Opinion ID: 2736157
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Minervini’s Employment

Text: Minervini was a member of the Plumbers Local Union No. 14 of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO, (the “Union”), and worked in the Union’s 2 jurisdiction from 1978 until 2003, when he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Minervini’s employers made pension contributions to the Union’s Plan until 2004. On July 31, 2008, Minervini was injured during the course of his employment. In a decision rendered on October 16, 2010, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) determined that Minervini had become statutorily disabled as of July 31, 2008, (the “Disability Determination”) and was thus eligible to receive disability benefits as of January 2009. Following the SSA’s Disability Determination, Minervini applied for a Disability Pension Benefit under the Plan. The Trustees’ counsel informed Minervini that he was “not eligible for a Disability Pension” under the Plan because he “incurred a Break-inService prior to becoming disabled.” (App. 53A).1 Instead, Minervini, age 51, would be 1 The letter states: Dear Mr. Minervini: This office is co-counsel to the Plumbers Local 14 Pension Fund. I have been provided with a copy of a letter from the Pension Fund's actuarial consultant regarding your application for a disability pension benefit. You last earned Credited Service during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2004, but incurred a Breakin-Service on April 30, 2006. You were determined to have incurred a Disability by United States Social Security on July 31, 2008, and you received an award effective January 1, 2009. You are not eligible for a Disability Pension from the Plumbers Local 14 Pension Fund because you incurred a Break-in-Service prior to becoming disabled. You are eligible for a Deferred Pension benefit payable at age 55 or later based on the following accrued benefit. Calculation of the Accrued Retirement Pension Benefit Hours from 5/1/78 to 4/30/87: 16,616 x 2.5% = $ 415.40, plus Hours from 5/1/87 to 4/30/04: 32,267 x 3.1% = $1.000.28 3 entitled to a Deferred Pension Benefit “payable at age 55 or later.” In subsequent correspondence, the Trustees informed Minervini that, because he incurred a Break-inService, he was no longer a current Plan Participant as of the Break-in-Service date. Because only current Plan Participants could qualify for immediately payable Disability Pension Benefits, Minervini was merely eligible for a Deferred Pension Benefit. (App. 68A; 72A).