UNITE HERE Legacy Plan

Created through the merger of a series of pension plans, the Legacy Pension Plan was frozen effective December 31, 2014, so that members do not accrue any further benefits under the Legacy Plan after that date.

A hotel hospitality worker in professional attire preparing a guest room, representing UNITE HERE Legacy Plan members in the hotel and service industry.

About the Plan

  • The UNITE HERE Retirement Fund’s Legacy Plan is a defined benefit pension plan that assists you financially when you reach retirement age and meet certain eligibility requirements or, if you should become disabled and are unable to continue to work.

  • The Legacy Plan pays you a regular monthly income in addition to any benefit you are entitled to receive from Social Security.

  • You are a participant in the Plan if you were a participant in the Legacy Plan of the National Retirement Fund and your benefit was transferred to this Plan as part of the spin-off agreement (see Merged and Historical Plans).

  • The Legacy Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2014, which means participants can no longer earn Credited Service under the Plan after that date. However, you can continue to earn Credited Service under the Adjustable Plan.

  • Refer to the plan documents for details about eligibility, vesting, when you can retire, and what type of payments you can receive. If you have any questions, please contact the Plan Administrator.

Plan Documents

A Summary Plan Description (SPD) and summaries of any material modifications (SMMs) will be mailed to you. You should keep these materials together with your SPD for easy reference. You can also download copies here:

Legacy Plan Summary Plan Description

How to Apply for Your Pension

The Plan offers different types of pension benefits to meet individual needs and circumstances. The SPD describes each type of pension and the conditions that you must meet to be eligible for each.

  • Normal Retirement Pension Benefit

  • Disability Retirement Pension Benefit

  • Early Retirement Pension Benefit

  • Deferred Vested Pension Benefit

To apply for a pension benefit, you must submit a complete filing with the Plan Administrator. A
complete filing includes:

  • A completed application

  • Signed Social Security Earnings Authorization Form

  • Copies of all applicable documents including, but not limited to, birth certificate(s) (member and Spouse), marriage certificate, divorce decree, legal separation agreement, Spouse’s death certificate, and your Social Security Disability Insurance Award Letter if you are applying for a disability pension.

Your benefit payments will begin after you have completed and submitted all required forms and documents to the Plan Administrator. This process can take several months. Missing or incomplete information can delay the processing of your application. It is important that you submit an application at least 90 days prior to the date you want to start your pension with copies of all the required documents.

You can obtain an application from your union, Joint Board, Local Office, or the Plan Administrator. All benefit determinations are made exclusively by the Trustees. The Union, Joint Board, Local Office, or the Plan Administrator can provide assistance in completing the application. The completed application and documents should be returned to the Plan Administrator.

Visit the Manage Your Account page to learn how to complete your application online.

Manage Your Account

If you do not qualify for pension benefits, you will be sent a written explanation detailing the reasons benefits were denied. See Section 10 of the SPD for information about your rights to appeal.

Contact the Plan Administrator

Both the Adjustable Plan and the Legacy Plan are administered by Amalgamated Employee Benefits Administrators (Plan Administrator) on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the UNITE HERE Retirement Fund. Please contact the Plan Administrator for any questions about the Plan, including eligibility, vesting, applying for retirement, and payment questions.

Amalgamated Employee Benefits Administrators
333 Westchester Avenue, Suite N101
White Plains, NY 10604-2938

Phone: (800) 452-4155
Email: MemberWebInquiry@amalgamatedbenefits.com
Website: www.amalgamatedbenefits.com
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Eastern time)
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Eastern time)
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Eastern time)
Sunday: Closed

Manage Your Account

Register or sign in to our secure benefits portal managed by Amalgamated Employee Benefits Administrators to manage your account information, download important documents, contact plan administrators and apply for your pension.

Login to the Member Portal

Merged and Historical Plans

If you worked for an employer that contributed to another pension plan before this Plan or the Legacy Plan of the National Retirement Fund, special rules may apply to you. Below is a list of pension plans that merged and/or transferred assets to the UNITE HERE Retirement Fund Legacy Plan. See the Summary Plan Description for complete rules.

