The Fund provides death benefits to both active participants and retirees. We also provide a total and permanent disability benefit to active participants if they are incapable of working and their condition is not expected to improve.
 

The Fund offers retirement benefits if you become permanently and totally disabled. That means if you're incapable of working for a living, and your condition isn't expected to improve, you may be eligible to receive an annuity from the Fund.
To qualify for this benefit:
- You must have had contributions made to your basic account every month for at least five years and be under age 60
- You must have become disabled while you worked for a participating YMCA
- You have not withdrawn your basic accounts since leaving a YMCA
- You must apply for benefits within six months after terminating your YMCA employment, and be approved

 

Your beneficiary will receive the greater of $10,000 or the sum of the amounts in your Personal Account and YMCA Account. Any voluntary accounts you have will be paid to your beneficiary as well. All benefits will be paid as either a withdrawal or an annuity.
 

Anyone or any organization can be named as a beneficiary. Single participants may choose any person or organization to receive their benefits. Married participants need notarized consent from their spouse if they don't name their spouse as their only primary beneficiary. For more details, see Your Guide to the YMCA Retirement Fund.
 

Generally, all people named as beneficiaries get the same choices regarding benefits. However, since estates, trusts, YMCAs and other organizations do not have a life expectancy, they may only take a withdrawal. They are not entitled to an annuity.