Pension Plan

How to Retire and Start your Pension

Do you have a Windstream Pension Benefit?

Certain employees participate in the Windstream Pension Plan. Under the terms of this plan, if age and service requirements are met, participants may retire and elect to start receiving their pension.

For details, review your Summary Plan Description available on www.windstreambenefits.com and on the Merrill Lynch Benefits-On Line Document Library.

Am I Eligible for Retirement?

Windstream defines retirement eligibility based on the following conditions:

• Age 65+ – Normal Retirement is age 65 with minimum of 5 years of service.
• Age 55 with 20 years of service – Early Retirement is age 55 with at least 20 Vesting Years of Service
• Age 60 with 15 years of service – Early Retirement is age 60 with at least 15 Vesting Years of Service
• Special Provisions – If you are covered by special plan provisions covered by a collective bargaining agreement or a prior plan that merged into the Windstream Pension Plan your age and service eligibility requirements may be different than listed above.

Review the Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD’s) to determine your specific retirement eligibility.

Who Do I Need to Notify if I Plan to Retire?

Notify your Windstream Human Resources Business Partner of your intent to retire at least 30 days before your last day of work.   Notify your Manager or Supervisor of your intent to retire and schedule your last date of employment.

When to APPLY for Your Pension

Request a pension application package as early as 180 days before your pension commencement date and no later than 30 days before your pension commencement date.

In order for a pension package to be considered legal, it must be mailed to you before your pension commencement date (but no earlier than 6 months prior).

You will have 180 days from the date of your Pension Package to make your election.

How to APPLY for Your Pension

As of June 23, 2025, Milliman is the Service Provider for  the Windstream Pension Plan.

If you participate in the Windstream Pension Plan, you may generate your pension estimate or pension application package through the Milliman Benefits Service Center by following these instructions.

Log in to millimanbenefits.com or call Milliman Benefits Service Center at 1.833.694.4246.

 Monday – Friday, 7am to 7pm Central Time.

1. Log onto www.millimanbenefits.com
2. Go to:  Benefit Detail
3. Go to:  My Benefits
4. Go to: Benefit Calculations
5. Click on:  Add new calculation and enter your calculation assumptions
6. Enter a “Name” for your calculation
7. Enter your Last Day of employment (for example – 12/31/2025)
8. Enter your Pension Start Date-(for example – (01/01/2026)
9. Enter Spouse Birth Date (if married)
10. Enter your annual pay or enter $0
11. Enter marital status and QDRO Qualification (divorce); if any.
12. Check the box affirming these estimates are based on your assumption.

Timing of your 1st Pension Payment

Your first pension check should be received approximately 2 months after your termination date.  It will include all amounts due dating from your commencement date.

This first check may be delayed beyond 2 months if you do not submit all the requested forms and documents to Merrill Lynch.

Subsequent payments will be sent to you on the first of each month.