ILLINOIS ABORER · Update Regarding Casualty Deduction Hardship An article in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Illinois Laborer explained that an additional basis for hard- ... Sector

ABORERI L L I N O I SL

A Publication of theCentral Laborers’ Pension, Welfare & Annuity Funds

A Publication of theCentral Laborers’ Pension, Welfare & Annuity Funds

Fall 2018


17853_LIUNA_Fall2018.indd 1 10/16/18 10:43 PM

2 Illinois Laborer Fall 2018

This newsletter contains information regarding the Central Laborers’ Pension, Welfare and Annuity Funds. The actual Funds’ provisions may be found in the Funds’ Plan documents which include the actual Plans

and Trust Agreements. In the event of a conflict between the wording in this newsletter and the Plan docu-ments that govern the Plans, the Plan documents shall govern. Please keep this newsletter with your

Summary Plan Description (SPD) booklets and other benefit materials for future reference. The Trustees reserve the right to amend, modify, or terminate the Plans at any time.

Send address changes and newsletter questions, comments and ideas to:

Central Laborers’ Pension, Welfare and Annuity FundsP.O. Box 1267

Jacksonville, IL 62651-1267or call: 800-252-6571

www.central-laborers.com

Contents

Illinois Laborer is published by the Central Laborers’ Pension, Welfare and Annuity Funds.

Trustees of the three funds are, listed alphabetically:

Daniel Aussem

Holly Bailey

Jim Bruner

Travis Craig

Russell Davenport

Kenton Day

Ed Doyle

Bob Dunn

Roger Huebner

Ken Kilian

Greg Kipping

Joe Lamb

Bob McDonald

Doug Megginson

Steve Morthole

Anthony Penn

John Penn

Glyn Ramage

Allan Reyhan, Jr.

Joe Riley

Brad Schaive

Joshua Schaufelberger

Patrick Sheppard

Matt Smith

Clint B. Taylor

Dan Koeppel Executive Director

Page 3 Viewpoint

Page 4 Pension & Annuity Updates

Page 5 Retiree Conference

Pages 6-7 Pension News

Page 8 Vote November 6th

Page 9 Meet Your Trustee

Page 10 Open Enrollment / Online Access

Page 11 Welfare News

Page 12 2019 Direct Deposit Schedule

On The Cover: With the 2018 election right around the corner, learn about the issues that affect your paycheck, your pension, and your livelihood. See page 8 for more details.



Illinois Laborer Fall 2018 3

John F. Penn, ChairmanCentral Laborers’ Pension & Annuity Funds

Dear Brothers and Sisters, This past Memorial Day, I was presented with two poems written by Gary “GT” Turner, a member of my home Local, Laborers’ Local 362, who serves as Chaplain of the American Legion in Heyworth, IL. As we approach Veterans’ Day, I wanted to share his important words with you:

Remembering WhyWe are standing here today remembering the Veterans beneath our feet and sleeping under the sodBut we all know their spirit has risen to heaven now and they are standing in formation with GodThey are all living good up there with no more wars to be foughtBecause now they are living under God’s rules and the peaceful ways He has taughtThey fought with valor and honor for everything they were worthThey fought for freedom and to protect our flag while they were with us here on EarthThere are still a lot of people who really don’t know why this day is set asideBut we are here to remind them it is in honor of all the Veterans who fought and diedThere is even some businesses that closed today including the post office and banksThat’s just their way of saying the same thing as us, we will never forget you and Thanks.

One in the SameToday is for remembering Veterans from all of our warsSome of them fought on far away shoresSome soldiers were young and still wet behind the earsBut war made them age fast, way beyond their yearsSome return home to their families after passing war’s testSome weren’t so lucky and came home to be laid to restSome are up in heaven now and doing quite wellBecause their time at war was their own living hellIf it wasn’t for those few proud men and women answering their callWe probably wouldn’t have a flag to pay tribute to at allSome people think being in the military is all fun and gamesBut the way I see it, Veterans and heroes are one in the sameSo on this Memorial Day, just remember to give thanksTo all the living Veterans and those that are now in God’s ranks

Please take a moment this Veterans’ Day to reflect on the service and sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces.

