Every time you work in a DGA-covered category on a project that is signatory to a DGA Collective Bargaining Agreement, you are accruing benefits in two pension plans – the Basic Plan and the Supplemental Plan. Having two pension plans with a variety of payment options available— a generous benefit—provides you with both the ability to build a stable financial retirement and the flexibility to design a retirement income stream that meets your individual needs.
The Basic Plan is a traditional pension plan that provides a monthly benefit for your lifetime, otherwise known as a defined benefit pension. The Supplemental Plan is a defined contribution plan, similar to a 401(k), that provides a benefit based on the contributions and investment returns credited to your account.
Important: This article provides a general overview of the Basic and Supplemental Pension Plans. Important concepts, including the plans’ funding, retirement formulas, break-in-service rules, vesting qualifications and more, are not discussed here. In addition, not all compensation is reportable and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement under which you worked. For a more detailed summary of the Basic and Supplemental Plans, refer to the March 2025 Pension Plans Summary Plan Description available at dgaplans.org/pension-plans-booklet.
Beginning with the first time you work on a DGA-covered project in a DGA-covered capacity, you are generally eligible to become a participant in both the DGA-Producer Basic and Supplemental Pension Plans.
Though pension plans rules are important, they can be complicated. This article aims to introduce you to the basics of the two pension plans, their key differences and how you may qualify for and accrue benefits for each plan throughout your career.
The Basic Plan
The Basic Pension Plan is a defined benefit plan, guaranteeing qualified participants a fixed lifetime monthly benefit at retirement. It is called a defined benefit plan because the benefit amount is determined in advance using a defined formula. The Basic Plan’s defined benefit formula is based on (1) your years of service (your total accrued Credited Service Months or CSMs) and (2) the reportable amount of your DGA-covered earnings accumulated over your lifetime, known as your Career Average Earnings.
Basic Plan Funding
Each time you work for a DGA-signatory employer, employers contribute to the Basic Plan on your behalf. The amount employers contribute is based on a percentage of your earnings, dependent upon the Collective Bargaining Agreement under which you worked. In addition, employers contribute a percentage of the gross receipts from sales of theatrical films and television projects in supplemental markets (e.g., Pay TV, Video and New Media).
How you qualify for Basic Plan benefits
You are eligible to receive benefits once you become vested. There are three ways to become vested in the Basic Plan:
- Ten-Year Vesting
- Five-Year Vesting
- Anniversary Vesting
Each of these has different requirements, and each also has implications for the benefits available to you and your beneficiaries. To learn about the Basic Plan vesting requirements, refer to page 17 of the March 2025 Pension Plans Summary Plan Description.
Payment options
The Basic Plan has two default payment options once you retire:
- Single Life Annuity – A monthly payment option for unmarried participants paid out over their lifetime.
- Participant and Partner Pension – A monthly payment option for married participants where the benefit is paid over your lifetime and your surviving spouse’s lifetime.
In addition, there are a variety of additional payment options to meet different needs, such as lump sums (for those who qualify) or Joint & Survivor annuities, with various payment options to a spouse or other beneficiary. If you are married, your spouse must consent to any payment option other than the Participant and Partner Pension or a Joint & Survivor annuity that names your spouse as a Survivor. For more information, visit page 31 of the March 2025 Pension Plans Summary Plan Description.
The Supplemental Plan
The Supplemental Plan is a defined contribution plan in which your benefit amount is based on (1) contributions made by both you and your employers (as well as any funds you roll over from other qualified retirement plans) and (2) investment returns (gains and losses) on those amounts.
Supplemental Plan Funding
For each DGA-covered project on which you work, employers contribute on your behalf, AND you contribute 2.5% of your reportable earnings (typically deducted from your salary by the employer). These contributions go into an Individual Account for you. The Finance Committee of the Plans’ Board of Trustees and its investment consultants oversee the investment of the Supplemental Plan assets, and you participate in the investment gains or losses.
The amount employers contribute depends on the Collective Bargaining Agreement under which you worked and the amount of earnings reported on your behalf.
How you qualify for Supplemental Plan benefits
The amounts you contribute to your Individual Account are always fully vested, as well as any amounts you roll over to the Supplemental Plan from qualified retirement accounts. To become fully vested in the employer contribution portion of your account, you must meet one of the five qualifications below:
- Earn 36 CSMs
- Earn three Plan Credit Years
- Turn age 60
- Begin receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration
- Be deceased
Payment options
The Supplemental Plan offers multiple payment options. If your account is $5,000 or less, your benefit will be paid as a lump sum. Otherwise, you may choose from a variety of lump sum and annuity options or elect partial distributions — in which you can withdraw funds as needed (subject to Plan rules).
Where to Go for Additional Assistance
For questions, Pension representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time at (323) 866-2200, Ext. 404 or via email at pension@dgaplans.org. You can also schedule a virtual or in-person meeting during normal business hours. For meeting instructions, visit www.dgaplans.org/contact-us.
You may also log in to your myPHP portal to see your pension and health benefits information, including vesting status, estimated Basic Plan benefits, Supplemental Plan account balance, existing beneficiary designations, etc. For more on how to register for a myPHP account, go to www.dgaplans.org/about-myPHP.
