DP3 Trustee Election Nominations Closing Soon
April 14, 2011

The annual DP3 election cycle is underway and the nomination committee is happy to report that to date 3 candidates have thrown their hat in the ring.

Wendell Lewis and Clarke Brant are standing for reelection and are joined by Kim Welch.

Any DP3 member who wishes to run for the DP3 board or nominate another Honor Roll member should notify DP3 by return email on or before Friday, April 15, 2011.

Legislative Alert - UPDATE
February 1, 2011

DP3 has been informed that Senators Brown (D-OH), Rockefeller (D-WV), Stabenow (D-MI), and Casey (D-PA) have submitted a bill (S.221) to provide an 18-month extension to the provisions of the HCTC. This is a significant development for our members who are eligible for the HCTC. The present deadline for the enhanced benefits is February 13, 2011.

It is imperative that members contact their representatives now and ask that they show bi-partisan support for this bill and co-sponsor it if possible. Most helpful to this effort is:

1. Encouraging the House Ways & Means to pick up this bill (you can Google House Ways & Means to see if your representative is a member of this important committee)
2. Ensuring the support of Georgia Senators Isakson and Chambliss.

Click Here for a sample letter to your Congressman (this is a revised letter from the one previously posted), which is also posted in the article below. Modify the letter to relate any personal preferences. To email your letter to all of your representatives go to the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) web site http://nrln.org/ and enter your ZIP code in the write Congress box on the right. Fill out the required information, copy and paste your letter, and submit. To send your representative a fax go to http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ and enter your address or zip + four. You can easily find a fax number for your representative. We urge you to send both a faxed letter and an email.

Thank you for your efforts and support of your fellow retirees,

Legislative Alert
Posted 1-26-2011

We are asking all members of DP3 to contact their Representatives and Senators immediately to request an extension of the provisions of the HCTC included in the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA bill), known as HR6517. The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) provisions included in the ARRA have been extended until February 13, 2011(click here for details) and we're supporting legislation to extend the provisions beyond this date (DP3's VEBA plan qualifies for the HCTC).

Click Here for a sample letter to your Congressman. Modify the letter to relate any personal preferences. To email your letter to all of your representatives go to the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) web site http://nrln.org/ and enter your ZIP code in the write Congress box on the right. Fill out the required information, cut and paste your letter, and submit. To send your representative a fax go to http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ and enter your address or zip + four. You can easily find a fax number for your representative. We urge you to send both a faxed letter and an email.

The key areas are:
• Extend the ability to set up a monthly reimbursement program at the onset of application
• Extend the credit from 65% to 80%
• Extend the credit to Qualified Family members after member turns 65 (beyond the current 24 months)
• Permanently qualify any previously established VEBA

We urge you to contact your Representatives and Senators on behalf of yourself and your fellow pilots. [Note that we do not have a current bill number which has been introduced to achieve this legislative goal; however, if and when a bill is produced, we will send a follow-up legislative alert message to request action on a specific bill. Please watch for updates in the coming weeks.]

Copy and Paste this sample letter into your CAPWIZ email now!

Final Claim Distribution Information Posted By Delta
January 20, 2011

DeltaDocket.com has posted a Claim Distribution Summary as of December 2010 on its web page. The Summary contains information detailing the final distribution of shares for unsecured creditors of the Delta bankruptcy.

The summary notes that final distribution of the shares will be made by March 31, 2011. It appears that the final distribution will be about 39 additional shares per $10,000 of claim value.

DP3 does not have any additional information beyond what is in the posting, including when the shares will actually be distributed or the number of shares any individual creditor has coming to them.

DP3 Consolidated Appeal Date Extended to April 29, 2011
Posted: January 18, 2011

PBGC has recently agreed to extend the DP3 Consolidated Appeal Filing Deadline to April 29, 2011, and remember this is still tentative.

The PBGC has informed us that they have finally sent the last of the non-QDRO BDLs to the retired Delta pilots. If you have not received your BDL yet and do not have a QDRO, please call the PBGC at 800-400-7242 and ask about it. If you have a QDRO, you may not see a final BDL before the end of this year (2011). Please note that if you have a QDRO but do not have your final BDL before our consolidated appeal is filed, you will be able to join the appeal in progress, provided you are still an Honor Roll member at the time. Note: DP3 cannot add you to the appeal if your BDL has not been issued.

Important - NO ACTION IS REQUIRED BY ANY DP3 MEMBER DUE TO THIS POSTPONMENT. Those of you who have already received extensions of the appeal deadline are automatically extended to the new date of April 29, 2011.

DP3 VEBA/HCTC Update & Printing Aetna ID Cards
December 21, 2010

Retired pre-merger Delta pilots (pre-65) who have enrolled in the DP3 VEBA medical plan and who wish to drop their 2011 Delta medical coverage effective January 1, 2011 may do so by contacting the Employee Service Center at 800-MYDELTA by December 30, 2011. Representatives have been advised to accept this request over the phone.

...CLICK HERE TO READ FULL UPDATE AND INSTRUCTIONS...

DP3 VEBA Clarification
VEBA is Approved and HCTC Eligible
December 12, 2010

There appears to be some confusion regarding the viability/eligibility of the DP3 VEBA. First and foremost, the VEBA is HCTC qualified for those members who are between the ages of 55-64 and meet the eligibility guidelines as defined by the HCTC Program.

Medicare eligible members are not tied to the HCTC in any way. Our Medicare plans for the Over 65 are ready to go for a January 1st effective date.

• The reauthorization of the current subsidy level of 80% (the original subsidy level was 65% until the ARRA legislation was passed.)
• The reauthorization of the "qualified family member program" that permits spouses/dependents to remain eligible for the HCTC subsidy for an additional 24 months past a defined event date. The subsidy is offered for 24 months to the qualified family members after the death of a participant, divorce from the participant, or when a participant becomes eligible for Medicare. For the participants that become Medicare eligible upon turning 65, their qualified family members are eligible for 24 months, or until the participant turns 67, whichever comes first.
• The ability to receive a reimbursement to your monthly HCTC account in the event you had to make a 100% payment for your health plan premium while initially enrolling in the HCTC program. This provision allows the participant to complete a reimbursement form and have the over payment of 80% credited to your monthly account instead of having to wait and claim it on your income tax return when you file it in April.

Some of you may have already received your invoice and welcome letter from the HCTC Program for your January premium. You have been invoiced for 20% of the premium, which is the correct amount because the ARRA provisions do not expire until December 31, 2010. If the ARRA provisions are not extended, then your January invoice you receive will be for 35% of the premium and this will be for your February coverage. Remember to mail your payment directly to the HCTC so that they receive it by the due date. Don't wait; mail it now.

Cone Insurance Group (CIG), our insurance broker, has been working closely with the IRS-HCTC representatives. They have passed along information regarding an attestation letter that may apply to some of our participants. Please read the CIG attestation cover letter for further explanation and instructions in the event you receive this letter.

