AFT + benefits: Tailor-made for tough times
A credit crunch, a crisis in the housing market and huge employment losses -is it any wonder why millions of Americans feel more than a little dazed and confused what is shaping up to be the worst recession in the past 70 years?
Fortunately, the AFT has worked hard to assemble one of the best union benefits packages around.
The “union difference” extends across a wide array of programs, services and discounts- everything from credit counseling and mortgage assistance grants to help covering the bill for heating oil. Now, more than ever, is a great time to review your AFT benefits package and see how you can make it work for you and your family. Here are just a few AFT + offerings that were tailor-made for tough times:
AFT + credit counseling service
877/833-1745
This service helps you reduce debt and build positive credit through free counseling with a certified counselor, a complete budget review and analysis, advice on how to work with creditors and debt-management plans for those who need them.
AFT + save my home hotline
866/490-5361
Avoid foreclosure and keep your home. HUD certified counselors will discuss your individual situation and offer advice and guidance that are personalized for your situation to help you retain your home and prevent foreclosure. Counseling, which is confidential and free, is offered through the nation's largest full-service nonprofit credit counseling service. You can talk to a counselor by phone or meet in person at 100 offices in 22 states.
AFT + credit card
Carried by 123,000 AFT members, this card not only offers a fair deal with competitive rates but also features a "safety net~ not found on any other credit card-provisions to protect you in the event of a strike, lockout, disability, disaster or layoff. There is also a secured credit card to help members navigate the credit crunch and build their credit.
AFT + mortgage assistance program
This mortgage program features unemployment, disability and strike benefits to help you pay your mortgage if you're out of work. This one-of-a-kind benefit, which is not available on other mortgage programs, has paid out more than $3.6 million in assistance.
AFT + savings programs
Cut the cost of heating oil, out-of-pocket healthcare and dental costs, wireless Internet service and veterinarian bills. AFT + savings also can help stretch those limited dollars for discretionary items by offering big savings on movie and theme park tickets, health club memberships, rental cars and more.
Certainly there is no better time to pick up the phone or hop online to review the many valuable benefits your AFT membership brings-and to make sure you are getting the most out of them in this challenging economic environment. A rundown of AFT member benefits is available at www.aft.org/aftplus.
