News and Information

• Your 401(k) can also lower your tax bill (04/12/2018)
  This is the time of year when many Americans are writing checks to the Internal Revenue Service, which levies a tax on many forms of income, including wages and salary. Contributing to a 401(k) lowers the amount you pay in federal income taxes.
• Medical plan update: Termination for opt-out of plan coverage (04/02/2018)
  Effective 1/1/2018, medical coverage will be terminated at the end of the month following receipt of a spouse's or an adult dependent's notice to opt-out of plan coverage.
• Build retirement wealth with your 401(k) (01/17/2018)
  The Carpenters Retirement Plan can be a significant source of retirement income for eligible participants. However, don't overlook the great potential of the 401(k) subaccount inside the Carpenters Individual Account Pension Plan. The tax advantages and investment returns can make it a very powerful engine for building retirement wealth.
• Carpenters Retirement Planning (01/16/2018)
  A retirement planning seminar will be provided to members age 53 and older through South Puget Sound Carpenters Local 129 in Lacey, WA on January 27, 2018.
• Participants, please review your dependent information (01/04/2018)
  Participants are being notified by mail this week that it is once again time to verify information about dependents covered by the Carpenters Health and Security Plan.
• Holiday hours for Carpenters Trusts office (12/05/2017)
  The Carpenters Trusts office in Seattle will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 3-5 p.m. for a staff reception. The office also will be closed for the following holiday observances:
• Scheduled Maintenance for Phone System on Friday, Oct. 20 (10/13/2017)
  The Carpenters Trusts phone system will be undergoing scheduled maintenance after 1 p.m. (Pacific) on Friday, Oct. 20.
• Important Information About the Carpenters Retirement Plan (08/28/2017)
  This announcement provides information about: the discontinuation of the pension enhancement option; changes to vesting requirements; and surcharges aimed at funding the SIB Stabilization Reserve.
• 401(k) can lower tax bill and boost retirement income (08/11/2017)
  How much money will you need to live comfortably when you retire?
• Health fairs offer no-cost preventive care with express service (08/03/2017)
  Participants, spouses and dependents can get health screenings and flu shots for no out-of-pocket cost at upcoming health fairs in Tacoma, Spokane, Pasco, Bothell and Kent. Fairs will be held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, making it easier to keep up with preventive care without taking time off work for doctor's appointments.
• Don't be surprised by non-network providers at network hospitals (06/07/2017)
  At some network hospitals, emergency room and specialty services (such as radiology and anesthesiology) are being delivered by providers that aren't contracted with Aetna. This practice can have serious financial consequences for patients.
• Health plan now covers telemedicine (05/24/2017)
  The Carpenters Health and Security Plan now provides benefits for telephone or online consultations with a covered provider.
• Carpenters Retirement Planning (04/11/2017)
  2017 retirement planning seminars have been set for most unions
• Carpenters Retirement Planning (01/17/2017)
  A retirement planning seminar will be provided to members age 53 and older through South Puget Sound Carpenters Local 129 in Lacey, WA on January 21, 2017.
• Holiday hours for Trust office (11/22/2016)
  Carpenters Trusts staff will open during normal business hours throughout the holiday season, except for the following days when the Trust office will be closed
• More information and tools for understanding Retirement Plan changes (11/15/2016)
  This week, working participants will be receiving by mail additional details about upcoming changes to the Carpenters Retirement Plan.
• Yes, you can get your flu shot at a pharmacy (11/09/2016)
  They're here. Flu viruses, that is. A flu shot is considered the first and most important step in protecting yourself against this painful and sometimes deadly illness.
• New Video: The future of secure retirement (10/17/2016)
  The economic events of the past decade have prompted the Carpenters Retirement Plan of Western Washington to create a new formula for calculating pension benefits.
• New Video: Intro to Sustainable Income Benefits (10/13/2016)
  There's an important change coming soon for the Carpenters Retirement Plan. Starting Jan. 1, 2017 there will be new formula for calculating your retirement benefit.
• Carpenters Retirement Plan Changes Effective January 1, 2017 (09/28/2016)
• Free lab tests and flu shots at regional health fairs (08/17/2016)
  Eligible participants and dependents can receive a no-cost lab test and flu shot at an upcoming health fair.
• Questions & Answers ("Q&As") Regarding the Current State of the Retirement Plan (08/01/2016)
  The Q&As are generally focused around the current state of the CTWW Retirement Plan in 2016, however, it also provides some background information about the events leading us up to this point.
• Carpenters Retirement Planning (06/22/2016)
  A retirement planning seminar will be provided to members age 52 and older through Central and Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho Carpenters Local 59 in Wenatchee, WA on July 16, 2016.
• Healthy Wealthy Wise enhances online service for participants and dependents (06/03/2016)
  A new website from Carpenters Trusts offers convenient access to personalized benefits information.
• Health and wellness news in the Everyday newsletter (02/04/2016)
  Everyday: tips and tools for when life happens.
• Carpenters Retirement Planning Seminar - January 23, 2016 (01/19/2016)
  A retirement planning seminar will be provided to members age 53 and older through South Puget Sound Carpenters Local 129 in Lacey, WA on Saturday January 23, 2016.
• New self-pay rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2016 (01/19/2016)
  Monthly rates for the various benefits packages are reviewed annually to keep up with the cost of medical care and prescription medications.
• New health plan summaries for participants and dependents (12/01/2015)
  In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, the Carpenters Health and Security Trust recently mailed summaries of benefits and coverage to all eligible participants and dependents.
• The New York Times: As lives lengthen, costs mount (11/17/2015)
  After age 85, the average Medicare beneficiary has nearly $8,200 a year in out-of-pocket medical expenses and premiums
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