If you are an appointed teacher, paraprofessional or other pedagogue in a city public school, the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) will send you a welcome letter explaining the online enrollment procedure. Most others, including nurses, therapists...

Substitutes and per diem teachers cannot join the Teachers’ Retirement System, but they may be eligible for pension coverage with the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS). Contact BERS at 65 Court Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, or call 929...

Not necessarily. Charter schools each decide what retirement benefits they will offer. They do not automatically provide pension coverage through the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System. However, they may opt to do so.

Yes. The Paraprofessional Bill was signed by the Governor on Oct. 29, 2021, and paraprofessionals in the following titles are now automatically members of TRS: Auxiliary Trainer; Bilingual Professional Assistant; Educational Assistant; Educational...

That depends on your job. If you are an appointed teacher, paraprofessional or other pedagogue in a city public school, you automatically become a member of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), which provides your pension. Your contributions to...

For specific steps to take and forms to complete, visit the Line of Duty Injury section of the UFT website. The DOE’s Comprehensive Injury/Accident Report, including a description of the accident/incident and witness statements, must be filled out in...

If you miss the deadline because you are hurt or have other extenuating circumstances, report it as soon as possible and apply for the Line of Duty Injury on SOLAS. Speak to your UFT chapter leader or district representative if you think there may be...

On rare occasions, the DOE will request you to come in for a medical evaluation. Unless you hear from them, there is no need for you to contact them.

No. They may designate someone else if they choose.

Yes, if they are earned during the year(s) that are included in calculating your final average salary, although certain caps may apply. The UFT won this important benefit in a landmark lawsuit against the city.

Yes, the type of pension plan that covers UFT members is called a defined benefit plan because the amount of your annual pension payments is defined by law and guaranteed by the state government for as long as you live.

If you are an appointed teacher, the box may be blank because you have not filed an enrollment application or (if you have) because your application is still being processed. If you are not an appointed teacher and have not filed an enrollment...

You may qualify for a different tier if you switched tiers during a tier change period, or if you transferred your membership to TRS from another eligible retirement system. In addition, you can apply for reinstatement to your previous status if you...

Yes, you and your spouse are both eligible for reimbursement of your catastrophic co-payments under your Medicare Part D coverage. Each of you individually has to reach the annual catastrophic limit; your totals cannot be combined. Claims must be...

Yes, the Welfare Fund pays 80 percent of reasonable and customary charges when the benefit is not covered by HIP PRIME for in-service members. To file for payment, you need to complete a Welfare Fund anesthesia claim form and attach an itemized paid...

Yes, the Welfare Fund will reimburse for certain covered appliances for in-service members that meet our medical advisor’s and HIP guidelines. The benefit pays 80 percent of reasonable and customary charges after a $25 annual deductible per person.

Yes, this benefit is capped at $1,500 a year and $3,000 for a lifetime.

First, submit your claim to GHI for reimbursement. If GHI reimburses you minus the $100 deductible, in-service members can then submit a completed Welfare Fund GHI DME deductible reimbursement form, along with the GHI explanation of benefits to the...

Maintenance medications (those taken regularly over an extended period) cannot be filled in monthly quantities after they have been filled three (3) times (original prescription plus two (2) refills), regardless of the number of refills indicated on...

It is covered, but not by the Welfare Fund. By state law, health plans cover diabetes drugs and ancillary devices. Please call your health plan for details.

You may submit a Prescription Drug Reimbursement Form (also available by calling our Forms Hotline at 212-539-0539) with a copy of the paid pharmacy receipt, indicating the patient name, drug name, dosage and quantity.

When the Fund pays out in excess of $1,200 for 12 months from December through November for an individual member or family (or $2,400 for SCOB – a member with a spouse/domestic partner who is also an in-service member), the member is placed in the...

Yes, the Fund will pay for contact lenses as per the fee schedule, but not in addition to glasses.

Members and their spouse/ domestic partner who are also members are entitled to special coordination of benefits (SCOB). This entitles each eligible family member, upon request at the same time for two (2) covered services, one (1) service under each...

We suggest that you use your optical benefits only for full services, which include glasses or contacts along with an eye exam. If you use your benefits and only get the exam we will pay $20 toward an exam fee, but you will be deemed to have used the...

Yes, however it is to your advantage to use a participating provider. First, you can take advantage of additional discounts our panelists provide. Second, if you have a problem, the UFT Welfare Fund will help resolve any issues. If you use a non...

First, you need to confirm your eligibility for benefits, then (if eligible) obtain services from a provider. You and your covered family members are entitled to an eye exam, and eyeglasses or contact lenses once every year. You can check your...

The benefit includes a complete pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses and, if necessary, a basic eye exam.

We suggest that you use the certificate only for a full service, including the hearing aid. If you use the certificate and only get the evaluation, we will pay the evaluation fee, but you will be deemed to have used the entire $4,000 benefit and you...

Yes, but there are benefits to using a panel provider. Besides the discounts offered, the Fund requires our panelists to have a licensed audiologist at their facility to ensure quality service.

Yes, you can ask for a validated certificate under your own name and another one as a dependent of your spouse.

COBRA is an acronym for federal legislation that enables eligible employees and their dependents who lost their health insurance plans due to a qualifying event to continue their coverage at their own expense for a period of time.

Certain COBRA events allow for up to 18 months of coverage while other events allow for up to 36 months of coverage. COBRA coverage combined with the UFT Welfare Fund Extension of Continuation of Coverage benefit provides all COBRA events with up to...

The following are qualifying events for COBRA coverage: A member (and dependents) who has lost coverage due to: termination of employment leave of absence end of a covered leave retirement and deferred retirement. A spouse/dependent who has lost...

When a dependent child's COBRA coverage expires, he or she may be eligible to purchase Age 29 Young Adult Coverage. As long as both the member and dependent maintain their eligibility. This benefit will continue until the end of the month of the...

The Welfare Fund provides up to three months of coverage for members on FMLA Leave, up to four months for Maternity Leave, up to six months for Child Care Leave and up to 12 months for Restoration of Health Leave. COBRA coverage for up to 36 months...