If you do not agree with the claim denial decision, you may file an appeal with the Board of Trustees. You must file your appeal within 180 days after you receive the denial of your initial claim. To file an appeal, send a written statement that indicates you are appealing the denial and that includes your reasons for appealing the decision and any supporting documents not previously furnished. Send your appeal to:

Board of Trustees
United Food and Commercial Workers
Unions and Employers Midwest Pension Fund
1300 Higgins Road, Suite 300
Park Ridge, IL 60068-5713

You will receive a written decision concerning your appeal after it is reviewed by the Trustees. The Trustees meet quarterly to review the appeals the Plan receives following their last meeting (except that any appeal filed within the 30-day period preceding a meeting will be decided at the next following quarterly meeting). The appeal decision can be delayed until the third quarterly meeting following receipt of an appeal if special circumstances require a delay; the Plan will contact you if your appeal will be delayed. The Plan will notify you of the Trustees' decision within 5 days after they make their decision. The written decision will include:

• the specific reason or reasons for the decision, including a reference to the specific Plan provision(s) on which the decision is based;
• notice of your right to access and copy information relevant to your claim;
• notice of your right to bring a civil action in federal court; and
• in the case of a disability claim, notice if the Plan relied on an internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criteria and notice of your right to a copy of such document free of charge upon request.