Seems like you are confusing the two types of Veba funds specified in the last contract.

One is the 25K fund you are talking about, available to pilots 53 (at DOS) or older and with 10 years of service (I think) with the company. The intent was to help them make it from retirement at 60 (haha) to medicare and the supplement provided by the other fund.

The other fund is the .50 per hour we contribute to. Initially this fund was seeded with Fedex and fdx pilot money. This fund is for over 65 guys and family to supplement medicare. Everyone is eligible for this.

The only real relationship between the 2 funds is the 25K for geezers was initially laundered through the other fund (my guess is for IRS reasons).