Legislative Action Alert
December 10, 2010

DP3 is asking all members to contact your elected representatives regarding the ARRA extension, which preserves improvements to the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). Following an internal IRS ruling last week, the DP3 VEBA healthcare plan is now eligible for the HCTC, but extending the ARRA would preserve the 80% reimbursement rate and eligibility for spouses of over-65 retirees.

The HCTC language was originally included on the "Bush" tax cut extension bill and was moved to the South Korean trade bill (in the hopes it would get passed quicker). Now that the tax cut bill has gained momentum again, Senator Sherrod Brown is working to get the HCTC language back onto this legislation.

It is important to contact your representatives through email and calls to their offices requesting they do the following:

• Allow the HCTC language to be moved from the trade bill back to the tax cut legislation. The HCTC reauthorization will allow qualifying family members to remain eligible for insurance as well as keep the 80% subsidy in place (instead of the 65% subsidy that was in effect prior to the ARRA passage in 2009).
  
  
• It is very important that the language limiting VEBA's established during a bankruptcy have no time limitation language (currently Jan. 1, 2012). This time limit language should be removed from the proposed HCTC language in the reauthorization of the program.

To send an email to your elected representatives, visit the NLRN web site at http://nrln.org. Type in your zip code in the upper right-hand corner under the "Write Congress" banner. That will take you to the next page where you will see your elected representatives (based on the zip code you entered in the first step). At the top left side of the new page click on "Action Alert" which will take you to a pre-formatted letter we distributed a few weeks ago urging passage of the extension language. Cut and paste the two bullets above into the "canned" message and it will automatically be sent to your representatives. If you have not previously used the NRLN's CAPWIZ system, you may need to enter your contact information as representatives will not answer email messages from voters who do not reside in their legislative districts.

Thank you for helping to ensure this important healthcare legislation is passed.  Click Here To Take Action Now!

NEW VEBA ROADSHOWS WITH NEWLY APPROVED 0VER-65 PLAN
NOVEMBER 19, 2010

The Cone Insurance Group (CIG), the VEBA insurance broker, will once again hold road shows to present the VEBA plan being offered by Aetna, ESI, and VSP (Vision). Representatives will be onsite to answer questions and provide information about the newly finalized Over-65 plan and our Under-65 VEBA qualified plan. All retired and active Delta employees (and spouses) who are interested in our new healthcare plans are invited to attend.

• Over-65 Medicare Healthcare Plan Options
• Under 65 Medical Plan Options
• Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)

Information will be presented by the broker and vendors. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to hear firsthand about your health care benefits and the various options available to you. Please make every effort to attend because these will be the last ones before the plan is in effect!

New VEBA Plan Information and Pricing Posted
November 9, 2010

The DP3 VEBA Roadshows are complete, and plan information and pricing for the Under-65 program has been posted on our VEBA page. Click the VEBA button on the right to review all the material about the VEBA plan.

Urgent Update for Pilot Retirees with a Zero PBGC Benefit
October 29, 2010

In researching the Benefit Statement Worksheet of a retiree currently receiving zero from the PBGC it was discovered that the PBGC actually had calculated his benefit at $0.84 – and rounded this to $0. This deprived this individual of eligibility for the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC).

When contacted, the PBGC agreed this was an error, and is correcting it, making this individual eligible for the tax credit.

If you are a "zero", you should request a BSW if you haven't already. When you receive it you need to look at the last line of the last section "PBGC monthly benefit at date of plan termination". If that value is not zero, you need to contact the PBGC at 1-800-400-7242, ask for the Atlanta office, preferably talk to Shonya Morrison (case supervisor), but speak with anyone you can – and politely explain the situation. As a double check of your BSW, look at the second to last line in the PC5a section, "Total Gross PC5a benefit before application of SS offset".. If it is greater than zero, you should be getting a benefit.

DP3's attorneys are contacting the PBGC about this issue. We will advise the membership if there are any additional developments.

DP3's VEBA Health Care Plan Ready for Roll-Out
UPDATED October 21, 2010

The Delta Pilots Pension Preservation Organization (DP3) is pleased to announce a new health care plan for ALL eligible Delta retirees and employees (not just for pilots) beginning January 2011. Learn about the new insurance plan offerings at road shows taking place Oct. 26-Nov. 9. DP3 Board members will also be at the meetings to provide an update on our efforts to maximize pension benefits for retired pilots.

What type of healthcare plan is DP3 offering?

DP3 is offering a Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA) plan that qualifies for the Health Care Tax Credit (HCTC) – a government subsidy that currently pays 80% of premiums for those who qualify. The VEBA plan will include an under 65 program, including vision and dental plan options. We anticipate offering a competitive over-65 plan for both pilots and non-pilots in the near future.

Who is eligible to participate in the DP3 Plan?

All active and retired Delta employees, their spouses and survivors are eligible.

Who is eligible for the HCTC?

All Delta retirees or active employees under age 65 currently who receive a check from the PBGC (as the result of a terminated pension plan). This includes spouses and survivors of retired and active employees. Representatives from the IRS/HCTC will be there to present information on the HCTC and answer questions.

September Chairman's Update
October 11, 2010

September was a busy month for DP3. In addition to holding our monthly board meeting, seven of DP3's nine trustees traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Retiree Legislative Network's (NRLN) annual "Fly-In." Minutes from the monthly meeting are posted in our documents folder, and this article will summarize other important developments for retired Delta pilots.

NRLN Fly-in

The purpose of the annual fly-in is to provide us with an opportunity to talk with key legislators and the PBGC about issues impacting retired Delta pilots, such as pension reform and PBGC procedures. I serve on the NRLN Board and believe that our affiliation with this organization - which represents more than two million retirees nationwide - continues to help our cause both on Capitol Hill and with the PBGC. Sept. 14 was devoted to meetings with legislators to help educate them on policy and interpretation issues that unfairly penalize retirees. Trustees also met with our lawyers regarding PBGC issues relating to the upcoming appeals. We're very pleased with our representation and believe Miller & Chevalier are well prepared to make the case for Delta retirees.

Meeting with PBGC Director

While in Washington, your trustees had a private meeting with newly-appointed PBGC director Joshua Gotbaum to discuss PBGC policies that are penalizing retired Delta pilots. We addressed plan valuation, look back issues, lack of trust, lack of communication, and the strict enforcement of the 45-day limit on appeals. We're disappointed that the PBGC continues to interpret the IRC limits as benefit enhancements that are subject to the look back rule. Unfortunately, the PGBC's position continues to be "this is the way we have done it for 30 years," which directly contradicts the fact that the limits were anticipated in contract changes dating back to 1996. Your trustees and our legal counsel do not believe this policy interpretation represents the intent of Congress.

NRLN Joint Session with the PBGC

On Sept. 15, five DP3 trustees again met with the PBGC, this time as part of an NRLN group session that included retiree representatives from 30 companies such as Chrysler, GM, Lucent, AT&T, USWest, John Deere and others. At this meeting, we once more discussed issues negatively affecting all retirees. Although the session did not produce any specific changes, the PBGC director did commit to not oppose any legislative efforts that might be undertaken on behalf of retirees.

