You need five years of credited service, including at least one year of future service (see below) after your employer joins the Plan, to be vested or eligible to receive a benefit. Two types of credited service can be earned:

• Future service credit is earned if you worked for an employer in a covered position after your employer joined the Pension Plan and became obligated to make contributions to the Plan on your behalf. If you're employed in a covered position after your employer started making contributions to the Plan, all of your credited service will be considered future service credit.
• Past service credit is available if you worked for an employer in covered employment before your employer joined the Pension Plan, provided your employer makes contributions to cover past service credits. You can only receive past service credit if you became a Plan participant when your employer became obligated to make contributions to the Plan.

The number of hours you work in covered employment per year determines how much credited service you earn each year. If, in one year, you work in covered employment:

• 851 hours or more, you'll obtain a full year of credited service.
• Between 651 and 850 hours, you'll receive two-thirds of a year of credited service.
• Between 500 and 650 hours, you'll receive one-third of a year of credited service.
• Less than 500 hours, you'll receive no credited service and have a break in service. A break in service may affect your credited service and vesting. Call the Plan office for more information.

For more detailed information, see the Summary Plan Description.