As always, thank you for your years of service. Sincerely,

VIEWPOINT



Pension UpdateThe 2018 Edition of the Central Laborers’ Pension Fund’s Summary Plan Description (“SPD”) has been completed for Construction and Non-Construction Participants whose first hour of work in employ-ment covered by the Plan occurred prior to January 1, 2009. The SPD will be printed and mailed to applicable participants before the end of this year. When you receive your copy of the SPD, please take time to review it and keep it for future reference. For your convenience, the back of the SPD will have a pocket flap to store future correspondence regarding your pension benefits. The SPD is available for you to review now on the Central Laborers’ website, Departments/Pension/CLPF Summary Plan Descriptions/2018 Construction/Non-Construction SPD, or by typing the follow-ing URL into your web browser: http://www.central-laborers.com/forms/pension/clpf_2018_spd.pdf. A current Summary Plan Description is being finalized for the Pension Fund’s “New Entrant Plan” Construction and Non-Construction Participants whose first hour of work in employment covered by the Plan occurred on or after January 1, 2009. A future newsmagazine article will announce the com-pletion of and projected mailing date for that document.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Pension Fund office at 800-252-6571, extension 2.

Central Laborers’ Annuity Fund –Update Regarding Casualty Deduction Hardship An article in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Illinois Laborer explained that an additional basis for hard-ship distribution became available to eligible Central Laborers’ Annuity Fund participants beginning October 1, 2016. Specifically, new federal law permitted hardship withdrawals for expenses to repair damage to a participant’s principal residence as long as that damage qualified for deduction as a “casu-alty loss” under the Internal Revenue Code.

Last year’s federal tax reform bill, officially known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,” suspended the deduction for personal casualty and theft losses effective for taxable years beginning after Decem-ber 31, 2017, except for losses due to an event officially declared as a disaster by the President. Accord-ingly, the “casualty loss” hardship withdrawal which became available to Annuity Fund participants as of October 1, 2016, has been limited to such losses relating to a disaster as designated by the President.

Please contact the Fund office at 800-252-6571, extension 3 with questions about the Annuity Plan, or visit the Fund’s website: www.central-laborers.com.



LIUNA Retirees Gather for Annual Conference.

Bringing together Retiree Council representatives, District Council and Local Union Business Managers and special guests from throughout the region, the 11th Annual Midwest Region Laborers’ Retiree Con-ference was held October 9-10 at the Anthony C. Romolo Training Center in Mt. Sterling, IL.

The annual two-day conference advances the region’s Retiree Councils’ mission of keeping LIUNA re-tirees active through updates on legislative affairs, veterans affairs, senior safety and health issues and community involvement. To learn more about Retiree issues and Retiree involvement throughout the Midwest Region, visit the website at www.midwestlaborers.org.

LIUNA Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager John Penn welcomes attendees of the 11th annual Mid-west Region Laborers’ Retiree Conference.

Darlene Navin, Judy Wright, and Pat Prymek display a quilt created by Sisters of Union Laborers (SOUL).

Bob Wright, Coordinator, LIUNA National Retiree Council addresses the crowd.

Darlene Navin talks about the challenges facing Public Sector bargaining units.


Spousal Pension Options

Following are excerpts from the Central Laborers’ Pension Fund Summary Plan Description-2018 Edition regarding the Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension options available to married participants at the time of a participant’s retirement. The option selected can not be changed once payments begin. Should you have any questions about these optional forms of payment, please contact the Fund’s Pension Department at 800-252-6571, extension 2.

50% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension

If you are married when your payments begin, your benefit will be paid in the form of the 50% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension unless you and your spouse choose another form of payment by submitting a valid waiver. With this option, you receive a reduced monthly benefit during your lifetime and, upon your death, your surviving Qualified Spouse will receive 50% of the monthly benefit you were receiving.

If your Qualified Spouse dies before you, the amount of your monthly benefit will increase to the Life Only Pension amount you would have received at Retirement, effective the first month after your Qualified Spouse’s death.

Because the 50% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension may be paid over two Retirement lifetimes, the monthly Life Only Pension amount is reduced to account for the longer payment period. See the Calculation Assump-tions chart for more information.