Status of BDLs

To date, over 1,000 DP3 members have filed for extension of the time limit to appeal their BDLs. We hope to file the consolidated appeal by mid-November, but there's a good chance that the PBGC will delay that date until the end of the year.

We are finding that many Delta retirees are confusing their losses with the PBGC's procedures. Visit the Blog (link on right) to find answers to commonly-asked questions about whether or not to join the appeal. We have posted extensive information posted there and try to update the blog frequently.

Help in Contacting Fellow Retirees

DP3 has nearly 2,100 Honor Roll members. However, we believe that nearly 3,500 retired Delta pilots could benefit from the changes we are pursuing so that leaves about 1,400 pilots without representation against the PBGC. The total cost to become an Honor Roll member for those who have never contributed is $1,200. The majority of BDLs received so far will result in a retroactive lump sum payment much greater than that. Should we be successful in our battle with the PBGC, even a $100 monthly increase would result in a $5,000 retroactive check.

We have dozens of retired pilots who are close to being Honor Roll members and only owe between $50 and $200 to achieve that goal. DP3 can only represent Honor Roll members in the appeal and in the court case, should that be required. Please help us reach out to fellow retirees who might not know about DP3's efforts and could benefit from our consolidated appeal.

VEBA Update

DP3 is going full tilt in an effort to form a Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA) before the end of this year. This would allow many of those retired pilots with a check from the PBGC, who now are ineligible for HCTC benefits, to get help with health care premiums. Delta is under a bankruptcy court order to provide the information necessary to get quotes from insurance companies. We are doing everything possible to have the VEBA in place this year, but we will need more cooperation from Delta. Look for more updates on this issue in the near future.

DP3 Chairman's Update
Posted March 20, 2010

Last week your DP3 trustees held their monthly board meeting via conference call. We discussed many items of interest to our members; the complete minutes of the meeting are available by clicking here: Minutes of the DP3 Board Meeting March 10, 2010.   Other issues we covered include the 2010 DP3 dues program, an update on our VEBA effort, and a discussion of the nominations for the 2010 Trustee Elections. Click here for the full text of the March 19, 2010 Chairman's Update.

You may recall that last month's Chairman's Update was emailed to the membership in two formats, and we conducted an informal poll of which format you preferred. The new "newsletter" format was preferred by an overwhelming 84% to 16% of the members who participated in that poll, so that will become our new standard. Please watch for our newsletters in your email inbox, make sure DP3 is white listed in your mail program, and make sure we always have your current email address.

DP3 Chairman's Update
Posted March 10, 2010

During the February 10, 2010 DP3 Trustee meeting, we discussed many issues of importance to the retired Delta pilots. Rather than providing a full recap of that meeting here, you can read the minutes posted on our web page by clicking the link here: Minutes of the DP3 Board Meeting February 10, 2010 Other issues covered in the Chairman's Update include 2010 DP3 Dues Program, DP3 Honor Roll Members and the PBGC, The Importance of Supporting DP3 Now, and How Can DP3 Help You?

We distributed our Chairman's Update in two formats this time, our traditional business letter format and also a new newsletter style format. After reviewing both formats, please participate in a quick poll of which you like better by going to this link Newsletter Poll to register your opinion.

DP3 Letter to Delta CEO Richard Anderson Regarding Cancelled COBRA Option
November 12, 2009

Many retired Delta pilots received the recent announcement of a one-time COBRA enrollment opportunity from Delta with a great deal of joy and appreciation. Hundreds of retired Delta pilots were not eligible for the previous COBRA enrollment opportunity in 2007 because they were either not yet age 60 and/or they were not previously enrolled in either the Delta Family Care Medical Plan (DFCMP) or the Delta Pilots Medical Plan (DPMP). In either case, these retirees were shut out of the primary method of capturing the Health Care Tax Credit (HCTC) offered by the IRS.

But it was with an equal degree of sadness to find out that the COBRA plan as offered by Delta for 2010 did not receive approval from the IRS for the HCTC. The offer of COBRA insurance was therefore withdrawn by Mr. Rob Kight in his letter of November 5, 2009...Read the rest of Chairman Buergey's letter here...

New PBGC Director Nominated
November 10, 2009

The Administration has announced that it has nominated Joshua Gotbaum as the new PBGC Director. For details, please see the Press Release by clicking the following link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts-11909.

New DP3 Healthcare Option
August 23, 2009

[from DP3 Chairman Will Buergey] DP3 is acutely aware that many members have suffered a loss of medical benefits as a result of the bankruptcy of Delta Air Lines. The post bankruptcy health care benefits we were left with were determined by Delta and the Pilot 1114 Committee - not by DP3.

Unfortunately the 1114 Committee was not able to protect many of our members, notably those who were under age 60 on January 1, 2007. Due to the age restriction imposed by Delta to qualify for the bankruptcy COBRA, many retired pilots were not eligible for the COBRA option, which was the only Delta sponsored plan eligible for the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC).

Over the past several months I have asked Delta several times to reconsider the decision that prevents retired pilots and their spouses from joining the COBRA eligibility list once they pass their sixtieth birthday. These efforts have been futile, but I recently discussed this issue with an attorney who is familiar with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA not only increased the HCTC contribution from 65% to 80% until the end of 2010, but also provided an accelerated methodology for the creation of a Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA) that can offer HCTC eligible healthcare insurance to its members. continue reading...

The Social Security Offset
June 20, 2009

As our retired pilot population ages, many of us are going to be affected by the Social Security offset of the PWA. Referencing page 9 of the July 2005 Delta MEC Retirement and Insurance Handbook: "Social Security Offset - Applies at the earlier of the date of your Social Security benefits or age 65. If you were on the DAL, WAL, or Pan Am seniority lists before February 9, 1982, your monthly offset is $94 at age 62 or $117 at age 65. Otherwise, your offset equals $259 monthly (at age 62) prorated for service less than 25 years. If you receive the Minimum Benefit, no offset applies."

Many of you have asked: what does all this mean? For a discussion and examples of the offset, read this briefing prepared by Trustee Bill Caiazza.

NRLN Task Force Working to Reform Bankruptcy and PBGC Rules
May 13, 2009

[From Bill Kadereit, NRLN President] In February, I sent letters to President Obama and the Senate Judiciary committee members to advocate the need for legislation to reform bankruptcy laws to better protect retirees' pensions and benefits in bankruptcy court proceedings. My letters were followed up with an NRLN Action Alert that saw Grassroots Network members email nearly 7,000 letters to Washington on this issue. In March, the NRLN presented to a Congressional staff member a white paper prepared by the Delta Pilots retiree organization on the need to reform bankruptcy laws and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) rules. Now, the NRLN is taking an additional step forward with the creation of a Task Force to not only address needed changes in bankruptcy laws but also in rules applied by the PBGC when it takes over a defined benefits pension plan. continue reading...

