Dan Lupkin, the head of the PS 58 chapter in Brooklyn, examines the will he and his wife made thanks to the UFT`s legal plan. Free legal services under the Legal Services Plan include: The UFT Welfare Fund Retirees` Legal Plan with Seniors Act Supplement offers some services free of charge and others at a discounted price. This benefit is described in detail in a separate brochure that will be sent to you when you first become entitled to it. The brochure will be sent to you by the plan administrator, NYSUT Member Benefits, 800 Troy Schenectady Rd, Latham, NY 12110-9924, 800-626-8101. You will also receive an ID card and advice vouchers. Here`s a quick overview of the plan`s benefits: “This is a phenomenal program that we are proud to offer our members,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrow. Being able to call on an expert when legal problems arise provides peace of mind. The UFT and its Welfare Fund are constantly working to provide members with the services that best meet their needs. The Provident Fund has introduced a statutory scheme benefit with an old-age allowance for pensioners.
All retirees who are members of the UFT are automatically included in the legal plan, which is designed to help retirees with legal issues and estate planning. The plan offers some consulting services for free and others at a discount. Members are entitled to two legal security packages per plan year, which include forms you must complete to obtain a power of attorney for health care, a living will, a continuing power of attorney and a will from Minor`s Trust. Those eligible to purchase these packages include members, their spouses (or registered partners), parents and in-laws, and grandparents and in-laws. The basis of your estate plan should be a carefully drafted will, an instrument that disposes of your estate assets upon your death and names the person or persons who will administer your estate. A power of attorney is another legal instrument. With a power of attorney, you give a person (agent) the power to act on your behalf, usually in financial and legal matters. You must grant this power of attorney if you are legally able to do so. A living will and a power of attorney for health care are two documents with which you can implement your wishes regarding your medical treatment if you are unable to do so yourself.
Each state has its own document. In some states, it may be called an advanced directive. A living will allows you to express your wishes regarding health decisions, including medications, diagnostic procedures, and withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments that prolong the dying process. A power of attorney for health allows you to appoint someone to decide on your health treatment if you can no longer decide for yourself. A trust can also be an important estate planning tool. There are many types of trusts. For example, a supplementary needs fund deals with the problems of mentally handicapped family members. Fees are charged for trusts. UFTWF retirement programs hold annual meetings on legal and elder law.
At meetings, lawyers describe changes to applicable laws. If you move, complete and update the “UFTWF Change of Status Form” in order to continue receiving legal information. If the law firm is unable to resolve a dispute under the free plan, it will refer UFT members to a local lawyer of record who will provide legal representation at the reduced rate of $285 per hour. More than 11,000 members have used these services since the UFT created the scheme in 2020. Lawyers at the national law firm Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C., assist free of charge with the preparation of a will and other estate planning, as well as a number of other personal legal matters, including answering legal questions, writing letters, and reviewing leases and other documents. For more complex legal matters, a fee is charged at a reduced rate for UFT members. Did you know that NYSUT Member Benefits provides expert legal assistance that can help you prepare important estate planning documents to deal with traffic violations? The NYSUT Member Benefits Trust approved legal services plan – provided by the law firm of Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C. – provides access to a national network of lawyers dealing with personal legal matters. If you need legal assistance for everyday problems such as reviewing a lease or contract, managing a guarantee or helping to write an important letter, as a UFT member, you have free access to these services. As part of the plan, a lawyer will also prepare a will, power of attorney, and power of attorney for you free of charge. Services offered for free under the plan include: Steven Kramer of the law firm says telephone advice and letter writing are the two most commonly used services by the plan.
If you need legal assistance, it can be expensive and stressful. For this reason, the union recently created a legal services plan exclusively for UFT members, giving part-time members access to lawyers who support them for free or at discounted rates. Members seeking assistance with a legal matter should call 212-331-6325 to be put in touch with a lawyer at the firm. UFT retirees should call 212-331-6314. The union negotiated a free legal services plan for members only. The program allows UFT members to have access to a lawyer who can answer legal questions, write letters on their behalf, review documents, prepare a will, and provide legal representation, among other things. Occasionally, a Ministry of Education employee (such as a parent) will be prosecuted for something they allegedly did at work. If the New York City Company attorney determines that the employee has not violated any rules or laws in the performance of his or her duties at work, he or she will legally represent the employee and, if the employee is found to be financially liable, will reimburse the employee for the amount he or she must pay. To access this legal plan, UFT members can call 212-331-6325. The National Legal Office (the law firm of Feldman, Kramer and Monaco, P.C.) is the clearinghouse for all legal matters.
National Legal Office lawyers answer your legal questions, write letters, and check documents free of charge. If necessary, they will refer you to a lawyer in your area for free advice or additional legal advice. UFT members have free access to the UFT Legal Services Plan. Details of the plan can be found at www.uft.org/your-union/uft-programs/uft-legal-services-plan or by contacting the UFT at 212-331-6325. Other legal services offered at a discounted rate include: All retirees who are members of the UFT are automatically included in the legal regime. Your spouse/partner and any unmarried dependent children under the age of 25 who are part of your household are also insured. In the event of the death of a pensioner before the end of the benefit year or loss of rights, legal services are provided to the family members of the deceased until the end of the benefit year.