Opinion ID: 2787077
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The accrued benefit of a participant under a

Text: plan may not be decreased by an amendment of the plan, other than an amendment described in section 1082(d)(2) or 1441 of this title [neither of which applies in our case]. 18 221 F.3d 517, 524 (3d Cir. 2000). Sections 7.01 and 7.02 of both Plans provide precisely the early retirement benefits described in Bellas and are thus “accrued benefits.” United argues, however, that the early retirement benefits are not “accrued benefits” because § 5.01 of both Plans provide calculations for “[t]he annual rate of Retirement Income payable to a Participant who retires on or after his Normal Retirement Date.” (emphasis added). Thus, according to United, anyone who retires before his normal retirement date has no accrued retirement benefits. What this argument ignores is the combined effect of §§ 7.01, 5.03, 5.02, and 5.01. Section 7.01 vests retirement income in TVPs; § 5.03 directs the administrator to calculate TVPs’ Accrued Retirement Income as of the date of early retirement, while § 5.02 states that the amount of Accrued Retirement Income is computed “in accordance with Section 5.01.” In other words, §§ 5.01, 5.02, and 5.03 provide the method for computing TVPs’ benefits, while § 7.01 actually confers the benefits, making them “accrued” within the meaning of ERISA. Our Court’s “view of what constitutes an ‘amendment’ to a pension plan has been construed broadly to protect