Synopsis of the Soaring Eagles Court Case against the PBGC
March 29, 2009

We have asked our attorneys at Miller and Martin to prepare a layman's explanation of the recent court decision in the Soaring Eagles case against the PBGC. For those not following closely, Soaring Eagles is the DP3 counterpart on the USAir property – the retired pilots of USAirways. They have already received their final benefit determinations and exhausted the administrative objection process, and are now litigating 11 parts of their benefit determinations in federal court.

We want our membership to know that the DP3 trustees and our lawyers are following the USAir case closely. While their pilot working agreement (PWA) and retirement programs are significantly different from our own PWA and retirements, and the outcome of much of their litigation will not apply to our situation, there are some similarities which may establish some precedents that will either help or harm our own potential case against the PBGC if we ultimately end up challenging our own final benefits.

Mr. Booth has reminded us that "virtually no legal principal is as clear as it appears when lawyers explain it to someone. The law, if one reads the several opinions in the Chevron case, is certainly not as clear as I have articulated it."

We will try to provide regular updates to the Soaring Eagles case as developments warrant. Click here to read the synopsis...

Good News from the HCTC Program

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, new economic stimulus legislation, was recently approved by Congress and signed by the President. Included in this legislation is the Trade Adjustment Assistance Health Coverage Improvement Act, which changes some of the requirements for the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The new law, including the changes to the HCTC, expires on December 31, 2010.

A key change that is important to DP3 members is that the HCTC will pay a greater portion of your health insurance costs. The tax credit is increasing from 65% to 80% of qualified health insurance premiums. If you are a monthly HCTC participant, the 80% tax credit amount will be reflected on your HCTC invoice beginning in April 2009.

The changes will expire on December 31, 2010. For more information, call the HCTC at 1-866-628-HCTC (4282) or review the HCTC Latest News Page on the IRS.GOV web site.

Rumors, Questions, and Doubts

Recently we have seen a surge in rumors, apparently spurred by the widely publicized denial of the Soaring Eagle’s request for preliminary injunction.  The misinformation that is taking on a life of its own is not in the best interest of the retirees.  The following is an effort to bring facts into the discussion: continue reading...

Status of Bankruptcy Distributions
October 23, 2010

On October 15, Delta filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court that asks the court to approve a final distribution to claimholders and close the bankruptcy cases for Delta and Comair. The motion is scheduled to be heard by the Bankruptcy Court in mid-December. If the motion is approved by the Bankruptcy Court, final distributions to claimholders would be completed by March 31, 2011.Read the post on the Delta Retiree Web Page...

DP3 joins the NRLN and Implements an Annual Dues Program

I have some exciting news to share with you regarding a new direction the DP3 Trustees have decided to pursue that will hopefully benefit all retired Delta pilots.

First I want to thank all of you who have supported DP3 from its inception by paying all dues and assessments.  These voluntary payments provided DP3 with the funding required to protect the interests of the retired Delta pilots both before and after the Delta bankruptcy proceedings.  For those of you who have not supported DP3 in the past, I want to say that I understand some of the reasons you have chosen to remain on the sidelines and promise to address those issues going forward.  Hopefully, for the other non-contributors it is simply a case that you have not heard about this organization and the tremendous efforts its volunteer trustees have made on your behalf over the past six years. continue reading...

DP3 Chairman's Update 12-17-08 - Medicare Part B Premium Adjustments

In a December 8, 2008 letter to all DP3 members, I discussed the issues surrounding the recent letter many retired pilots have received from the Social Security Administration advising these retirees that their Medicare premiums would increase in 2009.  These increases apply to anyone whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeded $85,000 for singles or $170,000 for couples in 2007, the tax year used to compute income adjusted Medicare premiums for 2009.  Due to the bankruptcy related claims paid during the 2007 tax year, many Delta retirees had income that was much higher than normal that year.

While DP3 does not give tax or financial advice, due to the sheer volume of email messages we have received on this subject we have attempted to act as a clearing house to provide you with the latest available information on this issue. To that end we asked our accountant to contact the Social Security Administration to seek answers to the questions we have received to date.  During this process we asked if it would be possible for DP3 to handle this problem for our members, but due to the fact that each case is based on a retiree’s individual financial situation, it will be necessary for each person to deal with the Social Security Administration themselves. continue reading...

Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 - March 23, 2009 Deadline for Statements

DP3 contacted Delta today, March 26, 2009, concerning the status of the ROTH IRA information required by the "Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008". The information was required to be sent to the retiree by March 23, 2009. Delta indicated the information has been mailed to all pilot retirees as of March 25, 2009. The delay was caused by late approval from the IRS of the form on which the information was printed. As a reminder, the retiree's contributions to the new ROTH IRA must be made within 90 days of March 23, 2009 or June 21, 2009. June 21, 2009 is a Sunday, so you may want to consider transferring the funds by the close of business on June 19, 2009.

2009 DP3 TRUSTEE ELECTION
April 15, 2009 (updated May 14)

We are pleased to announce the board approved slate of candidates for the 2009 Trustee Board of Trustee election. The nominees this year are Bill Caiazza (I), Dave Davis, Robert Herriott, George Leatherbury, Kenneth "Bud" Musser, Roger Ross (I), Barry Steiner, and Kenneth Ulrich. Our bylaws limit the number of candidates to a maximum of twice the number of open positions for the election, and interest in serving this year was very high. We thank all the nominees for their willingness to serve the DP3 membership.

The resumes and statements of the candidates are posted on the DP3 web site here: Candidate Resumes.  Reviewing this document is a prerequisite for voting.

The election has begun and will run from April 15, 2009 until May 31, 2009. Only fully paid Honor Roll members are allowed to vote in the Board of Trustees election. Four board members are being selected by the 2009 election. Email invitations to vote in the 2009 election are being sent to Honor Roll members by our mail service Constant Contact. The e-mail contains the link to the ballot and is the only way an Honor Roll member can vote in this year's election. Any member who brings his account up to Honor Roll status before the polls close will be sent a ballot as soon as practicable after the payment is received. Since balloting is by invitation only, members are urged not to wait until the last minute to pay their dues and request a ballot.

The Honor Roll posted on the DP3 web page is current as of May 14, 2009. If you are an Honor Roll member and do not receive an invitation to vote, Contact Us to verify your status and update your e-mail address.

Thank you for supporting DP3 as a fully paid Honor Roll member and having a say in the future of DP3 by participating in the Trustee election.

John Mills
Chairman, DP3 Nominating Committee

Nominations Open for 2009 DP3 Trustee Election

I am writing this DP3 Chairman's Letter to announce two important events: the launch of the new DP3 web site and the opening of nominations for the election of four DP3 Trustees.

This will be an important year in the history of DP3 as we pursue our legislative agenda in an attempt to mitigate some of our pension losses from the Delta bankruptcy. We also expect the PBGC to issue its final benefit determination letters later this year, an event that will start the forty five day clock to appeal those decisions. We are looking for some talented volunteers to help us achieve our ambitious goals, so please consider making yourselves available for election to one of the Trustee positions. continue reading...

