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STATE
DISABILITY/WORKERS' COMPENSATION
GET
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON WORKERS' COMPENSATION FROM OUR
WORKERS'
COMP PAGE
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Questions |
Answers |
 What
are the differences between disability
and workers’ compensation? |
State
disability insurance covers off-the-job
injuries or sickness and is paid for by
deductions from your paycheck.
Workers’
compensation takes care of on-the-job
injuries and illnesses caused or
aggravated by work.
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 Is
there supplemental disability or
workers’ compensation? |
Under
Food and Meat, you will receive
supplemental benefits while collecting
state disability. On workers’
compensation, no supplemental benefit
for claims after July 1, 1994.
A.1 and Warehouse (B)
- no supplemental.
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 How
do I file for benefits? |
For
state disability, you must go to your
doctor, who will determine if you need
to be off work. The doctor will give you
a note to give to your store manager.
After giving the note to the manager,
call the union office for the state
disability and supplemental forms
On workers’
compensation, you must report the injury
to your manager or supervisor
immediately and he/she will complete a
claim form and arrange medical
treatment.
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 Can
I go to my own doctor when it is
workers’ compensation? |
You’re
entitled to be treated by your own
personal physician if you’ve notified
your employer of the doctor’s name and
address in writing before the injury.
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 How
long do I have to go to the company
doctor? |
Thirty
days after reporting the injury and
being treated by the company doctor,
then you can switch to your own doctor.
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 What
happens if I go to my doctor and find
out it is workers’ compensation? |
Get
a note from that doctor stating that
your condition is work related and give
the doctor’s note to the store manager
or supervisor.
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What
happens if I am permanently disabled? |
If
the injury keeps you from returning to
your regular work, you may
qualify for vocational rehabilitation
benefits or training into a new job,
which may or may not be with another
employer.
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Does
the union have workers’ compensation
attorneys? |
Yes.
(Tosdal, Levine, Smith & Steiner)
Michael Wax 239-7200
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FREQUENTLY
ASKED PENSION QUESTIONS
NOTE: There are two types of
crediting for Pension, one is "vesting
credit" and the other is "benefit
credit".
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Questions |
Answers |
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What
does vesting mean? |
It
means that you have the right to collect
your retirement benefit. When you become
"vested", your pension benefit
becomes "non-forfeit able"
which means that you will be entitled to
a pension benefit when you reach
retirement age and retire in accordance
with the rules of the plan.
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How
long does it take to vest |
You
must have 5 years of vesting credit to
be vested.
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Does
it matter if I am full-time or part-time
for vesting credit? |
FOOD: 150
Hours DRUG: You must have
300 hours of covered service in a
calendar year
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What
does "benefit credits" mean? |
Benefit
credits determine the amount of money
you will receive when you retire.
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How
do you receive a full benefit credit? |
Food
and Drug: By working 1800 reportable
hours in a calendar year.
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Does
it matter if I am full-time or
part-time? |
Yes,
full-time earns 1 benefit credit in each
calendar year (if 1800 hours are
worked). Part time earns a pro-rated
fraction based on reportable hours
worked.
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How
are my Pension Credits affected when I
am out on disability, work. comp.,
strikes, etc.? |
You
are credited with six hours of covered
service per day for each day of
disability or workers’ compensation up
to a maximum of 1,800 hours of covered
service during your lifetime. (Provided
that your disability started on or after
September 1, 1990.)
Drug rules are the
same as food for disability and
workers’ compensation (provided your
disability started on or after July 1,
1995).
No pension credits are
given while on strike.
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Once
I am retired, how many hours am I
allowed to work? |
40
hours in a four week pay period, and 50
hours in a five week pay period.
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How
much is my pension reduced if I elect
the joint and survivors option? |
Food
is reduced by 5%, unless your spouse is more than 5 years younger.
Drug is 10%
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If
I die before retirement, will my spouse receive my pension? |
If
you are vested and die before
retirement, your surviving spouse will
receive lifetime pension payments
(payments will begin on the first of the
month after you would have reached age
50).
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If
I die, will my spouse have medical
benefits |
If
you die before retirement, there will be
no medical for your spouse
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How
far in advance should I apply for
pension? |
Three
months before retirement.
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