Advanced planning for your retirement can make applying for your benefits easier. It is recommended that you contact NEBF℠ at least one year before your anticipated retirement. This will allow you and other sources time to gather and submit any required documents and information, and will allow NEBF℠ the necessary time to have your benefit ready for your intended retirement date.

You must apply for a benefit by submitting an application. The application must be approved before any benefit can be paid. Benefits from NEBF℠ are generally not paid until you stop working in covered employment and leave the electrical industry.

You should apply for a Retirement Benefit at least three months prior to your intended retirement date. If you are applying for a Disability Benefit, you should apply as soon as possible.

Federal laws governing NEBF℠ allow 90 days to process an application for a Retirement Benefit and 45 days to process an application for a Disability Benefit.

NEBF℠'s goal is to process an application within 30 days from the date it is received. There may be instances when an application takes longer to process, especially if we need to contact you or the Social Security Administration for additional information. NEBF℠'s Pension Services Representatives make every effort to process your application in a timely manner so that you can begin receiving benefits the month following the month in which your application was received.

You apply for a Retirement Benefit or a Disability Benefit by submitting a completed and signed application to NEBF℠. You may download a NEBF℠ Participant Pension Benefit Application. You may also obtain an application from your Local Union office, or by contacting the NEBF℠ office. When you contact NEBF℠ to request an application, you will need to provide your full name, Social Security number, date of birth and current mailing address.

For an application that has been downloaded from the NEBF℠ website, click here to view the sections that are most commonly overlooked when completing an application.

For an application that has been received from either your Local Union office or directly from the NEBF℠, click here to see instructions that are most commonly overlooked sections.