When you can begin receiving your pension

 
If you’re vested, you are eligible for benefits, but rules affect when you can begin to receive your pension and the amount of your monthly payment.

  • To receive the full amount of your regular annuity retirement benefits, you must wait until at least age 65.
  • You may decide to retire as early as age 55, or even sooner if you’re disabled under Retirement Plan rules. But to be eligible for pension benefits before age 65, you can no longer be under contract or receiving a salary for AFTRA-covered work, or working for a contributing employer (even in non-covered work), and your monthly payments will be reduced to reflect the longer period of time your benefit will be paid.
  • You must begin receiving your pension no later than April 1 of the calendar year after reaching age 72, even if you are still working at that time.

Before you retire: A checklist 
Retirement Plan at-a-glance main page
Retirement Fund section intro page

For details and additional information, call Participant Services at (800) 562-4690 or refer to the current Retirement Fund Summary Plan Description and any subsequent Benefits Updates.