Updated ROTH IRA Rollover Q&A from the ALPA R&I Committee
May 22, 2009

The deadline for contributing your bankruptcy settlement dollars into a ROTH account under the provisions of Public Law 110-458, the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 is less than one month away. We have been asked a lot of questions about the provisions of this legislation, but DP3 is not chartered to provide tax or financial advice. However, ALPA has prepared a Q&A about this subject for their members, and we have posted it in the Documents section of our web site. While you may have previously reviewed this report, it has been recently updated. Remember, the last business day to make a contribution under the terms of this law is June 19, 2009. Read the ALPA ROTH Q&A...

CAPWIZ ACTION ALERT REQUEST FROM NRLN

The NRLN has issued an important Action Alert message. We urge you to utilize the (NRLN CapWiz Alert System) to send a message to Congress asking them to protect retirees in bankruptcy court. The pre-formatted letter is focused primarily on lost healthcare benefits; we have modified it to reflect the experiences of the Delta pilots in our bankruptcy and have provided suggested language (click "continue reading" below) to cut and paste into the text window of the CapWiz alert. Alternatively, you may write your own message. Please take the time to send your message now – the system is incredibly easy to use and only takes a few moments. continue reading...

Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008
Note: This information is provided courtesy of Retirement Advisors of America, A PHH Investments Company.
Remember that DP3 does not give tax or financial advice.

There has been some confusion regarding the eligibility for the new Roth IRAs as a result of the legislation in the title of this article, above, (P.L. 110-458 - "Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008", Formerly known as H.R. 7327.) This legislation created the opportunity for Roth IRAs for "airline settlement amounts" received in bankruptcy settlements for airline workers whose pension plans were terminated after 9/11/01. This article is a follow-up and update to our 12/18/08 email (that went to clients only) on this same subject, sent out before the Act was actually signed into law by President Bush on 12/23/08.

The Bill covers two items of particular interest to retired Delta pilots: First, in Section 125 of the Bill, it permits the "ROLLOVER OF AMOUNTS RECEIVED IN AIRLINE CARRIER BANKRUPTCIES TO ROTH IRAs." Secondly, it waives, for those already over 70 1/2, the RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) from your IRA Accounts – For 2009 ONLY. continue reading ...

Chairman's Report from Trustee Board Meeting 2-11-09

The DP3 Trustees recently met in Atlanta for our quarterly board meeting. Subjects discussed included our legal planning, the status of the Soaring Eagles case against the PBGC, Medicare and HCTC benefit issues, our new NRLN membership, and reports from the four DP3 committees.read full report... The minutes of this meeting are now posted in the documents section of our web page. Read the minutes...

Two Updates from Delta

We learned of two important items from Delta this weekend.

Item one: The Delta Air Lines annual meeting has been postponed. Originally scheduled for April 24, 2009, it has been moved to June 22, 2009 at 8am in New York. No reason was given for the postponement. DP3 is planning to send a board member representative to attend the meeting. If you would like us to act as your proxy at the annual meeting, please watch for instructions later this spring.

Item two: Delta has filed their fourth request for an extension to the deadline for settling the outstanding bankruptcy claims. The hearing for the request will be held April 8, 2009 if a hearing is necessary. The new deadline for settling claims will be October 19, 2009 if the motion is granted. The motion is posted on our web page in the Documents section for your viewing.

DP3 to Attend Delta Annual Meeting
posted June 11, 2009

Delta Air Lines' (NYSE: DAL) Board of Directors has set the airline's annual meeting of stockholders for June 22, 2009 in New York City. The meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. EDT in the Auditorium at AXA Equitable Center, 787 Seventh Ave., New York.

The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting will be the close of business on April 24, 2009. The proxy statement can be viewed at http://images.delta.com.edgesuite.net/delta/pdfs/annual_reports/Proxy09.pdf.

DP3 Trustees will be attending the annual meeting in person and will vote proxies according to the best interests of the retired pilots. If you would like DP3 to vote your proxies please contact us at www.dp3.org.

We have prepared an example for a proposed letter to the Delta Board of Directors, which includes a list of Directors and the address for any Board mail. We would ask that you consider sending the Directors your opinions regarding your retirement. Use the sample letter posted in our Documents section or compose your own letter and send that to each of the Directors. Your family or friends may wish to send a letter also.

Thanks again for your continued support.

Chairman's Update 4-5-09
posted April 7, 2009

It has come to our attention that some retirees who retired on or before January 1, 1997 (or after that date if you retired under the contract 96 early retirement program) were not aware of a special contractual provision that allows them to receive a reimbursement from Delta for their Medicare Part B Premiums (this provision was eliminated effective January 1 1997 for retirees who retired after that date.) Apparently some retired pilots were automatically enrolled in this program while others were not, and some retirees did not even know the reimbursement existed. If you are a pre-January 1997 retiree and are not currently receiving this benefit, please notify DP3 and the Delta Employee Service Center immediately. (1-800-MY-DELTA) read the full Chairman's update...

Trustee Update 3-26-09
posted April 4, 2009

This month's letter will be a departure from Will's usual excellent summaries of the current status of our efforts on your behalf. Will has undertaken so many tasks that I asked him to let me write this one rather than have him take time away from those responsibilities. The fact that he agreed shows how busy he is.

This is an opportunity to show you some of the inner workings of DP3. I'll summarize and provide links to some of our current efforts at the end of this. Additionally, the minutes of our March conference call are available on the web site. For those of you interested I hope you'll take the time to read the entire article before you scan to the bottom... read the full update...

Chairman's Report from May 2009 Trustee Board Meeting
May 15, 2009

The DP3 trustees held our quarterly face to face meeting on May 6, 2009 in Atlanta. During our meeting we discussed and took action on many items of interest to the DP3 members, including DP3's involvement in a new Bankruptcy Reform Team at the NRLN, the work of the R&I Committee regarding errors on the PBGC benefit estimates, the creation of a separate DP3 Insurance Committee headed by Jeff Pickett, an update on the 2009 Trustee Election, and an update on DP3's participation at the Delta Annual Meeting in June.  Read the full report...

The minutes of this meeting are posted in the documents section of our web page. Read the minutes...

2009 DP3 Trustee Election Results
June 4, 2009

The 2009 DP3 Trustee election is complete and the results have been certified by the Board of Trustees.

Before announcing the new board, DP3 would like to thank Jim Bomar and John Mills for their years of excellent service to the membership. We wish them well as they enjoy their future retirement years.

The four candidates elected to the DP3 Board of Directors for three year terms starting July 1, 2009 are:

Bill Caiazza    George Leatherbury    Bud Musser    Roger Ross

The Trustees would like to congratulate and thank each of these candidates for their willingness to serve their fellow retirees. DP3 would also like to thank all of the candidates for their willingness to be nominated for election. DP3 would like to recognize all of our Honor Roll members and especially those who have recently upgraded their status to Honor Roll. The Honor Roll is the backbone of our organization and their support is vital to our efforts. We encourage any member to become involved by volunteering to serve on one of our committees as we seek to maximize our pension benefits.

