Underutilized Benefits
As School starts and we head rapidly into another Holiday season, I would like to shine a light on USPS/NALC resources for our Members that are often underutilized. It is always my advice to utilize the Union to best harvest these resources!
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) One of the issues facing many of our older members face is increased medical expenses. One of the ways we can try to mitigate those expenses is with a FSA, you can save on a wide variety of everyday medical, dental, vision, and even DAYCARE EXPENSES. It’s a tax break that is simple to use and works for all Career Carriers. Once set up, you will not pay income taxes on any of your USPS income that you spend on medical, dental, vision, and daycare expenses. Your contributions to an FSA are deducted from your salary before taxes. That’s how you save — you don’t pay taxes on your FSA contributions and end up with more money in your pocket as a result. First start by figuring out how much money you’re going to need for insurance deductibles, copayments, pharmaceuticals, or any out-of-pocket expenses for medical, dental, vision and day care expenses. If you need help with determining that amount, use the FSA calculator at fsafeds.com. The average person will save about 30% each year. If you don’t use all of your health care FSA funds, you can carry over up to $550 of unused elections into the next year. You can also contribute to a dependent care FSA to cover day care expenses for your dependent children under age 13 and eligible adult-care expenses. To learn more visit liteblue.usps.gov/fsa or check out our provider site at fsafeds.com.
Elevated Health There is exciting news about another Member benefit; assistance with your OWCP Claim if you are injured on the Job. In addition to the great assistance from our very own Gary DeGrijze, we now have OWCP Professionals domiciled at the Amityville Branch 6000 location. Elevated Health is dedicated to helping USPS employees who have been injured with a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, combining the expertise of chiropractors, physical therapists, medical doctors, and other specialists. Additionally, they developed a regional network of specialists who accept federal workers' compensation cases, ensuring that our patients always have access to the best care possible. If you've been injured on the job, FECA ensures you don't have to pay out of pocket or use your sick leave. Still, only some doctors accept federal workers' compensation cases due to the system's complexity, the amount of paperwork, and the time it takes to process claims. Elevated Health understands the unique challenges federal employees face regarding work-related injuries. Elevated Health, 630 Broadway, Amityville NY 11701, Phone: (718) 255-3407
The NALC Veterans Group is designed to provide NALC members who are military Veterans access to the information and tools specific to veterans’ rights and benefits within the U.S Postal Service. It seeks to provide all NALC members who are also military veterans—active full-time and part-time letter carriers, as well as retired letter carriers—resources, rights information and a sense of camaraderie. If you are interested in joining the group, you may complete the sign-up card included in each issue of The Postal Record and return it to: NALC Veterans Group, National Association of Letter Carriers, 100 Indiana Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001-2144. Please contact veteransgroup@nalc.org with any additional questions or concerns.
The NALC Disaster Relief Foundation is designed to mitigate any harm done to members affected by natural disasters, including earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires. Any NALC member who has faced hardship as a result of a natural disaster will be able to apply for assistance. The foundation’s board of directors will consider the hardship applications and will issue grants on an objective basis to eligible individuals as funds are available. Job performance or history of donations to the foundation will not be considered as part of the selection process. Contact Information NALC Disaster Relief Foundation 100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-2144. DisasterReliefFoundation@nalc.org (202)-423-2443
Postal Employees’ Relief Fund (PERF) Since 1990, PERF has been there to help carriers, clerks and other active and retired postal workers rebuild after hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires. (CFC #10268). Applicants do not need to wait until after they receive insurance settlements or other emergency relief to apply for help from PERF, though they still must provide documentation of the loss. The application must come to PERF no later than six months after the disaster, except under extenuating circumstances. To qualify for assistance, the applicant’s home must have been destroyed or damaged to the point of being uninhabitable for a long period (an estimated 90 days or more). Non-career and retired employees in either situation are eligible for half these amounts. If you need help from PERF, visit its website, postalrelief.com, for eligibility and application information, call 202-408-1869 or send an e-mail to perf10268@aol.com.
