Association of Former Pan Am Employees, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

AM I AFFECTED? All Pan Am employees, even if you retired 20 years ago are affected, even those of you who are still waiting to reach retirement age. All 79,000 former Pan Am employees must file appeals of their Initial Determination Letters (IDL letters), in order to protect themselves and their spouses.

AM I AFFECTED IF I RESIGNED PA TO GO TO DELTA IN 10/91? All the Delta employees were on the payroll on July 31, 1991 which was the day the PBGC terminated all PAA pension plans. If they had not yet reached the early retirement age in their particular pension play yet, then this is the day that the PBGC decided that you would receive 45.2% of your pension instead of the 79% if you chose to retire at the earliest possible age. This is what PA had always promised us.

WHAT IS AN IDL LETTER? Everyone, by law, must receive an Initial Determination Letter. This IDL letter is extremely important to both you and your spouse. The PBGC does not want you to know this, and what they really want is for you to say to yourself that this letter does not concern you, so you can either file and forget it, or through it away. Remember, you only have 45 days from the date on that letter to appeal.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I RECEIVED MY IDL LETTER AND DID NOT REALIZE WHAT IT WAS? Call Richie Brooks at 561-357-1065. He will tell you how you can start the appeal process all over again. It is very important that you do this at once.

HOW MANY LAWSUITS HAVE WE FILED? AND AM I INVOLVED IN THEM? The lawsuit that was filed in Federal court in New York, is a "Class Action Suit." All PA employees who were under early retirement age on 7/31/91 are involved. The other suit is a False Claims Act Suit, which was filed in Washington, DC against Office Specialists, who was the administrator of all PA pension plans for the PBGC. We have alleged that they have embezzled 50 million dollars from the PBGC and the Federal government. If we are successful in regaining this money for the government, then we get 15% of it, which could be as much as $7.5 million dollars. This money, then would be distributed to members (in good standing, paid up dues) of AFPAE.

Updated: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 11:09:26 AM