Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

  • How do I change or designate a beneficiary?

 

    • Please contact the Pension Fund office and request a Beneficiary Designation form.
      Fill out the form, and return it to the Pension Fund. We will update your account with the information provided.

 

  • What kind of information do I need to provide in order to make a withdrawal request?

 

    • Withdrawal requests must be in writing via mail, fax, or e-mail, if the member has the capability of scanning or electronically signing the email request.
    • We must have the member’s name, address, account number, social security number, withdrawal amount, distribution instructions and signature.
    • If requesting that the withdrawal be wired to a bank account, in addition to the information above, we must have the bank name, account number, and routing number. Please confirm the routing number with your bank, as in some cases the bank may provide a different number exclusively for wires. Please be advised that there is a $25.00 fee for this procedure. Your bank may have additional fees.

 

  • How do I change my address or any other personal information?

 

    • Due to growing counts of identity theft, in order to fully protect our members, all updates or changes must be done in writing with the member’s signature. This information can be sent by mail, fax or e-mail, if the member has the capability to scan or electronically provide his/her signature.

 

  • What do I need to do when a member dies?

 

    • Please contact the Pension Fund office as soon as possible. We need to know the member's name, date of passing, survivors and contact information for the spouse.  If the spouse has pre-deceased the member, we will need the name and contact information for another family member or executor of the member’s Will. If the spouse survives but is unable to handle his/her affairs, we must have contact information for his/her Power of Attorney.

 

  • My parents are unable to handle their own affairs, how can I assist them with their Pension Fund accounts?

 

    • We do not provide financial or personal information to anyone other than the member. In order to share information with someone other than the member, we must have a copy of the Power of Attorney document. These papers need to be in our custody before we can speak to anyone other than the member.
  • Where do I send a deposit for my accounts?

 

    • All deposits for established accounts are sent to our lockbox. That address is:

 

          Pension Fund of the Christian Church
          PO Box 660225
          Indianapolis, IN 46266-0225

 

    • If opening a new account, send the enrollment/application form along with a check for the initial deposit to:

 

          Pension Fund of the Christian Church

          130 E. Washington Street

          Indianapolis, IN  46204-3659

 

  • Can I rollover funds to or from the Pension Fund accounts?

 

    • The Pension Fund can accept funds from 401K, 403b, 457 government plans, or traditional (not Roth) IRA's into the 403(b) Tax Deferred Retirement Account.  We cannot receive rollovers into the Pension Plan.
    • Contact the Pension Fund office for necessary paper work to rollover funds to an account at the Pension Fund.
    • If rolling over from the Pension Fund, you would need to ask the receiving institution if they are able to accept 403b funds.
    • All requests for rollovers must be in writing.

 

  • I have terminated my employment.  What is the next step?

 

    • Ministers

 

      • Notify the Pension Fund of your termination date as well as the beginning date of your new ministry.
      • The Pension Fund will send an Options form and/or Change of Ministry form to the minister.
      • The Pension Fund will send a Church Report of Ministerial Change form to the former church as well as to the new church.

 

    • Lay Employees, Vested in the Pension Plan

 

      • The Pension Fund must receive notification of termination from the employer.
      • Once the Pension Fund receives notice of termination, an Options form will be sent to the Pension Plan member to complete and return.

 

    • Lay Employees, Not Vested in the Pension Plan

 

      • The Pension Fund must receive notification of termination from the employer.
      • Non-vested employees cannot continue membership in the Pension Plan. However, the refundable dues (usually 3%) are eligible for rollover.
      • Once the Pension Fund receives notice of termination, a Statement of Withdrawal and Release is sent to the non-vested member to complete and return.