Originally Posted by sailingfun

This is incorrect for Delta. The 16% is paid on top of the profit sharing. If profit sharing is 15% and you had 300,000 in earnings you get 45,000 in profit sharing plus 16% placed in your defined contribution plan for a total total of 52,200. The profit sharing is pensionable exactly the same as regular earnings. You may also elect to contribute to the DC up to IRS maximums as much of the base 45,000 you desire.
In addition to being fully pensionable profit sharing also counts toward your FAE for disability calculations. As a example a CA earning 500,000 if profit sharing was 15% would be credited with a FAE of 575000. His disability payment would be 287,500 per year plus an additional 32% credited to his DC for a total of 379,500 per year. The union disability payment program which is pilot funded would be in addition to that number. The program described above is 100% company funded.