As an “A” member of the IBEW you will receive a pension.

We commonly call this the I.O. pension. Many IBEW members think of this as a very small pension and hardly worth the application effort. However not everyone is aware of how the benefits work and what is available to them at retirement.

First is the death benefit.

“A” members may receive $6,250 if death occurs by natural causes or $12,500 for accidental death. An “A” must be a member in good standing for a minimum of 6 months to receive the death benefit. Beneficiaries of retire “A” members may be eligible for a death benefit of not less than $3,000 and no more than $6,250, depending on how much the member has received in pension benefits at the time of their death.

Second is the pension benefit.

An “A” member must have a minimum of 5 years in good standing to be eligible for a normal pension at age 65. A member who retires at age 65 will receive $4.50 per month for each full year of continuous “A” membership. After membership of more than 20 years, a qualified applicant may apply for early retirement at age 62.   Early retirement results in a reduction in monthly benefits of 6 2/3% per year for each year under 65.

When an “A” member retires, dues to the local union cease.

Please be aware that “A” membership is open to all IBEW members.

You should contact the office in Kalispell for more information if you’d like to change from “BA” to “A” membership.