Pension plan that merged with the HEREIU Pension Plan

  • Local 301 Philadelphia, PA
  • Local 100, New York (Locals 1, 2, 11, 15, 60, 69, 70, 71, 89, 164, 302, 325) Local 274, Philadelphia, PA
  • Local 111, Philadelphia, PA
  • Local 217, Hartford, CT
  • Local 10, Cleveland, OH
  • Local 158, New Jersey
  • Local 24, Detroit, MI
  • Local 327, Peoria, IL
  • Local 868, Toledo, OH
  • Local 57, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Local 309, Palm Springs, CA
  • Local 1, Local 450, Chicago Hotel
  • Local 1, Local 450, Chicago Restaurant
  • Local 54, Atlantic City, NJ
  • Local 163, McKeesport, PA
  • Local 267, New Castle, DE
  • Local 737, Orlando, FL
  • Deweys Inc., Philadelphia

Pension plans that merged with the National Pension Plan

  • American Finishing Plan
  • Capmakers Union Local 17 Retirement Plan
  • Cranston Print Works Plan
  • H. Horne Pension Plan
  • Laundry, Dry Cleaning & Dye House Workers Int’l Plan (Local 46) Mid-Atlantic Plan
  • New England Plan
  • Philadelphia Plan
  • Phoenix Dye Plan
  • Miami Hotel Industry Pension Fund
  • Minneapolis On-Sale Plan
  • Minneapolis Greater Metropolitan Hotel Fund
  • Sanco Pension Plan
  • South Bay (San Jose) HERE Pension Trust Fund

Plans that merged with or transferred assets and/or liabilities into the National Retirement Fund

  • Masland Carpets, Inc. Bargaining Employees Pension Plan
  • Santa Monica UNITE HERE Retirement Fund
  • Gastronomical Union Local 610 and Metropolitan Hotel Association Pension Fund Laundry & Dry Cleaning Pension Plan (Local 107)
  • SEIU National Industry Pension Plan (Yosemite)
  • Council No. 13 ACTWU– Shoe Division
  • Consolidated Plan, National Retirement Fund, Headwear Division Retirement Plan of Local 340A
  • Retirement Plan of the Neckwear Workers Fund, Headwear Division Retirement Plan of the New England Laundry Fund
  • Retirement Fund of the Cloth Hat and Cap Industry of New York Retirement Plan of Local 352   Amalgamated Cotton Garment and Allied Industries Retirement Fund
  • Pension Fund of the ACTWU Employees’ Retirement Income Plan, Detroit, MI
  • Valley Laundry and Dry Cleaning Pension Plan (Local 75)
  • ILGWU National Retirement Fund
  • Pension Plan of Indianapolis Cleaners and Launderers Club and Laundry and Dry Cleaning Local 3017 Textile Processors, Service Trades, Health Care, Professional and Technical Employees Int’l Union, Local 108 Pension Plan
  • AFL-CIO Combination Dry Cleaners, Launderers and Service Store Employees Local Union No. 168 Pension Plan
  • AFL-CIO Laundry and Dry Cleaning International Union Local No. 39
  • Pension Plan Local No. 3008 Laundry and Allied Trades Pension Plan
  • Minnesota Laundry and Health Care Workers Pension
  • Retirement Plan of the UNITE Washable Clothing, Sportswear and Allied Industries Fund
  • Local 4-69 Pension Plan of the Hotel & Restaurant Employees & Bartender Union, AFL-CIO
  • Local 218 and Linen Service and Industrial Laundry Employees Retirement Plan
  • UNITE Local 10 and the Textile Maintenance Industry of Philadelphia & Vicinity Plan
  • HERE Union Local 54 Pension Plan
  • Pension Plan for the Laundry & Dry Cleaning Workers Pension Trust (Local 52)
  • Local 125 Pension Fund
  • Retirement Fund of Local 102 ILGWU
  • Alaska Hotel and Restaurant Employees Pension Plan
  • Sidney Hillman Medical Center Employees’ Retirement Plan
  • Upstate NY Employees and Restaurant Employees’ Retirement Plan (Local 471)