Policies & Procedures

Policies & Procedures for Participants, Beneficiaries & Payees

Participants, Beneficiaries and Spouses

About Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO) Explanation of a Qualified Domestic Relation Order. Model Post-retirement QDRO A model QDRO for Participants who are receiving a pension benefit. Model Pre-retirement QDRO A model QDRO for Participants who have not begun receiving pension benefits. Divorced and Separated Participants or Participants Getting Divorced Important information on submitting a new beneficiary form to the Fund Office.

Benefits

Correcting Plan Records Relating to Covered Employment  How to request corrections to your Covered Employment.  Early Retirement Procedures To comply with federal law, the Fund requires that a participant may begin receiving a pension benefit before normal retirement age (generally age 65) only if he or she retires from all employment with employers contributing to the Fund. These Early Retirement Procedures ("Procedures") set forth the Fund's rules for determining whether a participant has retired and is therefore eligible to begin receiving an early retirement pension for participants who commence an early retirement pension on and after April 1, 2008. Applying for Your Pension Benefit In order to receive your pension benefit, you must complete a two-part Application, and submit all required supporting documents, within the required time periods. How Benefits Are Paid - Explanation of payment forms for annuity starting dates of June 1, 2010 and after.

Policies & Procedures for Locals

Contributions

Contributions on Disability Pay Policy on the Fund's acceptance of contributions made with respect to wages paid to a Participant during a period of disability. Contributions on Donated Concerts Policy on the Fund's acceptance of contributions of proceeds of "Donated Concerts." Contributions for Teaching Music Policy on the Fund's acceptance of contributions for wages earned for teaching music. Guidelines for Late Payments and Underpayments Policy on the Fund's receipt of Late Payments and Underpayments.

Local as Employer for Pension Contributions

Providing a Pension Fund for Employees of a Local How an AFM Local can become a signatory employer of the Fund in order to make contributions to the Fund for its Employees. Local Participation Agreement Agreement for an AFM Local to become a participating Employer in the Fund. General Reminders Reminders for AFM Locals that are participating Employers of the Fund.

General Local Policies & Procedures

Reduction in the Rate of Future Benefit Accruals (Jan 1, 2004) Important procedures in cases where Collective Bargaining Agreements are modified in a manner that affects the rate at which Participants earn or "accrue" future pension benefits under the Fund.

Cash Receipt Procedures

Contribution Transmittal Procedures (Cash Receipts Procedures) Pension contribution transmittal procedures for Local Unions that receive pension contributions directly from Employers. Contribution Transmittal Agreement Agreement to follow contribution transmittal procedures. Contribution Transmittal Procedures Contribution transmittal procedures applicable to all AFM Local Unions that receive pension contributions payable to the American Federation of Musicians and Employers' Pension Fund ("Fund") from contributing employers for forwarding to the Fund. Electronic Cash Transmittal Form ("e-form") Form to be used in conjunction with the contribution transmittal procedures.

Policies & Procedures for Employers

Contributions

Contributions on Disability Pay Policy pertaining to the Fund's acceptance of contributions made with respect to wages paid to a Participant during a period of disability. Contributions on Donated Concerts Policy pertaining to the Fund's acceptance of contributions of proceeds of "Donated Concerts." Contributions for Teaching Music Policy pertaining to the Fund's acceptance of contributions for wages earned for teaching music. Remittance Report Form  In order for the Fund to accept pension contributions, the contributions must be accompanied by a remittance report form that includes specific engagement and musician details. Refer to Trust Document section 9.8 for more information. Guidelines for Late Payments and Underpayments Policy on the Fund's receipt of Late Payments and Underpayments.

Withdrawal Liability

Withdrawal Liability Each Employer is required by law to pay the Fund all amounts due as withdrawal liability resulting from a partial or complete withdrawal from the Fund in accordance with ERISA.

General Employer Policies & Procedures

Reduction in the Rate of Future Benefit Accruals (Jan 1, 2004) - Important procedures in cases where Collective Bargaining Agreements are modified in a manner that affects the rate at which Participants earn or "accrue" future pension benefits under the Fund. Limitations on Reductions in Contributions - Rules limiting the ability of the bargaining parties to reduce a contributing employer's contribution rate below the existing contribution rates.