SECTION 7. BREAKS IN SERVICE

The Plan was created to provide security for electricians who earn their living over a major portion of their working years in covered work in this industry in San Francisco. For this reason, reasonable standards for continuity of service were included in the Plan. This is the basis for the Break in Service provisions. Thus, if you leave Covered Employment before you are vested, you can lose all of your plan benefits.

If you do not earn the required amount of Pension Credit over a specified period of time, you will incur a Break in Service. If the Break in Service is prolonged beyond specified limits, it can become a Permanent Break in Service and, unless you have already met the requirements for vesting, result in the loss of previously earned Pension Credit and Credited Service.

A Break in Service can only occur before you become vested. When a Permanent Break in Service occurs before you become vested, your accumulated Past and Future Service Pension Credit and Credited Service is cancelled. Thereafter, if you return to Covered Employment, you will commence accumulating Future Service Pension Credit and Credited Service as though you had not been previously employed. In contrast, once you are vested, the Break in Service will not apply to you and you cannot lose your benefits due to a lack of service.

Topics In This Section

A. Past Break in Service Rules
B. Current Break in Service Rule: Effective January 1, 1987
C. Example of Break in Service Rule
D. Impact of Break in Service - Example
E. Subsequent Plan Changes Do Not Cure Prior Breaks in Service
F. Special Rule for Persons Retiring on or After January 1, 1994
G. Grace Periods Under the Break in Service Rules