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TWU Member Finds Needed Assistance Through the Union Plus Disability Grant
After a knee surgery last year, longtime New York City Transit Authority employee Paul Wynn couldn’t keep working at his job cleaning subway stations. Wynn, a member of Transportation Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, knew finances would be tight without his regular paycheck.
However, he caught a lucky break while he was browsing the Union Plus website soon after. Wynn learned he could be eligible for the Union Plus Disability Grant1 because he is a Union Plus Credit Cardholder2. Sure enough, he qualified for assistance.
“It wasn’t something I was specifically looking for,” Wynn recounts. “The grant helped me maintain my expenses while I was out of work.”
The Union Plus Disability Grant is a $1,600 - $2,700 payment available to eligible Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been unemployed for at least 90 days and who have lost at least 25 percent of their monthly income due to illness or disability during the past 12 months, among other requirements. Applicants must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three months and their card account must be in good standing.
“It was a relatively easy and straight-forward process,” recalls Wynn of applying for the grant. “It only took about a month to receive the money.”
He now tells fellow TWU members about the various grant programs and rebates offered to Union Plus Credit Cardholders and encourages them to explore the website, as he did.
“You may be surprised what you find,” he notes.
“After all these years, working the job I worked, it takes a toll on you and your body,” Wynn reflects. “Little things like the Union Plus Disability Grant are really helpful.”
For more information on how Union Plus can help union members in times of need, visit unionplus.org/hardship.
1Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/page/disability-grant.
2Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
TWU member Paul Wynn’s knee surgery prevented him from getting his regular paycheck at work. Luckily, he discovered he was eligible to apply for a Union Plus Disability Grant since he is a Union Plus Credit Cardholder.
Retired USW Member Discovers Union Plus Mortgage Veteran’s Grant
Retired United Steelworkers (USW) District 2 member Jim Blank served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964, and was based in Frankfurt, Germany.
“It was a good responsibility,” recalls Blank, who lives in his hometown of Munising, Michigan, a small town in the state’s Upper Peninsula. “It was satisfying serving my country.”
Upon honorable discharge, Blank moved to Lansing, Michigan to work on the assembly line at a motor wheel factory. However, Blank soon wanted to move back home, so he took a position with the Kimberly-Clark paper mill in Munising.
“It was a great job over the years,” says Blank. “We had great benefits. The USW did a great job for us. After 30 years, I decided to retire.”
Blank didn’t learn about Union Plus until his daughter asked for his help in getting a mortgage: she wanted to use his USW membership to apply for a Union Plus Mortgage through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
“The representative at Wells Fargo saw that I was a retired union member and a veteran and suggested that I apply for the Union Plus Mortgage Veteran’s Grant1.,” remembers Blank. “Sure enough, I got a check in the mail.”
If you have served in the military and are an active or retired member of a union and you have financed your primary residence through the Union Plus Mortgage Program, you may qualify for the Veteran’s Grant. It provides a one-time grant of up to $1,000 to offset the cost of the home.
“I can’t believe I learned about Union Plus so late,” says Blank. “If you’re a veteran, you should definitely look into the Veteran’s Grant.”
To learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage Program and the Veteran’s Grant, please visit unionplus.org/mortgage.
1.The Union Plus® Mortgage Assistance Program and Veteran’s Grant are provided and administered through the AFL-CIO Mutual Benefit Plan (“The Plan”), which is not affiliated with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Additional information about this program and eligibility criteria can be obtained at unionplus.org/assistance.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has a services agreement with Union Privilege in which Union Privilege receives a financial benefit for providing agreed-upon services. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage encourages you to shop around to ensure you receive the services and loan terms that fit your home financing needs
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2019 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. Equal Housing Lender.
When retired USW member and Army veteran Jim Blank discovered Union Plus recently, he was pleasantly surprised to learn he could still benefit from its programs. He received a $1,000 Veteran’s Grant when he purchased a house for his daughter through the Union Plus Mortgage Program.
UNITE HERE Member Finds Assistance Through Union Plus Strike Grant
Scott Abfalter has worked in the hospitality industry and been a member of UNITE HERE Local 5 in Honolulu, Hawaii, for 18 years. He has been a Union Plus Credit Cardholder1 for nearly nine years.
