C. ELIGIBILITY FOR YOUR BENEFITS.

To be entitled to Plan benefits, you must file an application for benefits, and satisfy one of the following requirements:

1. Normal Retirement-Attain Age 65. You attain age 65, the Plan's Normal Retirement Age, and terminate your covered or non-covered Employment in the Electrical Industry in the 10 counties comprising the Bay Area as set forth in Section XII.D. in this booklet.
   
   
2. Early Retirement-Attain Age 55. You attain age 55, no contributions have been made to your individual account in the 18 months prior to your application for benefits and have severed all employment in any capacity in the Electrical Industry in the United States.
   


3. Retire Under Pension Plan. You attain at least age 55 and have retired under the Northern California Electrical Workers Pension Plan or another electrical industry pension plan in which your employment was covered under a collective bargaining agreement with IBEW Local 6, and have severed all employment in any capacity in the Electrical Industry in the United States as set forth in Section XII. in this booklet.
   


4. Terminate Employment. Regardless of age, if the balance of your individual account is less than $5,000 and you meet the following requirements:
   
1. You had no contributions paid or payable to your individual account in the preceding 18 months, and

2. You have not been employed in the Electrical Industry in the United States in any capacity in the 18 months preceding any application for withdrawal of your individual account, and

3. You submit a statement that you do not intend to return to employment in the Electrical Industry within the geographic jurisdiction of IBEW Local 6.

"Electrical Industry" means all branches of the Electrical Industry in the United States. This includes working as a supervisor, estimator, salesman, consultant, working in the industry, self-employment, or work in any branch of the industry, or any other industry in work involving electrical industry knowledge you acquired as a Participant.

5. Disability. If you become totally and permanently disabled at any age, you may begin taking distributions from your individual account balance.
   
   "Totally and permanently Disabled" means that you suffer from any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which renders you unable to work in gainful employment in any occupation or trade for which you are reasonably fitted, and such disability continues for 6 consecutive months and is determined to be permanent and continuous during the remainder of your lifetime.

   You must be able to provide the Trustees with such proof of your disability as the Trustees deem necessary including certification of your disability from your treating physician. You may be required to submit a copy of your Social Security award as evidence of your qualification for disability benefits under this Plan.

   To continue receiving disability benefits, you may also be required to provide periodic verification that you are considered permanently disabled by the Social Security Administration and/or submit medical reports from attending physicians. Failure to provide such proof shall result in the withholding of benefit payments until proof of continued disability is provided by you. If the Board is not satisfied with the documents you submit, it may require you to submit further information or undergo a medical examination that the Board deems desirable. The Board of Trustees has the sole responsibility to determine whether the proof is satisfactory. The Trustees' decision is final and binding.

   The Trustees shall also have the authority to require refunds of improperly paid benefits.

6. Death. If you die, any money in your individual account will be paid to your designated beneficiary subject to compliance with the Plan's spousal consent rules, if applicable, as described in Section VII.A.3.