Why do I need a contract? Why can’t I just pay into my own health account or pension account?

Both the AFM pension fund and the Local 802 health benefits fund are federally regulated funds that are required by law to have a collective bargaining agreement with an employer in order to accept benefit contributions. LS-1 contracts serve as mini contracts that allow employers to make health or pension contributions to you on small jobs or single engagements. There are, however, some rather important requirements in order to file the LS-1 contract, particularly for the pension fund.

Who can file an LS-1?

• Solo performers can file an LS-1 contract provided the engagement is not in a major venue and provided there is no existing collective bargaining agreement with Local 802 or the AFM already covering this category of work.
• Ensembles can file only if all the musicians on the engagement are reported on the form.
• Teaching engagements are accepted, for both private and institutional teaching/master classes/clinics, with some exceptions below.
• Questions? If your last name ends between A-M, please contact Marisa Friedman at mfriedman@local802afm.org. If it ends between N-Z, please contact Todd Weeks at tweeks@local802afm.org.

Who cannot file an LS-1?

• A musician who is not an active member of Local 802, with all membership and work dues up to date.
• Musicians working under an existing CBA cannot file an LS-1 for that engagement.
• Musicians working within an orchestra or large ensemble cannot file an LS-1 for that engagement – unless the entire orchestra files an LS-1 for that engagement.
• It is impermissible to file any kind of recording work via an LS-1.
• Solo/ensemble musicians working in a major venue cannot file an LS-1 for that engagement. Major venues include: Broadway theaters, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, Beacon Theater, Radio City Music Hall, Apollo Theater, etc. Please confirm venue status with your rep (see next bullet point below).
• Questions? If your last name ends between A-M, please contact Marisa Friedman at mfriedman@local802afm.org. If it ends between N-Z, please contact Todd Weeks at tweeks@local802afm.org.

How to submit an LS-1

• Blank LS-1 contracts are available on this page. (Look for the download box.) Complete the contract then get it signed by your employer or your own corporation
• Health contributions can be up to 15 percent of the gross wages reported.
• Work dues are 2 percent of gross wages (for teaching engagements), or 3.5 percent of gross wages (for performances)
• Proof of engagement includes paperwork such as canceled checks, receipts given for a cash payment to you, contracts, invoices, PayPal, Venmo and other electronic payment receipts. Local 802 no longer accepts lessons schedules without clear proof of payment by the student, nor will the local accept a calendar showing dates of lessons without adequate proof of payment for that work.
• Questions? If your last name ends between A-M, please contact Marisa Friedman at mfriedman@local802afm.org. If it ends between N-Z, please contact Todd Weeks at tweeks@local802afm.org.

When is the deadline to submit an LS-1?

For the September 1 benefit start date

NO LATER than July 15 for engagements from January 1 through June 30

For the March 1 benefit start date

NO LATER than January 15 for engagements from July 1 through December 31

• Nothing can be processed until all signed and completed paperwork is received by us, along with all checks, ACH payments or wire transfers. The MHF does not accept electronic payments — credit or debit cards may NOT be used.
• If you have any questions on the process or need some help, please see the LS-1 Support page

Securing your LS-1 Forms

• If you have multiple employers or many students and require multiple signatures, you will need to print multiple hard copy forms.
• Fill out your forms
• You will need to fill out an LS-1 form for each engagement/source of income.

If you are incorporated, you may be able to use one form only but must first confirm this with an 802 business rep. Please see the LS-1 Support page for further details on who to contact.

Your LS-1 forms should include:

Page 1 of the form:

• Employers or payees name (or your LLC)
• Place of engagement: if you teach, location where lessons were conducted
• Engagement dates: either the most recent Jan. 1 to June 30 or the most recent July 1 to Dec. 31 period. See deadlines elsewhere on this page.
• You are the “Designee:” please print your full name
• The employer’s signature and address information goes on the bottom left side of the document
• Leave the bottom right-side blank (union fills this out)
• Questions? If your last name ends between A-M, please contact Marisa Friedman at mfriedman@local802afm.org. If it ends between N-Z, please contact Todd Weeks at tweeks@local802afm.org.

Page 2 of the form:

For each source of income (filed on an LS-1) you need to fill out:

• your name
• your social security number
• amount of gross income
• the amount of the contribution to the fund
• work dues owed

To ensure that the forms are correct, feel free to scan and email your LS-1 to your business rep before you write your checks. Please see the LS-1 Support page for further details on who to contact.

For links to downloadable forms, please see the top of this page.

After the forms have been approved:

Step 1) Print all forms, including all proof of employment.

Step 2) Make out a check in the amount of the total contributions you are putting towards HEALTH COVERAGE to: “Local 802 MHF”.

Note on bottom of check: Your last name, your Local 802 card number, and the word “LS-1”

NOTE: If you are paying by ACH or wire transfer, you must arrange this in advance which can be done by emailing your business rep. Please see the LS-1 Support page for further details on who to contact.

Step 3) Make out a check in the amount of your total obligation for WORK DUES to: “AFM, Local 802”

Note on bottom of check: Your last name, your Local 802 card number, and the words “Work dues” and “LS-1”

NOTE: If you are paying by ACH or wire transfer you must arrange this in advance which can be done by emailing your business rep. Please see the LS-1 Support page for further details on who to contact.

Step 4) Mail all forms — including proof of employment and signed LS-1 forms with checks — to:

AFM Local 802
Attention: Marisa Friedman (if your last name ends between A-M) OR
Attention: Todd Weeks (if your last name ends between N-Z)
322 West 48th Street
New York, NY 10036

If you have any questions on the process or need some help, please contact your business rep. Please see the LS-1 Support page for further details on who to contact.