International Reciprocity is a program that allows a member to have his/her Health & Welfare and Pension hours moved from the area where they are worked to his home fund.

Should you go to a project in an area outside the Southwest Carpenters area – Southern California, Arizona, Nevada or Utah – you should contact this administrative office for a form to have your Health & Welfare and Pension hours returned here. Southwest Carpenters Pension Trust is your "home fund."

The carpenter must file a written authorization form electing to have contributions transferred within 60 days of the commencement of employment within another jurisdiction. Reciprocal agreements must also be in effect between this Trust and the other trusts. The transfer of hours is limited to hours worked up to one year prior to receipt of the transfer request.

Effective January 1, 2006, Annuity funds will be able to be transferred for the Las Vegas membership because they have an Annuity fund as well as the Health & Welfare and Pension Funds.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• When you are assigned a job outside your home area you need to find out where your benefits will be sent so you can give us that information on your reciprocal form. This allows us to request your hours promptly and from the correct fund office.
  
  
• Once you have filled out the reciprocal form, please be sure to send it back to this office.
  
  
• If you transfer your union membership to another area, you cannot have hours sent to this fund office because you will no longer be a member of a union in this area.
  
  
• The transfer of hours shall continue until the carpenter has revoked the reciprocity request in writing and request is received by this fund.