Life Events

NEW TO THE PLANS

The DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plans provide some of the finest pension and health benefits in the entertainment industry. Click below for more information on the benefits available.

Download the Plans Summary Sheet

THE BASICS

  • You participate in two pension plans:
    • The Supplemental Pension Plan – a defined contribution plan
    • The Basic Pension Plan – a defined benefit plan
  • Each time you perform work covered under a DGA Collective Bargaining Agreement, you automatically contribute 2.5% of your covered earnings to your Supplemental Plan account, and your employers contribute 8.75% under the Basic Agreement and Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement and under the Network Staff Agreements and Freelance Appendices, which is allocated between your Supplemental Plan account and the Basic Plan, subject to the Plans’ rules.
  • Each Plan has certain vesting rules to determine when and how you might become eligible for pension benefits.

DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE

  • Beneficiary Designation Form – because you are starting to accrue benefits. Be sure to update this form whenever necessary, like if your family status changes.
  • Address Change Form – to ensure your Plans-related mail is sent to the correct address.
  • Third-Party Authorization Form – in case you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Pension Plans-related business.
  • Supplemental Plan Incoming Rollover Form – You can rollover funds from your other eligible retirement plan accounts into your Supplemental Pension Plan account. Rollovers into your Supplemental Plan account will be invested with all other Supplemental Plan assets by the Plan’s professional investment managers, overseen by the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees. For more information, click here.

DOCUMENTS TO EXPECT

  • Quarterly Contribution Statements – A couple of months after the close of each quarter you will be mailed a statement of contributions reported on your behalf, including the name of the employer, the project, work period, covered salary and contribution amounts. Be sure to review these statements when you receive them and notify us if there is anything missing or incorrect. Keeping copies of your contracts, pay stubs, call sheets, etc. will make it easier to resolve any statement discrepancies.
  • Annual Statements – These statements will detail your total Credited Service Months, vesting status, Supplemental Plan account balance and estimated accrued benefit under the Basic Pension Plan.
  • Spotlight on Benefits Newsletters and other mailings – We will keep you informed through our quarterly Spotlight on Benefits newsletter, as well as other mailings. Therefore, it is very important that the Plans’ Office be informed of any address changes so that you receive this important benefits information.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information on this page is only a summary of Pension Plans rules. For detailed information, please refer to:

THE BASICS

  • In order to become eligible for Health Plan coverage, you must:
  • Work in DGA-covered employment for a DGA-signatory company
  • Meet the minimum earnings threshold for Earned Coverage as listed below:
Health Plan Coverage Level Minimum Earnings Threshold
DGA Choice Plan $41,215*
DGA Premier Choice Plan $133,670*

*For earnings periods beginning in 2026. The minimum earnings threshold is periodically reviewed by the Board of Trustees. You should always contact the Health Plan for the current minimum earnings threshold.

DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE

  • Address Change Form – to ensure your Plans-related mail is sent to the correct address.
  • HIPAA Authorization Form – in case you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Health Plan-related business.

DOCUMENTS TO EXPECT

  • A Health Plan Open Enrollment Packet – Once you have met the minimum earnings requirement to qualify for Health Plan coverage, you will receive a personalized open enrollment package with details about your Health Plan benefits and how to add eligible dependents to your coverage. This package will be sent about a month before your coverage begins. It is very important that you review these materials carefully and return any necessary forms and premium payment, if applicable. For details about qualifying for coverage, see Qualifying for Coverage. To learn more about what to expect during the open enrollment process, visit Health Pan Open Enrollment.
  • Quarterly Contribution Statements – A couple of months after the close of each quarter you will be mailed a statement of contributions reported on your behalf, including the name of the employer, the project, work period, covered salary and contribution amounts. Be sure to review these statements when you receive them and notify us if there is anything missing or incorrect. Keeping copies of your contracts, pay stubs, call sheets, etc. will make it easier to resolve any statement discrepancies.
  • Spotlight on Benefits Newsletters and other mailings – We will keep you informed through our quarterly Spotlight on Benefits newsletter, as well as other mailings. Therefore, it is very important that the Plans’ Office be informed of any address changes so that you receive this important benefits information.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information on this page is only a summary of Health Plan rules. For detailed information, please refer to:

HEALTH ACTION ITEMS

  • Complete and submit an Address Change Form to ensure your Plans related mail is sent to the right address.
  • Complete and submit a HIPAA Authorization Form if you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Health Plan-related business.

PENSION ACTION ITEMS

  • Complete and submit a Beneficiary Designation Form, if you would like to ensure your new spouse is eligible to receive survivor benefits from the Pension Plan.
  • Complete and submit a  Third-Party Authorization Form if you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Pension Plans-related business.
  • Complete and submit a Supplemental Plan Incoming Rollover Form if you would like to rollover funds from your other eligible retirement plan accounts into your Supplemental Pension Plan account.

