cityfan, as you know, United's defined benefit pension plans are now the responsibility of the Federal government (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp), and are administered by the government. I believe the PBGC does provide a higher pension payment for disability-related retirements, even if someone retired on disability after UAL's ownership of the plan ended in 2005. I also believe the PBGC honors the general terms and conditions of plans it administers as were in effect at the time that PBGC assumes ownership from the corporation terminating its plan. I assume this captain is but one of the thousands of UAL pilots whose defined benefit pension became the responsibility of the PBGC in 2005.