MaydayMark

Yes ... I believe that FedEx is reducing my LTD (dollar for dollar) to account for my Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). I make much of that back however because my hometown qualifies for a "High Cost of Living Area."

When I hadn't heard about the status of my SSDI application after 6 months, I called them and asked for an update. They told me that they hadn't started it? I asked if there was anything I could do to help expedite the process and they actually said to me, "Buddy, we're a Government organization, if you want it quicker call your Congressman."

So, I hung up the phone and called my Congressman. The next day I received an email from The Social Security folks saying that my application had been designated a "Congressional Inquiry." The day after that I received an email saying my application had been approved! Ha! (I honestly believe it would have been approved anyway ... eventually)

In LTD good news ... at least I qualify for insurance at the active employee rates.

All-in-all, the LTD gig is a pretty good deal, it's too bad you have to "almost die" to qualify for it


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av8rdude

FedEx does reduce your LTD when you receive Social Security Disability Income. I believe it's a 70% reduction for disabilities which began after October 30, 2006. The Pilot Benefit Book has the exact figures and dates. But FedEx does NOT reduce it for anything received from a disability policy for which you paid the premiums yourself, e.g., one of the ALPA disability policies.

The max LTD amount is currently based on a max income of $260,000, not the $250,000 used in the example in the 2013 Pilot Benefit Book. That's because the max base income is actually whatever the current IRS limit on disability payments is based on. See pages D-4 and D-13 in the Pilot Benefit Book. You can look up Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a) (17) to find the current max and probably next year's max as well.

The IRS usually updates the max income that disability can be based on at the first of every year, but the FedEx plan documents specifiy that its max is only reset once a year, at the beginning of the plan year, which is June 1. For example, the IRS changed its limit to $260,000 on January 1, 2014, but the FedEx LTD limit didn't change until June 1, 2014. Clear as mud?

The fact that the max income considered under the FedEx LTD plan is currently $260,000 and the max average income for retirement calculations is also $260,000 is pure coincidence. When the IRS resets its disability base income max to $265,000 on January 1, 2015, the FedEx LTD max base will stay at $260,000 till it resets to match the IRS limit on June 1, 2015. (The amounts are already out. Here's a link: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Announces-2015-Pension-Plan-Limitations;-Taxpayers-May-Contribute-up-to-$18,000-to-their-401(k)-plans-in-2015). The max average income for retirement will stay at $260,000 unless it is changed by the new contract. (Don't hold your breath on that one.)

By the way, the FedEx LTD and Supplementary Disability base income max is the same. The difference is the LTD pays 60% and Supplementary pays 50%.

Airbus flex

Thanks for the info. It helps those of us with medical conditions who are fighting to keep their medical certificate, decide to hang it up or not.

Dadof6

Congrats to the Captain who just posted his retirement FCIF at 56 years old--well done, sir! And no, as a latecomer to FDX I won't fit that profile but will be working (hopefully) at least until the 60+ year point. Just glad that somebody is retiring on his own timetable.

Knots2U

I see another pilot retiring early, this time and ANC captain. It seems that of the 3 or 4, (maybe 5?) retirements announced recently, that none were listed as retirees turning 65 by the end of the year. I looked at the Nov and Dec retirees, in the ALAP calendar, and didn't see any of those names. I am wondering, if some of the people who are retiring within a year, and awaiting a new contract, are seeing now that will not happen, and are deciding to just go ahead and bail out early. I guess we will find out over the coming months. I was talking to a friend of mine in CDG a couple of months ago. He said that all he is waiting for, is the new contract, and he is retiring as soon as it's signed.

JetJocF14

I was talking to a friend of mine in CDG a couple of months ago. He said that all he is waiting for, is the new contract, and he is retiring as soon as it's signed.[/QUOTE]

That my friend will not happen till maybe...maybe the summer of 2016. JMHO.

Full pull

That my friend will not happen till maybe...maybe the summer of 2016. JMHO.
[/QUOTE]

I agree. I also feel that the company thinks it has the advantage in negotiations, that's why they filed for mediation. I don't believe there will be any gains in retirement. So I don't believe there is any advantage in hanging around. Let the retirements begin.

Chainsaw

..........+1

Knots2U

Another early retirement announcement today. MD11 captain ejects early. I am sensing a trend here. I wonder if the company figured in a bunch of captains putting in their two week notice just as December approaches. We do live in interesting times. And congrats and best wishes to the retiring captain.

Full pull

You'r only required to give them one days notice.