lose important disability and death benefits (explained in later sections of this Plan Summary).
Example: Participant C—21 Plan Years
Participant C has more than 21 years of contributory service. She can lock in recent coverage if she has it when she completes 25 years of contributory service (calendar years with at least 500 covered hours) or later. This locks in recent coverage even if she has not yet reached her earliest retirement date.
Once recent coverage is locked in, it cannot be lost by leaving covered employment or going on a reduced work schedule.
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