• APRIL 2009 BENEFITS UPDATE
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Dear Members,

APRIL 2009 BENEFITS UPDATE

1. PBGC

The PBGC is continuing to send out Notices of Final Determination to flight attendants. They expect to have all information sent out by June 30, 2009. The Social Security Offset is already included in the amount the PBGC sends you. The Social Security offset has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SOCIAL SECURITY WILL BE SENDING TO YOU. The Social Security offset is a step down in the retirement formula. When you look at how much you will get at retirement, add what the PBGC says they will send you as well as what Social Security says they will send you, and that will be your retirement income along with any funds you have in your 401K, IRS or other investments you hold.

2. AGE 55 - 65 RETIREMENT HEALTH INSURANCE

If you retire prior to age 65 you can obtain health insurance through the HCTC program of the IRS. Go the www.irs.gov and type in HCTC under search. This will bring you up all the information on the program as well as the carrier(s) in your state that participate in the program. The HCTC program will pay 65% of your health insurance premium from age 55 - 65 as long as you are receiving your PBGC pension.

3. WORKING AND COLLECTING YOUR PBGC PENSION

If you are age 65 and were with US Airways (Allegheny), Piedmont or PSA you can continue to work for US Airways as a flight attendant and collect your PBGC pension. If you are age 62 and were with the Shuttle you can continue to work for US Airways and collect your PBGC Pension. The reason the Shuttle flight attendants can collected at age 62 is their pension program set normal retirement age at age 62. US Airways, Piedmont and PSA pension plans set normal retirement age at age 65.

4. OUT OF COUNTRY ILLNESS/INJURY

If you become ill or injured and are out of the United States you can contact Global Lifeline (001-480-333-3800). This information may be found in your Emergency Manual on page 7-3 or the International Manual on Page 1-17. Global Lifeline will get you a physician or hospital in that country that will accept your insurance as well as English speaking capabilities. Global Lifeline also notifies US Airways of your illness/injure so the Company may also offer assistance as needed.

In addition, look on the back of your health insurance card. UHC has the number for BUPPA and BC/BS for Global Blue who can also provide assistance. If is important that you notify your health insurance carrier ASAP so they will pay your bill outside the United States.

If you have health insurance through your spouse, look on the back you your health insurance card for instructions about illness/injury outside the United States. If there are none, contact your health insurance provider to ask them about coverage outside the United States.

Please note that many illnesses/injuries outside the United States are not considered Workers Compensation. Flight Attendants have lost more cases than they have won when becoming ill or injured outside the United States. Worker's Compensation is subject to the State Laws of where you are based. Each state is different!

5. WORKER, RETIREE AND EMPLOYER RECOVERY ACT OF 2008

US Airways is currently mailing out to all employees information on the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008. Flight attendants were participating in a defined benefit plan during bankruptcy. You are now entitled to rollover the amount you received from US Airways as a result of bankruptcy proceeding into a Roth IRA. There is a Q & A that comes with the information as well as Form 8935 that tells you how much you may deposit into a Roth IRA. Contact your tax consultant for further information or you may contact US Airways at retirement.benefits@usairways.com and enter Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act 2008 in the subject line of the e-mail.

Paul H. Frishkorn
MEC Benefits Chairperson
PFrishkorn@afausairways.org
610-544-2875

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AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

Reply to Inflight: askinflight@usairways.com

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Association of Flight Attendants
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