Park v. Trustees of the 1199 SEIU Health Care Employees Pension Fund

**Healthcare Worker's Family Loses Pension Benefits Case** This case involved the family of Mrs. Park, a deceased healthcare worker who was a member of the 1199 SEIU union. After Mrs. Park died, her family sued the union's pension fund, claiming the fund failed in its responsibilities by not properly informing her about available pension benefits and not encouraging her to apply for them before she passed away. The court ruled in favor of the pension fund. The judge found that the fund did not breach its duties to Mrs. Park or violate federal pension laws. Importantly, the court determined that Mrs. Park never actually applied for pension benefits while she was alive, and the pension fund was not legally required to actively seek out members and encourage them to apply for benefits. **What this means for workers:** This ruling highlights that pension funds generally don't have to chase after members to remind them about available benefits. Workers and union members need to be proactive about understanding and applying for their pension benefits while they're alive. It's your responsibility to stay informed about what benefits you're entitled to and to submit applications when eligible, rather than waiting for the pension fund to contact you.