How do I accrue a Vested Benefit?

Once you have accrued a Vested Benefit, your benefit can not be forfeited.  Once you have accrued a Vested Benefit, you can not incur a Break-in-Service.  A Vested Benefit can be earned by either of the following:

1. If your service with the Plan terminated prior to June 1, 1997, you will have a Vested Benefit if you had ten (10) or more Years of Participation after your last Break-in-Service date or at such time as you have accumulated sixteen thousand (16,000) Covered Hours of service.
    
2. If you have one or more Covered Hours of service on or after June 1, 1997, you will have a Vested Benefit when you have five (5) or more Years of Participation after your last Break-in-Service date or at such time as you have accumulated sixteen thousand (16,000) Covered Hours of service.

Once you have attained sixteen thousand (16,000) or more Covered Hours of service, you are Vested, regardless of whether you have acquired the five (5) or ten (10) Years of Participation.