50% JOINT AND SURVIVOR SPOUSAL PENSION EXAMPLE Bob has earned a Regular Pension benefit of $1,800.00 per month. He and his spouse elect the 50% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension payment option. Bob’s spouse is four years younger than him.

Following is the calculation of Bob’s 50% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension:

$1,800.00 (Bob’s Regular Pension monthly benefit)

88.0% (Percent of pension payable for the 50% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension)

-1.6% (Reduction for Bob’s spouse’s age (4 years x 0.4%))

86.4% (Adjusted percent of pension payable (88.0% - 1.6%))

$1,555.20 (Bob’s monthly pension payment ($1,800.00 x 86.4%)) If Bob dies before his spouse, his spouse will receive a monthly payment of $777.60 ($1,555.20 x 50%) for the spouse’s lifetime. If Bob’s spouse dies before him, Bob’s monthly payment will increase to $1,800.00 effective the first month after his spouse’s death.

Pension News




If you are married when your payments begin, the 75% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension pays a reduced monthly benefit during your lifetime and, upon your death, your surviving Qualified Spouse will receive 75% of the monthly benefit you were receiving.

If your Qualified Spouse dies before you, the amount of your monthly benefit will increase to the Life Only Pen-sion amount you would have received at Retirement, effective the first month after your Qualified Spouse’s death.

Because the 75% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension may be paid over two Retirement lifetimes, the monthly Life Only Pension amount is reduced to account for the longer payment period. See the Calculation Assumptions chart for more information.


If you are married when your payments begin, the 100% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension pays a reduced monthly benefit during your lifetime and, upon your death, your surviving Qualified Spouse will receive 100% of the monthly benefit you were receiving.

If your Qualified Spouse dies before you, the amount of your monthly benefit will increase to the Life Only Pen-sion amount you would have received at Retirement, effective the first month after your Qualified Spouse’s death.

Because the 100% Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension may be paid over two Retirement lifetimes, the monthly Life Only Pension amount is reduced to account for the longer payment period. See the Calculation Assumptions chart for more information.

Joint and Survivor Spousal Pension Calculation Assumptions50% Joint and Survivor

Spousal Pension75% Joint and Survivor

Spousal Pension100% Joint and Survivor

Spousal Pension

Percent of Regular, Early Re-tirement, Service, or Deferred

Pension Amount

Percent of Total and Perma-nent Disability

Benefit Amount

Adjustment for Spouse’s Age*

88.00%

77.50%

+0.4% for each full year older

-0.4% for each full year younger

83.50%

69.40%



79.00%

63.00%



*The difference in ages is calculated to the exact month.

Pension News



PENSION NEWS ~ Learn Some TermsIf you are a participant of Central Laborers’ Pension Fund, by now you have received your pension statement. Especially if you haven’t been a participant long, the statement may be hard to understand. Here are some terms that may help you read your pension statement:

November 6, 2018, voters will get to choose who will sit in the Governor’s mansion and who will represent them in Congress. This is a good time to remember the important issues that our elected officials decide and that affect our daily lives.

On the state level, Laborers should research candidates for Governor, statewide offices such as Attorney General, and the state legislature, to determine which candidates will support an infrastructure spending bill to create construction jobs; who will enforce Department of La-bor regulations that protect workers from wage theft and unsafe work sites; and who will work with organized labor to support working men and women.

On the national level, the financial integrity of the Central Laborers’ Pension Fund and the size of your pension check depends on members of Congress who are currently considering a variety of solutions to the ongoing pension crisis that is affecting all multiemployer pension funds.

Some of the proposed solutions are anticipated to have a drastic im-pact on Central Laborers’ Pension Fund. As it stands now, the Fund is already projected to return to “Green Zone” status in 2023 and 100% funding status in 2026. Based on changes passed by Congress several years ago, the Fund is paying increased mandatory premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”). In fact, the Central Laborers’ Pension Fund’s premiums to the PBGC have more than doubled during the last five years. Pending proposals could increase the premium even more...up to 500% more! This is not the solution we need.

LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan recently sent a letter to the members of Congress who are responsible for formulating a legislative solution to the ongoing pension crisis. Mr. O’Sullivan’s letter explains why significant PBGC premium increases are detrimental to multiemployer pension plans such as the Central Laborers’ Pension Fund. Mr. O’Sullivan further explained that such premium increases punish working and retired Laborers for the problems that other trades’ pension funds are experiencing.

It’s true that our economy and workforce is changing, and that pension funds need to change to keep up with the times. However, the solution should not squeeze more money out of pension funds like the Central Laborers’ Pen-sion Fund, which are resolving their funding issues on their own. Instead, multiemployer pension funds should have the legal flexibility to design their own benefit plans in a way that is sustainable for all of their participants.

Laborers should make a point to vote in the upcoming midterm elections and to communicate to their representative in Congress that we will not stand for a pension solution that bails out some trades’ pension funds while punishing the men and women of LIUNA.

Please make sure to vote on November 6, or contact your county clerk about voting early or through the mail, and encourage your family, friends and coworkers to do the same. Your paycheck and pension check could depend on it.

Make your voice heard - VOTE



Meet Travis CraigHow long have you been a Central Laborers’ Wel-fare Fund Trustee?

I became Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 670 in January 2016, and the Southwestern Illinois Laborers’ District Council appointed me to serve as a Welfare Fund Trustee soon after.

How did you get into construction work?

I started laboring right after I graduated from high school. My dad was Business Manager for multiple years and my mom was a Laborer.

What kinds of jobs did you work on while you were in the field?

I worked in the field for 13 years. I did concrete, demolition, asphalt, water lines, and sewer lines. I worked on the St. Clair Square mall, Memorial Hospital, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and Highway 64, just to name a few projects.

How does having worked in the field, and as Business Manager influence your work as a Trustee?

You have experience and know what your fellow laborers are going through. They work hard and play hard, but when they need assistance with the benefits provided under the Cen-tral Laborers’ Funds, they call for help in resolving their questions and issues.

What’s it like working with the other Trustees?

They’re a good group of people working together to best serve the participants.

Trustees




Central Laborers’ Welfare Fund has been

working with Beacon Technologies Group,

Inc. to develop a user-friendly portal where

participants, spouses and dependents can

access eligibility information, claim history

and print explanations of benefits related to

claims previously processed. The portal will

also provide a summary of current benefits for

each individual covered by the benefit plan. It

will display deductibles, out of pocket

accumulators and list the amounts applied to

benefits that are limited by an annual

maximum, for example, the vision benefit and

dental benefit.

In addition to being a new source of benefit

information, the portal will provide the link by

which eligible participants will access the new

open enrollment platform. For individuals

who participated in the online enrollment

process in the past, Central Laborers’ Welfare

Fund believes the new open enrollment

process will be more appealing and easier to

navigate than the prior online system. One

exciting feature included in the new open

enrollment process is the document upload

capability which allows enrollees to upload

documents that previously required mailing

after the online process was completed.

Instructions on how to use the new open

The Central Laborers’ Welfare

Fund 2019 Open Enrollment

period will commence November

13, 2018 for all individuals who,

on November 13, 2018 have

eligibility with Central Laborers’

Welfare Fund in January 2019.

If, on November 13th, you are

not yet showing eligible in

January, your packet will not be

mailed until your eligibility

updates. All enrollment periods

will be open for 30-days. To be

eligible for coverage, you must

complete your enrollment

process by the deadline

provided in your packet.

All Central Laborers’ Welfare

Fund participants are required to

complete the open enrollment

process before any claims can

be paid in 2019. Completing the

enrollment process on paper or

online will provide the Fund with

your and your dependents’

current information and status

changes not otherwise

communicated to the Fund

Office.

If your address has changed and

you have not notified the Fund,

please do so as soon as

possible to avoid delays in

receiving your enrollment

information and other mailings.

Watch for your enrollment

packet to arrive in the mail and

contact the Fund Office with any

questions.

800-252-6571, option 5.

enrollment process will be provided in the

open enrollment packets and, of course, Fund

staff will be available to help participants who

might have questions or may need assistance

in completing the online enrollment.

