In order to be vested in a pension benefit, you must have earned 5 years of service before the date the plan ended.
The Normal Retirement Age is age 65. If you have 5 years of benefit service, you may begin receiving a reduced pension benefit
as early as age 55.
You may be eligible for the plan's Disability Benefit if you have been awarded a Social Security Disability benefit for a
disability that occurred prior to the date the plan ended and you have 10 years of service. For a review of your disability
eligibility please send us a copy of your Social Security Disability Award letter.
The PBGC normally pays benefits in monthly payments for life rather than as single lump sum. However, if the total value
of your benefit is $5,000 or less, you can receive a lump sum. (Note: The WestPoint Stevens’ plan allowed participants to
receive a lump sum for the benefit they earned through 1994 regardless of the size of the lump sum. The PBGC will not offer
this option.)