Legal and Educ

THE PLAN PROVIDES FOR LEGAL SERVICES WITHOUT LIMITATION AS TO THE NUMBER OF HOURS ON ANY MATTER, EXCEPT FOR FAMILY AND MARITAL MATTERS AS SET FORTH IN THIS APPENDIX A.

COVERAGE OF EACH MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE PLAN’S COOPERATING ATTORNEY.

THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, AS DESCRIBED BELOW:

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

• Claims for support of a spouse or child brought by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
• Claims for unemployment compensation, not involving a contributing employer to the Plan.
• Preparation and filing of applications for compensation under the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act.
• Claims for Social Security disability insurance.

This benefit does not include representation before any court or agency review board (except for Healthcare and Family Services matters).

ADOPTION AND GUARDIANSHIP

Consultation and court representation in uncontested adoption and guardianship proceedings involving a minor child.

BANKRUPTCY

If a personal bankruptcy is advisable, the Participant will be represented in bankruptcy court.

CONSUMER DEBT

The Plan provides legal counsel, and if necessary, a Participant will be represented in court by an attorney for any debt problems including:

• Debt problems resulting from loans, installment contracts, collection actions, and wage assignments;
• Suits against Participant or Dependent (limited to personal consumer debts);
• Repossession – consumer debts only;
• Defense of garnishments and citations;
• Credit disputes – errors, credit rating, debt collectors, etc.;
• Disputes with utilities (billing errors, shut-off services, deposit disputes)

FAMILY AND MARITAL MATTERS

Consultation and court representation in divorce (dissolution of marriage), annulment, legal separation, maintenance, child custody, child support, prenuptial agreements, post-divorce and paternity matters.

If both parties to the family or marital dispute are Participants in this Plan, only one Participant can be represented by the Plan’s Legal Service Provider. The other Participant will be entitled to the services of another attorney whose reasonable fees will be paid by the Plan.

The spouse of a Participant will be represented by the Plan’s Legal Service Provider in a disputed matter with the Participant only upon specific authorization of the Participant who must waive his right to be represented.

For all family and marital matters, the Plan provides up to 75 hours of attorneys’ time per proceeding at no cost to you.

FELONY CRIMINAL MATTERS

Representation in defense of felony criminal matters.

IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION

Plan attorneys will advise and consult concerning the citizenship and naturalization process, including assistance in the preparation of the application for naturalization, and will attend your interview with you.

INITIAL ADVICE AND CONSULTATION

The Plan covers the first two hours of services for any matter not specifically listed.

MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL MATTERS

Representation in defense of misdemeanor criminal matters.

NAME CHANGE PETITIONS

Plan attorneys will advise and represent in name change petitions and in petitions to correct a birth certificate.

PERSONAL INJURY – SPECIAL FEE REDUCTION

Plan attorneys will agree to a maximum share of 25% of any recovered amounts for personal injury or damage to your property.

PROBATE

• Representation involving small estate matters, including the filing of a will and drafting of all documents necessary to establish the small estate for the Participant, the Participant’s spouse and the Participant’s direct descendants.
• Representation of matters that do not qualify as a small estate, including the filing of a will and preparation of all documentation to open and close an estate for the Participant, his spouse or his direct descendants, but excluding contested matters.

PROPERTY DAMAGE AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

If you are involved in an automobile accident, Plan attorneys will represent you in the defense of a property damage lawsuit and also in a financial responsibility hearing before the Illinois Secretary of State involving your driver’s license suspension.

PROPERTY TRANSFER ON DEATH

Plan attorneys will represent you out of court in the transfer of property to you from a deceased person.

PURCHASE OF GOODS AND SERVICES

An attorney will be provided for matters including:

• Warranty disputes, defective products, etc.;
• Claims by or against a Participant as a consumer;
• Negotiations, drafting and reviewing of consumer contracts to purchase goods and services for personal use.

REAL ESTATE AND TENANT PROTECTION

Real estate transactions applicable to a personal residence (single family) or a multi-family housing unit provided that at least one unit is the Participant’s legal residence, including:

• Purchase or sale (no litigation);
• Construction or home improvement loan;
• Refinancing of mortgage;
• Preparation of deeds;
• Representation as a landlord or tenant in eviction proceedings;
• Review and negotiation of lease for an apartment or home;
• Consultation on disputes with landlords;
• Mortgage foreclosure;
• Land contract forfeiture.

TRAFFIC OFFENSES

The Plan covers the following traffic matters for any violation occurring in the state of residence of the eligible employee in addition to the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan:

• Defense of Minor and Major Moving Violations;
• Negotiations for Parking Tickets (administrative hearings).

UNLIMITED DISCOUNTED HOURS

The Plan provides unlimited hours of legal service at a discounted hourly rate for any matter not covered by the Plan. WILLS Preparation of wills, living wills and healthcare powers of attorney (healthcare directives).

Who is Eligible for Educational Assistance?

As an employee in a collective bargaining unit of a contributing employer, you become a Participant in the Plan on the first day of your fourth month of employment.

To be eligible for an educational assistance benefit for a school year that begins in August and ends the following June, you must begin working in the month of May. You must remain a Plan Participant through the following June to be eligible for educational assistance benefits provided you meet all other Plan requirements (see the section titled “Requirements to Received Educational Assistance Benefits”).

When you are eligible for educational assistance benefits, your dependents are also eligible, provided they remain a dependent for the entire school year and meet all other Plan requirements (see the section titled “Requirements to Receive Educational Assistance Benefits”). Your dependents are:

Your spouse;

Unmarried child under the age of 26 that is dependent on you for at least half of their support and is claimed as a dependent on your Federal Income Tax Return and regularly resides with you; 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, legally adopted child or child of a domestic partner.

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This information is usually listed on the back of the school’s transcript, or it can be found here:

https://www.hlcommission.org/