Union SAFE—which stands for “security, assistance and financial education”—is a new collection of benefits designed to meet the urgent needs of CSEA and other union members facing economic hardship. The $1 million assistance program includes:

Credit counseling services, budgeting advice and no-fee debt management and bankruptcy counseling benefits.

Save My Home Hotline to help avoid mortgage foreclosure.

Hospital Care Grants of $1,000 to help members who have been hit with large, unreimbursed hospital expenses who participate in the Union Plus Credit Card, Mortgage or UnionSecure Insurance programs.

Job Loss Grants  of $250 for Union Plus Credit Card holders who have been recently laid off for more than 90 days.

Disability Grants of $1,000 to $2,000 for qualified Union Plus Credit Card holders who have significant income loss due to a recent long-term illness or disability

Mortgage Assistance  to help Union Plus Mortgage holders, who become unemployed, disabled or go on strike, make their mortgage payments.

College Savings Grants  of $500 to members who open new 529 tax-free college savings accounts or pre-paid tuition accounts of at least $1,000 after July 1, 2010.

Learn more about CSEA's scholarship program at www.csea.com/scholarships.