When Abfalter walked out on strike last fall with thousands of other UNITE HERE members, he was able to take advantage of a unique benefit of being a Union Plus Credit Cardholder—hardship assistance grants for eligible members2.
The Union Plus Strike Grant is a $300 payment available to Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been on union-sanctioned strike or lockout for a minimum of 30 consecutive days within the 12 months prior to application submission. Eligible members must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three consecutive months and their account must be in good standing.
Abfalter learned of the Union Plus Strike Grant through information included in his monthly credit card statement.
“It was a blessing to even see it,” Abfalter says. “I submitted the necessary paperwork, and I fit all the requirements.”
He recalls, “Applying for the strike grant was a simple process. The check arrived during the holiday season, and that was such a blessing.”
The timing could not have been better, according to Abfalter.
“It really helped my family stay afloat,” he says. “The union fund was depleted. It was the right time for this family to have received the Union Plus Strike Grant.”
Abfalter continues, “Some of my fellow UNITE HERE members are not Union Plus Credit Cardholders. Hopefully, they’ll reconsider because of my experience. It is a strong card.”
The Union Plus Credit Card program offers several card choices. Find the union credit card that is right for you at theunioncard.com.
1Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
2Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/strike-benefits.
When Honolulu UNITE HERE member Scott Abfalter walked out on a union-sanctioned strike last fall, he was able to get some financial assistance from an unexpected source. As a Union Plus Credit Cardholder, he was eligible for the Union Plus Strike Grant.
UAW Member Sleeps Easier with Union Plus Job Loss Grant
Gary Franklin is a United Automobile Workers (UAW) member who worked for a major U.S. automaker in Detroit for 12 years. He liked his job building transmissions before health problems sidelined him.
Recently, Franklin developed some health issues and realized he could not continue his job without some serious medical attention.
“I was having trouble sleeping at night,” he recalls. “I was out of work for a while.”
Thanks to his union membership, Franklin has been a Union Plus Credit Cardholder1 for many years. When he had to take indefinite time off from his job, he called the credit card’s customer service line and was told that he might be eligible for the Union Plus Job Loss Grant2.
The Union Plus Job Loss Grant helps eligible union members who carry the Union Plus Credit Card by providing them with $300 to help cover bills and living expenses while they’re out of work.
“It was really easy to fill out the application,” remembers Franklin. “I really was able to sleep better.”
Franklin used his Job Loss Grant to cover bills.
“The Job Loss Grant is good to have if you meet the [eligibility] requirements,” says Franklin. “I absolutely recommend getting the Union Plus Credit Card.”
“Union Plus—they try to help you out, you know?” Franklin continues. “They try to see that you can get your bills paid.”
To learn more about the Union Plus Credit Card and its benefits, visit theunioncard.com.
1 Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
2 Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/job-loss-grant.
When UAW member Gary Franklin found himself sidelined from his job by health issues, he knew he could turn to his Union Plus Credit Card for hardship help. He was eligible to apply for the Union Plus Job Loss Grant.
AFSCME Member Gets Assistance From Union Plus Disability Grant
“I was put on disability, but after a while you only get about 50 percent of your normal wages,” she recounts. “It was important to me to cover general expenses and keep my credit in good standing.”
Van Horn, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 25, has been a Union Plus Credit Cardholder1 for more than five years. She was browsing the Union Plus website when she noticed a testimonial for the Disability Grant2.
“After about two weeks I finally decided to apply, thinking, ‘We’re going to see if this works,’” she says.
Van Horn ended up qualifying for a $1,600 disability grant.
“I was really surprised when I got a call saying I was approved,” she recalls. “I was happy and very grateful.”
The Union Plus Disability Grant is available to Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been unemployed for at least 90 days and lost at least 25 percent of their monthly income due to illness or disability during the past 12 months. Applicants must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three months and be in good standing.
“I stress a lot about finances, and this helped me so much,” Van Horn says. “Being on disability and unable to work, you worry about a lot of things. I feel like Union Plus didn’t forget me.”
She continues, “I like being a Union Plus Credit Cardholder. It’s nice to know there is a company like Union Plus that looks out for AFSCME members.”
The Union Plus Credit Card program offers several card choices that all offer hardship help benefits. Find the union credit card that is right for you at theunioncard.com.
