Both parents are each entitled to six weeks of UFT parental leave if they both work for the DOE in UFT-represented titles. In the 2023 DOE-UFT contract, the union fixed a thorny issue with the original 2018 parental leave agreement: When both the parent and the nonbirth parent were UFT-represented employees, they were entitled to a collective total of only six weeks of parental leave. Under the updated contract provision, this couple may now take a total of 12 weeks of parental leave.

The combined 12 weeks of parental leave can run concurrently (six weeks each, at the same time) or consecutively (six weeks for one parent, followed by six weeks for the other parent). However, one parent may not donate their leave time to the other to increase one's UFT parental leave period beyond six weeks. 

You can fill out a new COPE contribution form either online or in print and then return your completed form to your chapter leader. The most recent submitted amount will take precedence. 

• COPE enrollment form for in-service members
• COPE enrollment form for retirees

You can also call the UFT at 212-331-6311  (retirees, call 212-331-6314) and request a change in your COPE contribution over the phone. 

If you travel to work by public transportation, you can save money by taking part in the City of New York Commuter Benefits Program, which covers New York City and the tri-state area.

This city benefit enables UFT members to pay for allowable commuting costs with pretax dollars. Participating in the program can mean a savings of up to 30 percent on monthly commuting expenses, depending on the cost of your transit travel and your individual tax situation. Calculate your estimated savings » As of Jan. 1, 2025, the monthly pretax limit for commuter benefits — set by the IRS — is $325 for both transit and parking.

See more about what's covered and how to enroll »

NYSUT has a mortgage program which UFT members are eligible to use. For more information, visit the NYSUT website. 

If you have several questions or are planning a career change, resignation or retirement, you should make an appointment for a preliminary pension consultation at one of the UFT's borough offices. At this private consultation, you will receive an estimate of your retirement allowance and answers to your questions about retirement benefits. We advise that everyone have a minimum of one preliminary borough consultation before your final consultation. You may have more than one preliminary consultation during your career. To make a preliminary appointment, call 212-331-6311 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

You are entitled to only one final consultation during your career, so most members complete them in the final months of work.

To make an appointment, call 212-331-6311 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meetings are scheduled in the borough office most convenient to you.  If you are a BERS member, call 929-305-3800 to schedule an appointment with a BERS representative.

During the final pension consultation you will be able to: 

• Estimate your retirement allowance;
• Discuss using the Teachers' Retirement System or the Board of Education Retirement System as a means for protecting heirs and beneficiaries;
• Discuss removing contributions, where permissible, from the system at retirement;
• Aid you in completing the retirement application;
• Learn about health and welfare fund benefits;
• Answer all of your other retirement questions.

Termination Pay: You retire with all your Cumulative Absent Reserve (CAR) days and are paid out for half your days at your daily rate.  

Terminal Leave: You use your CAR days, every 2 days in reserve counting as one day, to stay on payroll and retire off your leave. Terminal Leaves may not cross over semesters and you must give your principal at least 30 days notice (OP40) before the start of your leave. 

See the UFT Retirement Toolkit for forms and additional information »

See our page listing all current pension clinics being offered with a link to register: https://www.uft.org/your-benefits/pension/pension-clinics.

CAR days are for your own illness and can be accumulated up to 200 days. Members earn and can use 10 self-treated days per school year as long as they are on payroll. Self-treated days do not require a doctor's note. Three of the self-treated days can be used for personal business and/or to care for an ill family member (a total of 3; not 3 each).

Medically-certified days (and anything beyond 10 self-treated days) do require medical documentation.

Personal business is defined as something that can only be done during the school day, such as closing on a house. Personal business days should be requested in advance and the principal may ask the nature of the personal business before granting approval. 

Either through the payroll portal (https://payrollportal.nycboe.net), or by faxing the application and supporting documentation to 718-935-3702.