Search
How can I change my city health plan and enroll in a different plan?
A Health Benefits Transfer Period for city employees, such as DOE staff, is held once each year, usually in November. During this period, all employees may transfer from their current health plan to any other plan for which they are eligible, or they...
Health benefits open enrollment period is active
The annual open enrollment/transfer period for both in-service employees and retirees is Nov. 1 - Nov. 30. During this period, active DOE employees and retirees may transfer from their current health plan to any other plan for which they are eligible...
Your retirement timeline
Whether you are a new member, in mid-career or close to retirement, there are steps you can take to learn about your pension benefits and stay on track as you progress down the road to a financially secure retirement.
Absences
Learn about policies around absences, sick time and additional attendance policies.
Safety and health
Find information about your role as chapter leader in injury in the line of duty situations, school safety planning, environmental safety and health, and renovation and construction projects.
I stopped receiving UFT mail, including the New York Teacher. What do I do?
To find out if we have your correct address on file and to update it if we don’t, the quickest way is to log in to the UFT website and go to "My Account" in the top right corner. From the My Account page, you can access our online change of address...
Eligibility for in-service members
In general, subject to the requirements pertaining to the definition of “covered employees,” members in covered categories are eligible for benefits as long as they are considered in-service.
Cost Care program
The Cost Care program allows members and their dependents to obtain medication in a cost-effective manner, while maximizing the resources available to the Fund.
Your retirement timeline
Whether you are a new member, in mid-career or close to retirement, here are steps you can take to learn about your pension benefits and stay on track as you progress down the road to a financially secure retirement.
Are there any illnesses for which time off will not be deducted from my sick bank?
Yes. Measles, mumps and chicken pox are childhood diseases that are not deductible from your sick time. Ask your school secretary or UFT chapter leader for an OP 198 application to submit to your principal. Form: http://www.uft.org/files/attachments...
Changes to Special Education Remote Learning Service Plans
The UFT heard from many members about their frustrations with the paperwork demands created by the Department of Education’s Special Education Remote Learning Service Plan. After relaying those concerns, we were able to convince the DOE to extend the...
A member of my immediate family is graduating and I need the day off. Do I have to use my CAR days to attend?
It depends on the type of ceremony, the location and your job title: Pedagogues and paraprofessionals: One day with principal’s or supervisor’s permission to attend their graduation or that of a parent, child, step-child, spouse or registered...
Mercury
Information about how to prevent and address exposure to mercury.
Teachers' Retirement System
For more than a century, the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) has ensured that UFT members and their families have a financially secure future, and today the TRS membership includes more than 200,000 in-service members, retirees and beneficiaries.
Measures of Teacher Practice
In the Measures of Teacher Practice component of the teacher evaluation system, teachers engage in a cycle of observation, feedback and reflection with their principal or other evaluator.
Florida Center’s Day at the University
The Retired Teachers Chapter and the UFT Welfare Fund are proud to present an in-person series of educational, thought-provoking and entertaining lectures as part of the UFT Florida Center’s Day at the University. Please join us for one or all of...
Can I opt out of Teacher’s Choice?
If you do not wish to participate in Teacher’s Choice, you should submit a Request for Non-participation (opt-out) form to your school by the deadline indicated for that particular school year.
Article Sixteen — Leaves
Cumulative Absence Reserves and Sick Leave back to top Teachers on regular appointment reinstated after retirement will be credited with the cumulative reserves remaining to their credit upon retirement and such reserves as they accumulated as...
Hearing aids and exams
The UFT Welfare Fund provides a hearing aid benefit that reimburses UFT-represented employees and their dependents up to a maximum of $4,000 once every three years.
Military leaves of absence
Employees who are serving in the military or who have family members serving in the military qualify for special leaves of absence.
What to do if your LODI is medically denied
If your LODI request for 20 or more consecutive school days was denied medically (as opposed to administratively) by the doctors at the DOE, you have the option to apply for medical arbitration.
I had surgery and now I am being billed for the anesthesia because HIP rejected the claim. Can I file with the Fund for payment?
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...
How do I sign up for UFT text messages?
Simply fill out the online form at www.uft.org/text or type the word " UFT" to number 86366. The UFT uses text messages to convey important information and reminders to members. Please note that this is a one-way form of communication and we are...
Teacher’s Choice amounts stay steady
As it has for more than 35 years, the Teacher’s Choice program will again reimburse UFT-represented educators for some of their out-of-pocket expenses for supplemental instructional supplies and materials of their choice.
Teacher’s Choice for 2022-23 school year
Thanks to the union’s advocacy, UFT-represented educators will be reimbursed for some out-of-pocket expenses through Teacher’s Choice at the same levels as the previous school year. Teachers will once again receive about $250.