Pensions, Unionization, and Racial Justice

Pandemic Pay: SEBAC & the State Choose Arbitrator and Set a Date

SEBAC leadership continues to advocate for pandemic hero pay that will recognize our state members’ sacrifices throughout COVID-19 and the critical role they, like all front-line workers played, in getting all of us through the worst of the pandemic.

After months of negotiations, on October 5th, coalition leaders opted to enter into arbitration to ensure that frontline essential state workers who risked their health and safety throughout COVID-19 receive a fair and honorable pandemic pay award. Arbitration is a normal part of the collective bargaining process in the public sector and assures that a neutral third party makes the decision when the bargaining parties have differences about the fairest outcome for all sides.

SEBAC and the State have selected Susan Meredith as the arbitrator for the pandemic pay arbitration onDecember 16th.

All frontline workers, public and private, deserve recognition of the sacrifices they and their families made to keep Connecticut running during the height of the pandemic. SEBAC leadership believes the arbitration is a necessary step toward achieving a just and fair settlement for our members.

Be sure to check the SEBAC website as well your own union’s website for updates on pandemic pay.

This article was originally posted here, authored by Drew Phelan.

One-Time Student Loan Forgiveness Application Now Open

October 25, 2022

Important update:

The 8th Circuit temporarily blocked the debt cancellation in response to a lawsuit brought by six state Republican Attorneys General. But you should still apply now. The court’s order does not prevent people from applying for debt relief, and the Biden administration encourages eligible borrowers to continue to do so.

October 19, 2022

The Biden-Harris Administration officially opened the student loan forgiveness application.  Filling out the application is easy and takes about 5 minutes. You don’t need to log in or provide any documents. You can apply here.

Please note – this is differant than the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (“PSLF”), which may provide higher debt relief. PSLF is limited to public service employees, and the deadline to apply for PSLF is October 31st. More information on PSLF can be found here. The one-time student loan forgiveness is not limited to public service employees and the deadline to apply is December 31st. 

Q&A

How much debt relief is available? If you meet the income requirements, you may be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt relief if you received a Federal Pell Grant in college, and $10,000 in debt relief if you did not receive a Federal Pell Grant in college.

What are the income requirements? The income threshold is met if in 2020 or 2021 you made under $125,000 if your tax filing status is single (or married, filed separately) or under $250,000 if married and filed jointly. The income is based on your adjusted gross income. More information can be found here.

What loans are eligble? Most federal loans (including Undergraduate loans, graduate loans and Parent Plus loans held by the Education Department) are eligible for cancellation. Private loans (i.e., non-federal loans) are not eligible for debt relief. If you consolidated federal loans into a private (non-federal) loan, the consolidated private loan is not eligble. More information on eligible loans is available here.

When is the deadline to apply? The deadline to apply is December 31, 2022. But you should apply today! The application is very simple. Just go to https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application and fill out the form. It takes less than five minutes!

This article is originally posted here, authored by Logan Place.

Health Insurance Update: Rebate Checks to Be Issued Under Providers of Distinction Program

In the coming weeks, rebate checks will be issued to members in the State Partnership Plan who have chosen to receive care from certain high-quality providers. This is part of the Centers of Excellence and Provider of Distinction programs created by the SEBAC 2017 agreement.

Under the program, the state of Connecticut has identified specific doctors, hospitals, and provider groups that meet the highest patient care standards. These providers are designated as “Providers of Distinction”. Members who use Providers of Distinction or Centers of Excellence for certain services are eligible for rebate checks, which generally range between $150-$1,000.

For more information on this program, and to view the current list of eligible procedures and incentives, click here. And to search for eligible providers and hospitals, click here.

This article was originally posted here, authored by Logan Place.