When you work on certain USA 829 contracts, you have the option of deferring a portion of your pre-tax salary into the USA 829 401(k) Plan. This is where the money in your 401(k) account comes from.

If you’d like to have salary deferred from your paycheck, fill out the Investment Authorization & Enrollment Form and send it to both your employer and the 401(k) fund office.

To start contributing to your USA 829 401(k) account, you need to complete the Investment Authorization & Enrollment Form. This form tells your employer to withhold a percentage of your wages and send it to your 401(k) account on a pre-tax basis.

Here's what to do:

1. Fill out the form with your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and the percentage (or dollar amount) of income you’d like to defer from each paycheck. If you’re age 50 or older, you can also elect additional “catch-up” contributions.

2. Submit the form to your employer.

3. Email a copy to the Fund Office at localusa829funds@zenith-american.com.

Once your form is processed, Zenith American Solutions will notify Fidelity Investments (the Plan’s recordkeeper), and your contributions will begin. Fidelity will then contact you to create an account so you can choose how to invest your funds.

If you ever want to change your deferral amount, just complete and submit a new form.

The rules of the 401(k) plan allow you to defer up to 100% of the salary earned on a USA 829 contract (in 1% increments) into the 401(k) plan, though there are a small handful of USA 829 contracts that place a stricter limit on how much you can defer.

However, the federal government places limits on how much you can put into a 401(k) in a calendar year. Currently, that limit is set at $23,500. And if you think you might be at risk of exceeding this limit, please keep track! Putting too much into your 401(k) in a year can have negative tax consequences, so do what you can to avoid it.

That said, participants aged 50 and over are allowed to contribute an additional $7,500 per calendar year (for a total of $31,000), and participants between the ages of 60-63 may contribute an additional $11,250 per calendar year (for a total of $34,750). These are called “catch-up contributions.”

Also, the IRS has very complicated rules designed to ensure that contributions made into a 401(k) plan are appropriately mixed among participants of various income levels. That means there’s a chance that the amount you’re allowed to defer into the USA 829 401(k) in some years may be less than the federal limit. In the rare event that this impacts your personal contribution limit, you will be notified.

The standard age at which one can begin making withdrawals from their 401(k) account is 59 ½ years old.

However, there are a handful of circumstances under which one may make withdrawals from their 401(k) before the age of 59 ½, including disability, termination of employment, hardship, and the birth or adoption of a child. Additionally, participants may take out loans against their 401(k) balance. The tax implications of such withdrawals can be complicated, so you should reach out to the 401(k) plan administrators at Zenith American for more details.

Yes. Federal law requires that you start receiving distribution of your 401(k) account balance by no later than April 1st of the calendar year after the year in which you turn 73 years of age.

You can take money out of your 401(k) account if you have not worked in covered employment (that’s work on USA 829 contracts) for 12 months in a row — even if you’re not yet 59½ years old. To start this process, contact Fidelity Investments. They’ll provide the form, and Zenith American Solutions will review your request before the money is released.

Important: Taking money out of your 401(k) is usually taxed, and if you’re under 59½, there might be a penalty too. If you’re unsure, check with a tax advisor or the staff at Zenith American Solutions if you have questions before requesting a distribution.

Yes. The Plan allows you to borrow from your account for any reason. You can take out a minimum loan of $1,000, up to a maximum of $50,000 or 50% of your balance, whichever amount is less. You can only have one loan at a time, and you’ll need to repay it with interest through payroll deductions or direct payment.

Zenith American Solutions is the Plan Administrator. They handle the paperwork, process your enrollment, track your beneficiary form, and manage plan eligibility and withdrawal approvals. If you need to update personal information or request a hardship withdrawal, you’ll contact Zenith first.

Fidelity Investments is the Plan Custodian and Record Keeper. They receive and invest your contributions, maintain your account balance, and provide online access so you can manage your investments. You’ll use Fidelity’s website or phone support to monitor your account and request distributions once Zenith has approved them.

In short: Zenith handles administration and eligibility. Fidelity handles the money and account access.

You may qualify for a hardship withdrawal if you are under age 59½ and have an urgent financial need. Eligible reasons include: medical expenses, buying your primary home, tuition and related costs for the next 12 months, foreclosure or eviction prevention, funeral expenses, and home repairs due to a natural disaster.

You must provide documentation, confirm that the amount requested is no more than needed, and certify that you have no other resources to cover the expense. Hardship withdrawals are taxable and may be subject to a 10% penalty if you're under 59½.

You can choose how your 401(k) contributions are invested from a range of options offered through the plan. If you don’t make a selection, your contributions will be placed in the default option, currently a Vanguard Target Retirement Fund based on your age. You can change your investment elections at any time through Fidelity.

Fidelity Investments serves as the 401(k) plan’s Record Keeper & Custodian, which means they hold and invest the money in your account. Register for an account with Fidelity to explore the various investment options available to you.

To designate a beneficiary, you must complete an official beneficiary designation form, available from the Fund office. If you are married, your spouse will automatically be treated as your beneficiary unless they provide written consent for you to name someone else. You may name one or more primary beneficiaries and also list contingent beneficiaries, who would receive benefits only if all primary beneficiaries have passed away. If no valid beneficiary is on file at the time of your death, your benefit will be paid to your surviving spouse, then to your children, and if none survive, to your estate.