Eligibility for Pension Benefits

The Pension Plan provides several different types of pensions as follows:

A Normal Pension if:

• You are at least age 65; and
• You are vested with 5 or more Vesting Service Credits (including one Hour of Service on or after January 1, 1999)

A Vested Pension if:

• You are at least age 62; and
• You are vested with at least 10 or more Vesting Service Credits without a Permanent Break in Service.

A Regular Pension if:

• You are at least age 62; and
• You are vested with at least 10 Pension Credits without a Permanent Break in Service.

An Early Retirement Pension if:

• You are at least age 55 but not yet age 62; and
• You are vested with at least 10 Pension Credits without a Permanent Break in Service.

 A Service Pension if:

• You earned at least 30 Southwest Plan Pension Credits (no age requirements).

 A Disability Pension if:

•   You first became totally disabled  prior to July 1, 2011; and
•   You have earned at least 5 Pension Credits without a Permanent Break in Service; and
•   You have earned either:
• at least 350 hours in Covered Employment in the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of your total disability, or
• at least 3/12 (which is ¼) of a Future Service Credit in each of the three calendar years in the period of five consecutive calendar years preceding the calendar year in which you become totally disabled; and
• You have not worked in Non-Covered Employment after November 1, 1992.

Check your Pension credits on MemberXG.

If you first became disabled (as determined by the Social Security Administration) on or after July 1, 2011, you are not eligible for a Disability Pension. However, you may qualify for long-term disability benefits under the Health Plan.  See the Long-Term Disability Benefit.