1 Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
2 Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/page/disability-grant.
When AFSCME member Deborah Van Horn was unable to work due to health issues, she turned to Union Plus for financial help. As a Union Plus Credit Cardholder, she was eligible to apply for the Union Plus Disability Grant.
Debt-Free Retirement Now Within Reach for AFSCME Local Leader
LaVerne Washington, executive board member and steward of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 101 in San Jose, California is on her way to retiring credit card debt free.
Washington has been an AFSCME member for 18 years. As she started planning for retirement from her job as a paralegal, she researched ways to reduce her bills and high interest credit card debt. She remembered that Union Plus Credit Counseling is one of the benefits available to her through AFSCME Advantage.
“As an AFSCME member, you have benefits that others do not,” Washington notes.
She took advantage of a free consumer credit counseling session through Union Plus’s program partner, the non-profit Money Management International (MMI), and then she enrolled in a customized debt management plan.
After 12 months of successful participation in the program, Washington was eligible to receive a $360 Union Plus Debt Management Plan (DMP) grant to reimburse the monthly MMI program fees.
“[Applying for the grant] was actually a very easy process and it turned out to be a great experience,” says Washington. “Within less than a month, I got the check.”
She is a year and a half into her four-year plan to eliminate credit card debt. Then she can spend retirement without worry, enjoying time with friends and family.
“I would definitely recommend this program to other union members,” Washington says. “[Union Plus] recognizes we are working people and they provide us with really great benefits to help out in our everyday living and with our expenses.”
To learn more about the Union Plus benefits and discounts available for union members, visit unionplus.org.
When longtime AFSCME member LaVerne Washington retired, she turned to the Union Plus Credit Counseling Program to improve her financial health. She enrolled in a customized debt management plan and will be able to spend retirement debt- and worry-free.
Librarian Praises Fast Access to Disaster Relief Grant with the Union Plus Credit Card
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy, also known as “Superstorm Sandy”, battered the east coast of the United States and caused billions of dollars in damage.
“We had never seen anything like it,” says Shileen Shaw, recalling the damage her East Orange, NJ, home suffered at the time.
Shaw’s home lost electricity for weeks and her roof endured severe damage. Luckily, she was able to turn to her union for help.
Shaw has been a member of Local 2298 (Council 63) of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for more than 20 years. She currently works at a branch of the Newark Public Library. She has also been a proud Union Plus Credit Cardholder1 since 2007, which came in handy when she was seeking financial relief in the aftermath of the hurricane.
Through a quick phone call, Shaw found out she was eligible for the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant—a $500 cash grant that does not have to be repaid.
“I applied for the grant and I got the check within days,” Shaw recounts.
The Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant2 provides financial assistance to eligible Union Plus Credit Cardholders facing hardship following a natural disaster. To be considered for a Disaster Relief Grant, Credit Cardholders must have had their card for at least three months.
“The grant came at the right time. I just thank Union Plus for that,” she says. “When you don't have anything, and the electricity is still out, $500 is a lot.”
For more information about getting access to emergency financial resources, visit unionplus.org/hardship.
1Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Credit approval required. Terms and conditions apply.
2Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/disaster-relief-grants.
“The Disaster Relief Grant came at the right time. I thank Union Plus for that because I don't even know how we were going get by for those next days or weeks after Hurricane Sandy. When you don't have anything, and the electricity is still out, $500 is a lot of money.” – AFSCME Member Shileen Shaw
AFT School Bus Driver Using Free College to Strengthen Advocacy Skills
“I drive a 40-foot yellow hotbox on wheels,” says Sarah Cloud, a full-time contract school bus driver in Hurricane, Utah.
Cloud is a 20-year driving veteran. She loves kids and driving gives her the opportunity to interact with all kinds of students. She is a member of AFT Redrock 6032 and the Vice President of Transportation on the executive board.
“I work to increase our training and work on different aspects tied to challenges and needs drivers have,” Cloud says.
Outside of her job, she tends to her husband and her son, both of whom have a rare form of arthritis. Cloud is a prominent ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation and she has had to deftly navigate the medical establishment to ensure her family gets the care they need. It’s this latter role that ultimately attracted her to the Union Plus Free College Program.
