Pipe Fitters' Welfare Fund, Local 597 (News & Announcements)

The Trustees are pleased to announce that Pension Retirees will now receive a tax-free payment of up to $50.00 times the number of Pension Years you have accumulated for reimbursement of certain medical expenses from the Welfare Fund.

There will be two different programs – one for Retired Employees eligible for Retired Employee Coverage and one for Retirees who are not eligible for coverage from the Welfare Plan. Below you will find details of the program for Retirees eligible for Retired Employee Coverage. Retirees that are not eligible will receive more information later this year.

For Retirees eligible for Retired Employee Coverage from the Welfare Plan, the Fund Office will first determine how much will be added to your Health Reimbursement Arrangement account (HRA). The amount added to your HRA is calculated by multiplying $50.00 x your Pension Years (subject to a maximum of no more than 200% of your monthly pension benefit). That amount is then credited to your HRA.

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If Bob has 15 Pension Years and his monthly pension benefit is $1,000.00 then on October 31 of each year, his account would be credited with $750.00 ($50 x 15). Alternatively, if Bob had 15 Pension Years and his monthly pension benefit is $300.00, then on October 31 of each year, his account would be credited with $600.00 (instead of the $750.00 in the first example) because his allocation is capped at 200% of his monthly pension benefit.

If you are eligible for Retired Employee Coverage from the Welfare Plan, the Fund Office will calculate the total amount you spent for certain medical expenses throughout the Reimbursement Period (generally the Reimbursement Period runs from November 1 – October 31). These expenses include: 1) retiree self-pay premiums under the Plan; 2) Medicare Part B premiums; 3) the portion of the Medicare Part A deductible not paid by the Plan; 4) Prescription Drug Co-payments and Deductibles under this Plan; and 5) Major Medical Co-payments and Deductibles under the Plan.

If your total Reimbursement Expenses are equal to or more than the amount in your HRA, the Welfare Fund Office will send you a check for the entire HRA balance. If the expenses total less than the HRA balance, the Fund Office will issue you a check in the total amount of the expenses. The remaining HRA balance will roll over to the next Reimbursement Period.

If there is a balance in your account when you die, the Fund Office will have procedures for allowing you surviving spouse or dependents a death benefit payment equal to the account balance. This is in addition to the Welfare Plan’s $5,000 retiree death benefit.

A similar reimbursement program for Retired Employees who are not eligible for Retired Employee Coverage under the Welfare Plan will be provided. However, for the retirees not covered under the Local 597 Welfare Fund, there will be a requirement of an annual application to the Fund for reimbursement.

The new Member Dashboard, which is available for all participants effective immediately, provides you and your family with a wealth of information related to the Pipe Fitters Local 597 Welfare, Retirement and Individual Account and 401(k) Funds. It will also provide useful information that’s maintained on your behalf by the Association. The following are features of this secure website:

A. You can view/download the explanations of benefits (EOB’s) for all medical, dental and drug claims that have been processed for you and/or your dependents in the current year-to-date and the previous calendar year. If you have adult dependents, when you register, you must attest that you are eligible to view this information on their behalf.

B. You can view where you and your family stand together and as individuals with respect to your annual deductible and out-of-pocket limits.

C. You will be able to see, up to the minute, the period of time for which you will be eligible for Local 597 Welfare Fund benefits.

D. You will be able to choose not to receive paper EOB’s that are mailed but instead view and download EOB’s at the time your claim is processed.

A. Active members will be able to view/download their current, year-to-date Pension Credit Statement as well as the prior year’s Statement.

B. Pensioner’s will be able to view/download their 1099’s and their monthly payment histories.

You will be able to view an annual and/or monthly history of employer contributions and voluntary contributions into the 401(k) Plan since its inception. In evaluating the performance of your account, it’s helpful to know how much you and your employer have actually contributed compared to what the account balance is.

You can view your hours worked by employer since 1981. You can also view/download a history of your wage work assessment since 2004 and access Association notices to members. Finally, if you are registered with the Referral Hall, you’ll be able to see your current position on the out-of-work list.

To register, simply visit the Pipe Fitters Local 597 official website: www.pf597.org. Click on the Member Dashboard icon and follow the instructions. If you are already registered to pay your dues online, you will not have to re-register as your username and password will already work on the Pipe Fitters Local 597 Member Dashboard

If you have any problems with the registration process, please contact the Fund Office for immediate assistance.

Important News & Announcements