DP3 strives to be an organization driven by the wishes of our membership. The goal of all DP3 Trustees is to keep our members informed on issues that affect our retirement and benefits. DP3 maintains an informative web site at DP3.ORG detailing important information about retiree issues and our activities. In the coming months all retirees will receive the final determination letters from the PBGC. DP3 has already identified some errors that may be included by the PBGC in your final benefit calculations. DP3 intends to represent all Honor Roll members who disagree with their final determination to ensure that our earned benefits are calculated accurately.

DP3 is also actively involved in drafting legislative remedies for PBGC issues that reduce some of the benefits that we receive from the PBGC. In the coming months we will be asking our members to contact their representatives in support of these efforts. We encourage you to stay informed and communicate with us and your elected congressional representatives.

Thank you to our Honor Roll members for your participation in the voting process and your support.

DP3 Attends Delta Annual Meeting
June 23, 2009

[from DP3 Chairman Will Buergey] Yesterday, I had the honor of representing the retired Delta pilots at Delta's annual shareholder's meeting held in New York City. Captain Wendell Lewis, DP3's Vice Chairman accompanied me to the meeting and DP3 Honor Roll member Denis Waldron was also in attendance. Each of us spoke to the Delta directors and shareholders on behalf of the retired pilots. Wendell and I would like to express our thanks for the opportunity to represent you with your proxies. They were voted as: Against - all Directors for failure to address our concerns, For - Ernst & Young as independent auditors, For - cumulative voting in the election of directors. Thank you for the confidence you have shown in your Trustees. Click this link to review the prepared statement I read to the board.

DP3 to Attend NRLN Fly-In to Washington in mid September
August 1, 2009

We invite you to join your DP3 Trustees in Washington, D.C. on September 15-17 for a fly-in meeting with key congressional leaders and staff members regarding bankruptcy reform and PBGC proposed reforms. The NRLN will be assisting us with briefings to effectively lobby members of congress to prevent the loss of pension benefits during bankruptcy and improve the way the PBGC calculates our benefits.

Note that the NRLN will provide $50 if you attend the briefing on the 15th or 16th and dinner for the member and spouse on September 15th. We will be joined by many members from all areas of the NRLN in a concentrated effort to get proposed legislation introduced by this congress. After the briefing by the NRLN we will be going to key congressional offices to talk to representatives. Many members of congress are much more receptive to their own constituents so you should also request to meet with your representative.

You do not have to be an expert on pension reform or PBGC procedures to attend. We will assist you in your efforts and will be attending many of the meetings with you. If you can attend please contact us through the web site or at contactus@dp3.org, a trustee will respond and provide you with all the necessary information. We may be able to assist you in securing rooms at a better rate. Priceline seems to be booking rooms in the $80-90 range. We look forward to you joining us in this effort to restore our earned benefits.

If you cannot attend the fly-in please review the information in the rest of this document and contact your representative during the August recess and voice your concerns. We will provide you with information about our PBGC initiatives. continue reading...

NRLN Fly-In Report
September 29, 2009

Last week many of your DP3 trustees and members Don Tibbs, Rhea Nichols, Ken Ulrich, Ron Jones, Denis Waldron, and Jim Webster met in Washington, D.C. to participate in a legislative "Fly-In" sponsored by the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN). Retired Delta pilot Valerie Walker also participated as a member of DDPSA.

Most of you will recall that DP3 affiliated with the NRLN in January of this year with the realization that over two million collective voices, acting through the NRLN, have more political influence than a few thousand retired Delta pilots acting independently.

This Fly-In was the culmination of an effort by DP3 to assist other retirees maintain their hard earned benefits during corporate bankruptcies. Based on our experiences in the Delta bankruptcy we helped craft background papers and legislative proposals for the NRLN designed to level the playing field for retirees when their former employers declare bankruptcy, while also protecting the pension benefits of those (including us) whose pension plans have been turned over to the PBGC.

An executive summary of our PBGC whitepaper is posted in our documents folder, and you can read the full report of the meeting here: Read the full report

Fact Sheet About the HCTC and the new Delta Cobra Option
October 19, 2009

As you probably know Delta has just announced they will have a one time opportunity for those retirees who were not eligible for COBRA under the 1114 bankruptcy agreement to enroll in an HCTC eligible lifetime COBRA program (see next article below.) If you are under 65 and receiving any payment from the PBGC, please review the following document that answers some HCTC questions:   HCTC Fact Sheet

DP3 Chairman's Update on Legislative, Legal, VEBA, and Membership Activities
October 14, 2009

To our Honor Roll members, thank you for your support, but we need more than your financial assistance!

In my last Chairman's Letter I mentioned that the DP3 trustees and several of our members had recently participated in a Fly-In sponsored by the NRLN in support of our combined legislative initiatives. These legislative proposals were crafted after several months of research and meetings with congressional staffers and lobbyists asking for their guidance on how we could best achieve our objectives.

Our proposals were developed after members of our Retirement Committee had reviewed scores of retirement worksheets submitted by DP3 members. Studying these PBGC calculations provided us with a better understanding of the various lookbacks currently imposed by the PBGC and the impact that those lookbacks have on our contractual retirement benefits, while our research into ERISA regulations convinced us that the PBGC was exceeding its legal authority in the manner it was imposing the lookbacks.

Currently the Federal Courts tend to give deference to federal agencies allowing them to interpret those regulations that govern their operations, and unfortunately the PBGC is currently using every gray area in ERISA regulations to shore up the agency's huge deficits at the expense of retirees whose benefits should be protected.

There are two ways to attack these PBGC procedures. One is through litigation, and the retired USAIR pilots are going this route as they have received their final benefit letters from the PBGC. The second method is to clarify the underlying PBGC regulations through a concerted legislative effort. Because we cannot legally sue the PBGC until our final benefit letters have been issued, the DP3 trustees have decided to pursue a legislative solution at this time.  continue reading...

URGENT! Delta Withdraws new COBRA option for 2010 Open Enrollment
November 7, 2009

DP3 has just received confirmation that Delta's recent COBRA offering to retirees, who were originally excluded from the lifetime COBRA option during the bankruptcy process, has been declared by the IRS as ineligible for the Health Care Tax Credit.

Because of this administrative ruling, the COBRA offering does not make economic sense and Delta is withdrawing it as an option during this year's enrollment period. You will soon receive a letter from Rob Kight explaining this in more detail, but we have posted a copy of Delta's letter here.

DP3 was grateful that Delta made this "COBRA" offering after we had repeatedly requested that they review the exclusion of so many retired pilots, and their dependents, from the original offer of lifetime COBRA benefits. It is unfortunate that Delta did not receive pre-approval for the HCTC eligibility from the IRS prior to posting this as one of the medical insurance options for 2010. This lack of approval has raised expectations unnecessarily and the manner in which the offering was initially communicated led to enormous confusion among the pilots who were trying to evaluate their options during this enrollment period.

