Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 

1200 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005-4026 

MAR 1 8 2005 

Re: 1 Case 194025, Trans World Airlines, Inc. 

(TWA) Retirement Plan for Employees - Noncontract 

Personnel (the Plan) 

Dear 1 1 

The Appeals Board reviewed your appeal of PBGC's October 28, 

2004 determination that you did not qualify for a disability 

retirement benefit from the Plan. For the reasons stated below, 

the Board changed PBGC's determination by finding that you became 

Disabled under the Plan's terms on September 29, 1988 after more 

than 24 years of service with TWA, and are, therefore, entitled to 

a disability retirement benefit from the Plan. 

As a result of the Board's finding, PBGC will send you a new 

determination regarding the disability retirement benefit payable 

to you. You will have 45 days to appeal that determination 

PBGC's Determination and Your Appeal 

PBGC's determination said that you were not entitled to a 

disability retirement benefit because you became disabled after you 

terminated employment with TWA. 

Your January 24, 2005 appeal claimed that your disability 

started at least as early as 1986. With your appeal letter, you 

enclosed 15 pages of "medical and attendance information," 

documenting applications for TWA medical leave. 

On April 23, 2004, before PBGC issued its determination, you 

sent PBGC a copy of your Social Security Administration Disability 

Award (SSADA) along with paperwork regarding your disability. 

Discussion 

The Appeals Board reviewed the Plan's provisions regarding 

disability retirements (Enclosure) as well as documents that you 

provided, including your SSADA. Based on the documents available 

to the Appeals Board, the Board found that your mental impairments 

were of such severity on September 29, 1988 that you were not able 
to engage in any gainful work, that you have not engaged in any 

gainful work since that time, and that the impairments are likely 

to be permanent. Based on the fact that you had completed more 

then ten Years of Service at the time you became Disabled, the 

Board found that you are entitled to a disability retirement 

benefit from the Plan. 

Please note, however, that although the Appeals Board found 

that you have met the requirements for a disability retirement 

benefit under the Plan at this time, 29 Code of Federal Regulations 

§ 4022.6(c) provides that: 

"a participant may be required, upon the request of the PBGC, 

to submit to an examination or to submit proof of continued 

total and permanent disability. If the PBGC finds that a 

participant is no longer so disabled, it may suspend, modify, 

or discontinue the payment of the disability benefit." 

Decision 

Having applied provisions of the Plan to the facts of this 

case, the Appeals Board changed PBGC's determination by finding 

that you became Disabled under the Plan's terms on September 29, 

1988 after more than 24 years of service with TWA, and are, 

therefore, entitled to a disability retirement benefit from the 

Plan. 

We will send a copy of this decision to PBGC's Benefit 

Administration & Payment Department (BAPD), the group responsible 

for determining benefits and making benefit payments. BPAD will 

send you a new determination, with a new 45-day right to appeal, 

concerning the amount and starting date of your disability 

retirement benefit. 

If you need more information about your benefit, please call 

PBGC's Customer Contact Center at 1-800-400-7242. 

Sincerely, 

Michel Louis 

Appeals Board Member 

Enclosure