As an employee in a collective bargaining unit of a contributing employer, you will be eligible for legal assistance benefits as outlined below. Your employer must make contributions to the Legal and Educational Assistance Fund on your behalf for you to be eligible.

Generally, your participation begins on the first day of your fourth month of employment. For example, if you began working on January 9th, your eligibility for legal assistance benefits would begin on April 1st (the first day of your fourth month of employment). Once you become eligible, you are a Participant in the Plan.

Your dependents become eligible for legal assistance benefits at the same time you become eligible for benefits. If you add dependents after this day (for example, because of your marriage or the birth or adoption of your child), they will become eligible on the day they become your dependents. Your dependents are:

• Your spouse;
• Your children until the end of the calendar year in which they attain age 26; and
• Opposite and Same Sex Domestic Partners who were added to coverage on or before December 31, 2014.

Please note that the term “child” includes a stepchild; a legally adopted child or child placed for adoption; a child of a domestic partner who was added to coverage on or before December 31, 2014; or a foster child.

Before your dependents can receive benefits under the Plan, you will need to submit appropriate verification of their dependent status to the Fund Office (for example, a certified marriage certificate for your spouse or a certified birth certificate for your child).