Eligibility

Who is covered?

You are eligible to be covered by the UFT Welfare Fund Benefits Plan for Retirees if all of the following criteria are met:

1. You retired after June 30, 1970; and
2. You are receiving a pension check from a retirement system maintained by the City; and
3. You were covered by the UFT Welfare Fund immediately prior to retirement/deferred retirement of City employment; and
4. You are not currently employed by the City (or City related agency) or by the NYC Department of Education in a position that entitles you to Welfare Fund benefits.

Please Note: For those members that retired prior to July 1, 1970, please contact the Retired Teachers Chapter of the United Federation of Teachers (RTC-UFT) for further information.

Dependents

Dependents of eligible retirees as defined below, are eligible for certain benefits.

1. Legally married spouse.
2. A ‘domestic partner’, defined as any individual, eighteen years of age or older, who is not married or related by blood to the member in a manner that would bar marriage in the State of New York, who has a close and committed personal relationship with the member, who lives with the member and has been living with same on a continuous basis, and who, together with the member, has registered as a domestic partner of the member and has not terminated the domestic partnership. Members can obtain details concerning eligibility, enrollment and tax consequences from the New York City Office of Labor Relations Domestic Partnership Liaison Unit 212-306-7605.
3. Children under Age 26.
   The term “children” for purposes of this and the following definitions, includes:
   1. natural children;
   2. children for whom a court has accepted a consent to adopt and for the support of whom a member has entered into an agreement;
   3. children for whom a court of law has made a member legally responsible for support and maintenance;
   4. children who live with a member in a regular parent/child relationship and are supported by the member.
   The coverage termination date for children reaching age 26 will be the end of the month during which the child reaches age 26.
4. Children under age 26.
   The term “children” for purposes of this and the following definitions, includes:
   1. natural children;
   2. children for whom a court has accepted a consent to adopt and for the support of whom a member has entered into an agreement;
   3. children for whom a court of law has made a member legally responsible for support and maintenance;
   4. children who live with a member in a regular parent/child relationship and are supported by the member.
5. Unmarried children 29 years of age or under.
   New York State Insurance Law requires unmarried children to be covered under the member’s insured health plan, such as your basic medical plan with NYC, if they choose, by paying the premium cost of the coverage until the unmarried child reaches his/her 30th birthday. Although not required, the UFT Welfare Fund extends this opportunity to continue the Supplemental benefits, on a self-pay basis.
   
   If you wish to purchase the age 29 coverage (for members whose children are between ages 26 – 29), members need to complete the Application for Age 29 Young Adult Coverage UFT Welfare Benefits Only form. If your child has never been covered by the UFT Welfare Fund in the past, you will need to complete the Update Your Information form with accompanying documentation and a separate application. For information and to enroll your dependent child in the New York City Health Benefits Program, visit the program’s website at www.nyc.gov.
    
6. Unmarried children who cannot support themselves because of a mental illness, developmental disability, mental retardation, or physical handicap.
   If the disability occurred before the age at which coverage would otherwise terminate, and the dependent was covered by the City at that time, coverage will be continued, by submitting to the Fund the acceptance of the disability from your basic health carrier and a completed Disabled Dependent Child Affidavit (DDCA) form. The form is also available by calling the UFT Welfare Fund Forms Hotline at 212-539-0539.
   
   The following procedure must be followed:
   1. Request a Disabled Dependent Child Affidavit” (DDCA) from the Welfare Fund. The form is also available by calling the UFT Welfare Fund Forms Hotline at 212-539-0539. Complete the Affidavit and return it to the Fund along with a copy of the approval letter from your carrier.
   2. Obtain a “Certificate of Disability” from your basic health carrier. Complete the form and mail it directly to your carrier. Your carrier will send you a letter confirming your dependents’ disability status.