UFCW LOCAL 1776 and PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
                                   HEALTH and WELFARE FUND
 

Educational Benefit Program (Option A only)


The Fund provides an educational benefit program to help you pay the cost of tuition at accredited universities, colleges, community or junior colleges, vocational and trade schools. If you are eligible for tuition benefits from any other source, you must use those benefits before this Plan will make any payments. As the Plan participant, you are eligible for up to $1,000 per calendar year. The $1,000 maximum can be applied toward tuition only - registration fees, activity fees and books are not covered. If you have completed 10 or more years of service, you are eligible to receive up to $300 per calendar year toward the cost of tuition for your unmarried dependent children who attend post-secondary educational institutions through the end of the month in which they reach age 24. Vouchers are not issued for dependents. You will receive direct reimbursement only.

Using the Educational Benefit

There are two ways to receive benefits: the voucher system and the reimbursement system. Most colleges and universities accept our voucher. Under the voucher system, you receive a voucher to take to your school. The school will accept the voucher in lieu of payment and bill the Fund directly. When you complete the course, you must forward a copy of your final grade report to the Fund office. If your school does not accept the voucher as payment, or if you already paid your tuition, you can use the reimbursement system. Under the reimbursement system, you must forward a paid tuition bill from the school and a final grade report upon completion of the semester. The Fund will then reimburse you directly for tuition only, up to the annual maximum of $1,000.

Each course must be completed with a passing grade, and you must remain employed throughout the duration of the course. If you withdraw from a course, receive a failing grade, or terminate employment, you will be responsible for reimbursing the Fund for any tuition paid on your behalf. Claims for reimbursement and grade reports must be submitted no later than 90 days from the date the semester ends.

For more information about your educational benefit, please contact the Fund office.