This page only applies if you were hired by Delta Air Lines before February 1972 and retired prior to July 1, 2002.

Appeal issues affecting you

1. The PBGC is basing your maximum payout from the pension plan on the 2001 plan year value of $140,000 plus a "phase in" value of $5000, for a maximum payout of $145,000. This value is reduced significantly if you retired before you were 60 years old.
   
   This maximum was $160,000 in 2002, and was $175,000 when the plan was suspended in 2006.
   
   This reduction can mean as much as $2500/mo to certain individuals and affects approximately 1000 of the pilots who retired prior to the 2002 plan year. It particularly affects those who retired prior to reaching age 60.
   
2. The PBGC did not provide the underlying data that Delta used to calculate your original benefit. Because you were eligible for the Minimum benefit calculation, the way your benefit was split between Qualified and Non-Qualified can be done 2 different ways (Minimum benefit method and Formula Benefit method). It is possible that the method currently being used is not the correct method and you should be receiving more of your earned retirement from the Qualified Plan.
   
   If the methods used are incorrect, it could affect almost all Pre 72 hires who retired after 1995.
   
   We have a Freedom of Information Act request in to the PBGC for a representative sample of pre 1972 retirees and will decide how to proceed on this issue once we have received that data.
   
   We recommend that all pre72 retirees preserve their right to appeal until we have analyzed that data.

Should I appeal?

If you are not receiving the same benefit you received in September, 2006 you would benefit from a successful appeal (see the "Will I benefit from successful Appeals" page and follow the instructions for locating that value). Remember, if you have turned 65 or started receiving Social Security since 2006, your benefit will be approximately $100/mo less (See the Social Security Offset FAQs).

If you retired after 1995, we recommend you preserve your right to appeal regardless of the check you are receiving – until we can confirm that the PBGC is using the right data, as described in #2 above.

If you are on the wrong page, click the appropriate link from the table below: