A few of the unions restrict the benefit to members under a certain age at the time of admission.  Where such an age limit is imposed it is ordinarily fifty years, but in a few unions it is sixty years.

The following table shows the conditions imposed upon the payment of the death benefit in the more important unions: 

Preliminary Term of
Name of Organization.  Age Limit.  Good Standing Required

Bakers ........................... 50 years         3 months
Barbers .......................... 50 years        30 days
Boot and Shoe Workers ............                  6 months
Glass Bottle Blowers .............                   None
Carpenters ....................... 50 years         6 months
Cigar Makers ..................... 50 years         2 years
Granite Cutters ..................                  6 months
Iron Molders .....................                 12 months
Iron, Steel and Tin Workers ......                  3 months
Leather Workers on Horse Goods  ...                  1 year
Lithographers ....................                 30 days
Machinists .......................                  6 months
Metal Polishers ..................                  1 year
Metal Workers ....................                 12 months
Painters ......................... 50 years         1 year
Pattern Makers ................... 50 years        52 weeks
Piano and Organ Workers ..........                  1 year
Plumbers .........................                  6 months
Stone Cutters ....................                  6 months
Tailors ..........................                  6 months
Tobacco Workers .................. 60 years         1 year
Typographical Union ..............                   None
Weavers, Elastic Goring ..........                  6 months
Wood Workers ..................... 60 years         6 months

Only a few unions make good physical condition a requisite for admission to the death benefit.  In a small number provision is made that if death result from disease incurred prior to admission the union shall not pay the benefit.  In the majority of the unions every member admitted to the union is covered by the death benefit.  Some of the unions, such as the Brotherhood of Carpenters, the Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union, the Brotherhood of Painters, and the Pattern Makers’ League, provide a smaller benefit for those not eligible at time of initiation.  In the Brotherhood of Carpenters any apprentice under twenty-one years of age, or any candidate for membership over fifty years of age, in ill health and not qualified for full benefit when admitted to the union, is limited to a funeral allowance of fifty dollars.[99] The Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union provides that members of sixty years of age, or those afflicted with chronic diseases at time of initiation, shall be eligible to half benefit only.[100] In the Brotherhood of Painters members of sound health and over fifty years of age when admitted are eligible to a semi-beneficial benefit of fifty dollars and to a funeral benefit of twenty-five dollars in case of death of wife.[101]