In the next several weeks, an instruction

guide will be mailed to all eligible participants

covered by Central Laborers’ Welfare Fund.

That guide will provide detailed instructions

explaining how to link to the portal from

www.central-laborers.com and how to sign up

for portal access. The guide will also aid with

navigation through the portal and will

expound on the various features available.

The guide will not only provide instructions

regarding the benefit links, but it will include

step-by-step guidance for using the open

enrollment link on the portal. The guide will

include pictures, helpful hints, and answers to

the frequently asked questions that might

arise while using the new portal services.

The new portal is a work in progress, and the

Central Laborers’ Welfare Fund Trustees look

forward to adding new features throughout

the year. Please watch your mail and visit the

Central Laborers’ Funds website for

announcements of new portal enhancements.



CENTRALLABORERS’WELFAREFUND2019RETIREEPREMIUMNOTICE

CentralLaborers’WelfareFundRetireeBenefitpremiumswillincreaseeffectivewithcoveragedatesstartingonorafterJanuary1,2019.Unfortunately,apremiumincreasewasdeemednecessaryduetotherisingcostsformedicalservicesandtheescalatingutilizationofthoseservices.ThepremiumincreasewillonlyaffectthoseretireeswhoretiredonorafterMarch1,2002.TheWelfareFundRetireeSubsidyBenefitwillnotchangeandwillcontinuetobeavailable,basedonthePlanrules,toanyretireewhoretiredonorafterMarch1,2002andis53yearsofageorolder.ThePensiondeductionoptionwillremainineffect,sonochangeswillneedtobemadebyyoutocontinuethatelection.IfyouarearetireereceivingapensionfromtheCentralLaborers’PensionFundandyouwillcontinuecoverageafterJanuary1,2019,thedeductiontakenfromyourpensionforretireecoveragewillautomaticallyadjusttoconsiderthechangeinrates.Inthechartprovided,theRetireebenefitrateshavebeenlisted.Ifyouhavequestions,pleasecontacttheFundOfficeat800-252-6571.

2019RETIREEPREMIUM

INITIALRETIREMENTPRIORTOMARCH1,2002UNDER53 SPOUSE

UNDER53ATOROVER53ORDISABLED

SPOUSEATOROVER53

$1,800.00/QTR $1,800.00/QTR $1,200.00/QTR $1,200.00/QTR

INITIALRETIREMENTONORAFTERMARCH1,2002UNDER53 SPOUSE

UNDER53ATOROVER53ORDISABLED

SPOUSEATOROVER53

$4,950.81/QTR $4,950.81/QTR $4,200.00/QTR $4,200.00/QTR

*The Retiree Subsidy is determined by the number of benefit credits you have accrued multiplied by an accrual of $23.42/credit. For more information regarding how Retiree Subsidy Credits are accrued or calculated, please refer to your Central Laborers' Welfare Fund Summary Plan Description.



Published by:Central Laborers’ Pension, Welfare and Annuity FundsP.O. Box 1267Jacksonville, IL 62651-1267

Dan Koeppel, Executive Director800-252-6571

www.central-laborers.com

January, 2019 Monday, December 31, 2018 February, 2019 Friday, February 1, 2019 March, 2019 Friday, March 1, 2019 April, 2019 Monday, April 1, 2019 May, 2019 Wednesday, May 1, 2019 June, 2019 Friday, May 31, 2019 July, 2019 Monday, July 1, 2019 August, 2019 Thursday, August 1, 2019 September, 2019 Friday, August 30, 2019 October, 2019 Tuesday, October 1, 2019 November, 2019 Friday, November 1, 2019 December, 2019 Friday, November 29, 2019 January, 2020 Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2019 Direct Deposit Schedule – Pension and Disability Benefit PaymentsDate Credited to Bank Account Month

Central Laborers’ Pension FundPO Box 1267 Jacksonville, Illinois 62651 Phone (800) 252-6571 Fax (217) 245-1293

http://www.central-laborers.com



Documents

ILLINOIS ABORER · Update Regarding Casualty Deduction Hardship An article in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Illinois Laborer explained that an additional basis for hard- ... Sector