For those who had already signed up for the COBRA coverage you must change your selection prior to the end of the annual enrollment period, November 17, 2009. If you do not make another selection prior to the deadline, then Delta currently plans to have you default into the Delta Family Care Medical Plan at 100 percent of the premium, even though those of you over age 60 probably qualify for the Delta Pilot Medical Plan with your share of the premium only 51% of the full premium. (35% if you are a retiree currently receiving zero in benefits from the PBGC.)

You should also notice that this is the first time pilot retirees have been offered the Delta Family Care Medical Plan as a post-bankruptcy insurance option, and it is not clear if that option will be made available in subsequent enrollment periods. There are also significant differences between the DPMP and the DFCMP and you should carefully evaluate how those differences fit the needs of you and your family prior to making a selection.

DP3 is still pursuing the establishment of a Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA) through an order of the Bankruptcy Court. It is unfortunate that last month's hearing was cancelled, but our request should be heard at the hearing scheduled for November 13. (Please note that this hearing date has been moved up from the previously scheduled November 17th date - Docket #7464 on the Bankruptcy Web Site.) If we receive court approval we hope to roll our VEBA plan out in early 2010 and we plan to have it approved by the IRS for HCTC eligibility prior to rollout.

Health Insurance FAQ for 2010 Open Enrollment
November 3, 2009

We have been receiving many questions from the DP3 membership regarding the 2010 Open Enrollment options and process, particularly about the new COBRA option and the HCTC benefit. Acknowledging that we are not trained in Delta's myriad Health Insurance options, and certainly not experts in the federal Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) or the COBRA option, we are nonetheless trying to provide some basic information that you can use in making your 2010 choices for health coverage.

We have prepared a web page listing the questions we have been asked and the best answers we can obtain from the various sources available to the public. The Q&A is available through the link on the FAQ drop down menu or by clicking this direct link here: http://www.dp3.org/ns/2010oeFAQ.html.

Please remember that we are not experts, and as much as we'd like to, we can't make your decision for you. But we can share with you the process that some of the trustees have used to make their decisions.

First, you need to be sure that you are eligible for the HCTC. If you are not, you should consider the high cost of the COBRA coverage before choosing that option. We can tell you that for those not eligible for HCTC (see the Q&A for guidance) the COBRA coverage is based on the DFCMP and is more expensive than the DPMP and has less coverage. Second, if you are eligible for the HCTC, we suggest that you investigate your state HCTC eligible program. Not all states have them, and the costs and benefits vary widely. Third, in order to compare the DAL plans you need to look at the benefit brochures. We have included them at the top of the Q&A page. DAL has not made this easy. First look at the 2010 Retiree Benefits Highlights. The current deductibles and other limits of the plans are there. Copy those numbers down, and then go to the Benefits Handbook, which was published in 2008. The details of the plans are in that brochure, but the deductibles and limits are not correct. You must apply the limits you copied down from the Highlights brochure.

To find out details of the drug plan, you must go to the UHC web page and find the drug calculator to find out whether prescriptions you have are covered, and how much they will cost you under the Delta plans.

This is by no means all of the information you should be comparing, but it gets you past the more confusing parts of the process.

Finally, we are aware of two possible glitches in the enrollment process. Some retired pilots are not showing the COBRA option on their paperwork - if you think you are eligible and do not have the option, call the Delta ESC. Also, when switching from the HVO to the Age65 COBRA option, sometimes you cannot de-select the HVO option, and it appears you are signing up for both. Again, call the ESC to ensure you have completed the selections properly.

Some key points to remember. The DP3 VEBA will not be available during this year's open enrollment period. The HCTC rules are very specific and well documented on their web site. Premium payments must be made on time or you risk losing both the COBRA deal and the HCTC. The HCTC Customer Contact Center (1-866-628-4282) is staffed with very professional and helpful agents, but they are very busy with applications resulting from the ARRA act, and they are already about 6-8 weeks behind; so be prepared to make the full premium payments for at least 2 months before you start your HCTC benefit if you choose the new COBRA option. Read our Health Care FAQ

Delta Offers One-Time COBRA Option to Retirees
Plan is HCTC Eligible (for those receiving PBGC check)
UPDATE: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN
October 15, 2009

One of the issues DP3 has pursued vigorously since the bankruptcy is an HCTC eligible healthcare option for retired pilots previously excluded from Delta medical coverage during the bankruptcy. You may recall that back in August, DP3 began the process to create a VEBA for those retirees (see article here), a process which is still in work through our attorneys and insurance brokers. We do not have a timeline for when the VEBA may come to fruition, but since it involves Delta's cooperation and concurrence, bankruptcy court approval, and IRS approval, we are not confident that it will be completed in time for the 2010 open enrollment period.

We are therefore gratified that Delta has finally rectified the bankruptcy oversight by announcing that they are making available a one-time option for retired pilots to enroll in COBRA coverage, which by definition is HCTC eligible for those of you that meet the other HCTC requirements, such as receiving a check from the PBGC and not being on Medicare. This new COBRA opportunity is explained in their letter to retirees dated October 5, 2009. Please note that this is NOT the VEBA plan DP3 has proposed.

We urge each retired pilot to study the 2010 open enrollment material carefully when making your health insurance coverage selections this fall. Keep in mind that the HCTC currently pays 80% of your total insurance premium, which will last through the end of 2010 under the terms of the ARRA act. In 2011, that payment rate could drop back to the standard 65% of premiums, if the temporary ARRA benefit increase is not extended. We do not have information on the likelihood of that, but plan to lobby for that as part of our ongoing legislative efforts.

Information on this new program, as well as all the Delta medical options for 2010, is available on the Delta Extranet. Logon to https://dlnet.delta.com/, navigate to the Retiree Connection link on the Employee Info menu, and review the documents posted there.

For additional information on the HCTC, click here: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=187948,00.html.

A reminder: Those of you that are still receiving zero dollars of qualified annuity from the PBGC are not eligible for the HCTC (from Delta COBRA, the DP3 VEBA, or any other health plan) at this time; however, we want you to know that we are pulling out all the stops to try to rectify that problem by using our contacts in the legislature and the PBGC to find a way to solve this problem.

Updated Important Alert for HCTC Participants
January 18, 2010

If you are receiving the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), regardless of your insurance provider, you must notify the HCTC when there is an increase in your premium. The HCTC will continue sending the old premium payment, and you could lose your insurance coverage if the new premium is not fully paid.

Delta increased the HCTC eligible COBRA premium effective January 1, 2010. If you did not inform the HCTC of the increase, you are at risk of losing your DAL COBRA coverage. You must act now to ensure your DAL COBRA premium is fully paid by January 31, 2010.

Please note that this does not apply to you if you are receiving Medicare; it does not apply to you if you are receiving Tricare; it does not apply to you if you are not already receiving HCTC assistance; and it does not apply to you if you claim the annual HCTC credit on your tax return. Additionally, please remember that DP3 does not have access to your Delta Insurance Billing records. The statement later in this article "our records show that you have a balance of $89.48" is provided only as an example similar to what would you might see when you check your account at Delta Benefits Direct if your account has a balance due.

