[Hugh R]

13 years ago, I left a prior employer in the Motion Picture and Television Industry, a sort of trade association, but mainly the collective bargaining entity that negotiates the Union contracts for the various unions in Hollywood. I was there for four years. I left under what they call in the Industry "Creative Differences". The vesting requirement for any pension benefits is five years; I was there for four years. I figured I wouldn't get anything being there only four years. So I didn't give it another thought.

A well versed friend in the Industry encouraged me recently to contact them as I was an "Executive" and thus might have accrued hours under a special agreement that allowed me to accrue vesting at 125% of hours worked. I did and it turns out, upon review, that I met the five year vesting with 40 hours to spare. So I appealed and today I got a letter saying that upon retirement I'll get $323.49/month for life, plus a lump sum of $45,xxx. It may go up from there. Not a lot, but its beer money, or about 80 gallons of gas in the new Class A motor home per month for life. Not a game changer, but I'll take it gladly.