“I was skimming a Union Plus email newsletter,” recalls Cloud. “I’ve been one of many moms out in the workforce for whom college was out of reach. I saw this offer, and I wondered if I could even do it. I decided to take a class and see if I liked it.”
The Union Plus Free College Program partners with AFSCME and Eastern Gateway Community College to offer online courses and degree programs with no out-of-pocket cost to active or retired union members and their eligible family members, including spouses, domestic partners, children (including stepchildren and children-in-law), dependents and grandchildren.
Cloud is studying to receive a Patient Navigator certificate.
“I’ve learned a lot about access issues,” she said. “Navigators improve disease outcomes. They help the individual and the public.”
Cloud continues, “I recommend this program to all union members I meet. Your family can go to school, and it’s huge.”
Outside of her job as a school bus driver, AFT member Sarah Cloud has long been an advocate for her husband and son, who both have a rare form of arthritis. She’s now enrolled in the Union Plus Free College Program and taking classes towards a Patient Navigator certificate to enhance her advocacy abilities.
Free College Program Gives Librarian’s Son Storybook Beginning
New Jersey CWA Member Cheryl Conselyea’s son, Ryan, is a plumber’s assistant. He tried traditional college, but the schedule didn’t work for him.
“When I got the Free College email from Union Plus, he was so excited. He was just like, ‘Wow, this is for me!’ He had about a week to apply,” Conselyea remembers.
Conselyea works as a supervising library assistant at Passaic County’s Clifton Public Library, a particularly busy branch.
“I love my staff and working with the public is great. We organized with CWA 12 years ago. They introduced us to Union Plus and all the special programs they provide,” she recalls.
The Union Plus Free College Program partners with AFSCME and Eastern Gateway Community College to offer online courses and degree programs with no out-of-pocket cost to active or retired union members and their eligible family members, including spouses, domestic partners, children (including stepchildren and children-in-law), financial dependents and grandchildren.
Conselyea says her son has had to pinch himself—he couldn’t believe that he could take classes for free and on his own time.
“Ryan is thriving,” Conselyea says. “The whole process for his enrollment was pretty seamless. His classes are so flexible, and most importantly, the program just calibrates right with his schedule.”
Ryan is pursuing his associate degree and hopes that learning about business will equip him as he gets deeper into his trade career and potentially starts his own venture.
“This Free College program is such an opportunity for adults and the children of union members to get a free education. I tell everyone I know about it,” says Conselyea.
CWA member Cheryl Conselyea was thrilled to discover that her son Ryan was eligible to enroll in the Union Plus Free College Program. Ryan has been able to take advantage of the program’s flexible schedule to take business classes while he continues working as a plumber’s assistant.
Teamster Credit Cardholder Turns to Union Plus Job Loss Grant
“I’m a driver, and I was injured on the job,” begins Glen Kozubal, an International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 89 member from the Louisville, Kentucky metro area.
Kozubal was a pick-up and delivery driver until his workplace injury made it impossible to work. When his worker’s compensation claim was delayed, he initiated grievance proceedings with the help of his local union.
Kozubal has been without a job for nearly a year, but he realized he could turn to Union Plus in the meantime. As a Teamster Privilege Credit Cardholder1, he knew that he could apply for the Union Plus Job Loss Grant2.
“I’ve always liked my Teamster Privilege Credit Card, and for this—applying, hearing back, getting the money—it was all a smooth process,” recalls Kozubal. “It makes standing up to the type of situation I’m in a whole lot easier.”
The Union Plus Job Loss Grant is available to eligible union members who have carried either the Union Plus Credit Card or Teamster Privilege Credit Card for at least three months. It provides them with $300 to help cover bills and living expenses.
“Union Plus is a great organization,” Kozubal says. “This Job Loss Grant opportunity really gave me a way to pay some immediate bills and stay afloat through this incredibly long and stressful process.”
Kozubal said he’s let his fellow union members know about Union Plus at every opportunity, and he believes every local should promote Union Plus programs.
“Union Plus really helps members in their daily lives,” says Kozubal. “Nowhere is that truer than the Job Loss Grant.”
For more information about Union Plus Hardship Help Benefits, visit unionplus.org/hardship.
1Teamster Privilege Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
2Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/job-loss-grant.