Continue reading about action steps you need to take before January 31, 2010...

Chairman's Update
December 23, 2009

Your DP3 board members recently held their monthly trustee meeting at the offices of our Atlanta law firm, Miller and Martin. Attending this meeting in addition to the DP3 trustees and our attorney, Dean Booth, were Tony Shelley and his associate Tim O'Toole from the Miller and Chevalier law firm in Washington D.C. DP3 recently augmented our current legal team with this firm that is currently representing the retired USAIR pilots in their litigation against the PBGC. The minutes of the meeting are now posted.

Former ALPA communications specialist Karen Miller also addressed the board during our meeting and presented a communications strategy for 2010. One area that continues to cause us difficulty in communicating to the retired pilots is the fact that we only have contact information for approximately half of the group. We are currently looking for solutions to this problem and following her presentation, the board decided to hire Karen as a communications advisor to DP3.

The Board members of DP3 wish you and your family a joyous Christmas season and a Happy New Year. As Board members we hear many of the difficult stories that have resulted from the bankruptcy actions taken by the company we worked so hard to make successful. It is our hope that in spite of any hardships we can all take a moment to reflect on the many blessings in our lives and enjoy this holiday season with our family and friends.

Will, Wendell, Bill, Roger, Bill, George, Bud, Jeff, and Tom

Chairman's Update
November 21, 2009

Most of you already know that Delta abruptly cancelled the "onetime" COBRA offer made during this year's open enrollment period. The cancelled program was offered to those retired pilots who were excluded from the original Lifetime COBRA option made during the company's bankruptcy (a program that is still in effect). After receiving word of the new COBRA program's cancellation in the midst of open enrollment, I wrote a letter to Richard Anderson asking him to extend the benefit enrollment period and change the default option for those retired pilots who had initially selected the cancelled program and did not update their selection after the "onetime" COBRA program's cancellation.

I am sorry to report that Delta did not respond to my letter, nor to several phone calls I made in the days leading up to the open enrollment deadline. Hopefully those of you who had selected the cancelled program received additional communications from Delta thoroughly explaining your new enrollment options and the consequences of not making another selection after the COBRA offer was rescinded.    Continue reading the full update...

DP3 Looking for Retired Delta Pilots who are Receiving ZERO benefits from the PBGC
January 20, 2010

First, this article applies only to pilot retirees who are not receiving any money from the PBGC.

Your DP3 trustees are still searching for a way to make more retired pilots eligible for the HCTC (Health Coverage Tax Credit - a subsidy available to help pay health insurance premiums for some PBGC participants.) Current regulations do not provide this benefit to retirees who are not receiving a check from the PBGC.

In an attempt to ascertain how many retired Delta pilots are in this situation, we are asking everyone who is not currently receiving a benefit from the PBGC to contact our Retirement Committee Chairman Tom Seever at tom.seever9@dp3.org, particularly if you were receiving a qualified benefit prior to the pension termination.

To see the information we need and how you can help, please continue reading the entire article...

DP3 Chairman's Update
January 19, 2010

On January 6, 2010, the DP3 Trustees held their monthly board meeting and discussed several important topics affecting retired Delta pilots. The minutes of that meeting are now posted on the DP3 web site.

Other issues covered in the Chairman's Update include our announcement of the 2010 Dues ($100), a discussion of our partnership with the NRLN, an update on the DP3 VEBA effort, a new initiative by the DP3 board to make more retired pilots eligible for the HCTC, and an alert to the membership about an HCTC billing issue that may affect some of our members and their health insurance coverage.   Click here to read the full update...

DP3 Database Update Project
February 8, 2010

DP3 maintains membership records manually, and we depend on each member to keep us informed of their current contact information. As we approach the PBGC's release of Final Determination Benefit Letters*, we want to ensure we have everyone's correct contact information, as this data will be essential to our efforts to maintain contact with as many retired Delta pilots as possible when that phase of the pension termination occurs.

Last week we sent an email to everyone for whom we have an email address that listed the following basic contact information that is in our records – asking for verification of the data or completion of missing info. We also asked for verification/completion of the three listed dates, information which is vital to our understanding of the benefit calculation process for individual retirees.

Address,   City,   State,   Zip
Primary Phone,   Cell Phone
Date of Birth,   Date of Hire,   Date of Retirement
Preferred Email Address

If you are a DP3 member and did not receive an email from us this week, we probably do not have your current email address – please update it for us. If you are not a DP3 member, we urge you to consider becoming a member by completing a membership application form. At the very least, sign up for our mailing list by providing your name and email address. You can either send us a contact message from our web page using the link on the main menu above, or use the email sign up link from the SIGN UP menu above.

All of your contact information will be held in the strictest of confidence. Note that for DP3 members who have signed a proxy, the information may be shared with our legal counsel if and when legal action is taken.

DP3 thanks you for your continued support. We urge all retired pilots to check our Web site and BLOG often for updates and to learn more about our efforts to help recoup our lost pension and health benefits.

*We do not know when the Final Determination letters will be issued. The last "guess" by the PBGC was Summer of 2010, but that is neither a promise nor a deadline.

Pat "Mother" Malone to be Inducted Into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
Posted March 12, 2010

Delta legend Pat "Mother" Malone will be posthumously inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame at Warner Robins Air Force Base on April 24, 2010. Tickets for the dinner and ceremony are $75 per person, and the museum will receive all proceeds. To attend the ceremony or make a donation in honor of Mother Malone, visit the Delta Net web site. More information is available in this Delta News Network Story

Information on 2010 Medical Insurance Options and an Update on the DP3 VEBA
October 25, 2009

This is a reminder that the open enrollment period for Delta benefits opens for retirees on October 28 and closes on November 17. It is important to note that some of this year's default options have changed, so even if you plan to maintain your current selections, you should check the Delta Benefits Direct section of Delta Net to ensure that your choices are what best suits you and your family for the next year.

It is unlikely that our proposed VEBA will be established before the end of the year due to the cancellation of last month's scheduled bankruptcy court omnibus hearing date. The next court hearing date is not until November 17 which coincidently is also the last day of the open enrollment period for next year's Delta benefit selections. We are, however, thankful that Delta has decided to offer HCTC eligible COBRA coverage to our members--it is, and has been, the right thing to do for those who have been excluded from Lifetime COBRA.    Read the full details here...

Some Good News from the PBGC
Posted 4-14-2010

In recent months, DP3 has appealed to the PBGC (see our Chairman's letter to the Secretary Of Labor) to find a way to minimize the hardship several hundred of our members suffered as a result of receiving zero benefit from the PBGC - they were ineligible for the valuable Health Coverage Tax Credit which offsets the cost of certain qualified insurance expenses as much as 80%. We are pleased to announce that we have finally received a positive response from the PBGC, indicating that not only will the zero's be first in line for Final Benefit Determination Letters, but some HCTC payments may be retroactively paid back to these members who will begin receiving a monthly check from the PBGC as early as June 1, 2010. Read the PBGC's letter to DP3 here.