THE BASICS

  • You participate in two pension plans:
    • The Supplemental Pension Plan – a defined contribution plan
    • The Basic Pension Plan – a defined benefit plan
  • Each time you perform work covered under a DGA Collective Bargaining Agreement, you automatically contribute 2.5% of your covered earnings to your Supplemental Plan account, and your employers contribute either 8.5% under the Basic Agreement and Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement or 9.0% under the Network Staff Agreements and Freelance Appendices, which is allocated between your Supplemental Plan account and the Basic Plan, subject to the Plans’ rules.
  • Each Plan has certain vesting rules to determine when and how you might become eligible for pension benefits.

DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE

  • Beneficiary Designation Form – because you are starting to accrue benefits. Be sure to update this form whenever necessary, like if your family status changes.
  • Address Change Form – to ensure your Plans-related mail is sent to the correct address.
  • Third-Party Authorization Form – in case you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Pension Plans-related business.
  • Supplemental Plan Incoming Rollover Form – You can rollover funds from your other eligible retirement plan accounts into your Supplemental Pension Plan account. Rollovers into your Supplemental Plan account will be invested with all other Supplemental Plan assets by the Plan’s professional investment managers, overseen by the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees. For more information, click here.

DOCUMENTS TO EXPECT

  • Quarterly Contribution Statements – A couple of months after the close of each quarter you will be mailed a statement of contributions reported on your behalf, including the name of the employer, the project, work period, covered salary and contribution amounts. Be sure to review these statements when you receive them and notify us if there is anything missing or incorrect. Keeping copies of your contracts, pay stubs, call sheets, etc. will make it easier to resolve any statement discrepancies.
  • Annual Statements – These statements will detail your total Credited Service Months, vesting status, Supplemental Plan account balance and estimated accrued benefit under the Basic Pension Plan.
  • Spotlight on Benefits Newsletters and other mailings – We will keep you informed through our quarterly Spotlight on Benefits newsletter, as well as other mailings. Therefore, it is very important that the Plans’ Office be informed of any address changes so that you receive this important benefits information.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information on this page is only a summary of Pension Plans rules. For detailed information, please refer to:

THE BASICS

  • In order to become eligible for Health Plan coverage, you must:
  • Work in DGA-covered employment
  • Meet the minimum earnings threshold for Earned Coverage as listed below:
Health Plan Coverage Level Minimum Earnings Threshold
DGA Choice Plan $41,215*
DGA Premier Choice Plan $133,670*

*For earnings periods beginning in 2025. The minimum earnings threshold is periodically reviewed by the Board of Trustees. You should always contact the Health Plan for the current minimum earnings threshold.

DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE

  • Address Change Form – to ensure your Plans-related mail is sent to the correct address.
  • HIPAA Authorization Form – in case you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Health Plan-related business.

DOCUMENTS TO EXPECT

  • A Health Plan Open Enrollment Packet – Once you have met the minimum earnings requirement to qualify for Health Plan coverage, you will receive a personalized open enrollment package with details about your Health Plan benefits and how to add eligible dependents to your coverage. This package will be sent about a month before your coverage begins. It is very important that you review these materials carefully and return any necessary forms and premium payment, if applicable. For details about qualifying for coverage, see Qualifying for Coverage. To learn more about what to expect during the open enrollment process, visit Health Pan Open Enrollment.
  • Quarterly Contribution Statements – A couple of months after the close of each quarter you will be mailed a statement of contributions reported on your behalf, including the name of the employer, the project, work period, covered salary and contribution amounts. Be sure to review these statements when you receive them and notify us if there is anything missing or incorrect. Keeping copies of your contracts, pay stubs, call sheets, etc. will make it easier to resolve any statement discrepancies.
  • Spotlight on Benefits Newsletters and other mailings – We will keep you informed through our quarterly Spotlight on Benefits newsletter, as well as other mailings. Therefore, it is very important that the Plans’ Office be informed of any address changes so that you receive this important benefits information.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information on this page is only a summary of Health Plan rules. For detailed information, please refer to:

HEALTH ACTION ITEMS

  • Complete and submit an Address Change Form to ensure your Plans related mail is sent to the right address.
  • Complete and submit a HIPAA Authorization Form if you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Health Plan-related business.

PENSION ACTION ITEMS

  • Complete and submit a Beneficiary Designation Form, if you would like to ensure your new spouse is eligible to receive survivor benefits from the Pension Plan.
  • Complete and submit a  Third-Party Authorization Form if you would like to authorize your spouse, business manager or other appointed representative to conduct your Pension Plans-related business.
  • Complete and submit a Supplemental Plan Incoming Rollover Form if you would like to rollover funds from your other eligible retirement plan accounts into your Supplemental Pension Plan account.
Learn about the DGA Plans and what benefits are available to you.
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