Why is it important for me to keep my payroll records (check stubs)?
What does a Statement of Account tell me?
What should I do if all of my work hours do not appear on the Statement of Account?
What should I do if there is an error on the Statement of Account?
What should I do if I don’t receive a Statement of Account?
Why is it important for me to keep my payroll records (check stubs)?
It is vital to always keep your pay stubs with your other employment records. In case a discrepancy occurs between your records and the Fund’s records, which affects your eligibility to a Pension benefit, Vacation benefit and Health & Welfare coverage, your pay stubs will likely determine your eligibility.
My Employer has refused to pay my contributions to the Trust Funds. What can I do to help the Trust Funds collect what is due to me?
First, it is important to have saved copies of your check stubs with the job site and prime contractor information written on each stub. Call the Accounts Receivable Department with the information or copy the check stubs and mail them into the Fund Office. Remember-the more detailed and timely the information, the better the chances of collecting those contributions.
I plan to be off work for several months. How long will my health and welfare coverage last, with the current number of hours in my Hour Bank?
For each month of coverage, 110 hours are deducted from your Hour Bank. Eligibility terminates once your balance drops below 440 hours, before a deduction is made for the current month.
As an example, if you have 990 hours in your Hour Bank, you have six months of health and welfare coverage.
What does a Statement of Account tell me?
Besides vital information, such as your name and Social Security number, the statement shows your six-month work period for purposes of establishing health and welfare eligibility, pension benefit accruals, and vacation-holiday dollars.
The statement lists the names and account numbers of employers reporting hours for you and shows the month and year you worked those hours. There are three columns listing health and welfare hours, pension hours, and vacation-holiday amounts, in dollars.
A couple of important reminders:
- if your employer reported hours but did not pay health and welfare contributions, those worked hours cannot be used toward eligibility for health and welfare;
- if your employer did not pay vacation-holiday hours worked, that amount will remain in suspense and unpaid to you until your employer submits the required payment to the Trust Fund.
What should I do if all of my work hours do not appear on the Statement of Account?
First, get into the habit of saving all of your paycheck stubs and verifying that all hours worked appear on your Statement of Account. If you believe all hours have not been reported, mail copies (not originals) of your paycheck stubs into the Fund Office (do not mail all paycheck stubs – only those pertaining to the month or months in question).
Mail your paycheck stubs to: Laborers Funds Administrative Office, Employer Accounts, 220 Campus Lane, Fairfield, CA 94534-1498. We will investigate and notify you, in writing, of the results.
What should I do if there is an error on the Statement of Account?
As soon as possible, review your statement carefully. If you believe any information is incorrect, and that can be from the social security number to the number of hours reported, contact your Local Union Office. Your Local Union Office will work with the Fund Office to resolve any discrepancy.
For example, if you believe all of your hours are not shown, you may be asked to submit copies of payroll stubs. (Remember, save those payroll stubs.) It can be a simple problem, such as, hours reported under another Social Security number. Your payroll stubs will help clear that up.
What should I do if I don’t receive a Statement of Account?
If you worked during the six-month period and do not receive a statement, chances are we do not have your current address. Again, contact your Local Union Office who will help in verifying your correct address.
Another explanation could be that your employer has not reported your hours. Again, work with your Local Union Office in resolving this situation. Above all, verify the information on this document.
In effect, it is your work record and so many of your benefits rely on its accuracy. Retain it for future reference. You will want to compare it to your Vacation-Holiday payment due April 30 and to your Pension Statement, mailed in December. Follow these same guidelines when you receive your next Statement of Account, scheduled for mailing in September of each year.