UPDATE (12/23/24): The NYSUT organization will be closed for its annual winter holiday shutdown from Tuesday, December 24, 2024 through Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Note: NYSUT Member Benefits will be operating with very limited staff during that time. Online enrollments for our endorsed Legal Service Plan will be processed upon our return beginning Thursday, January 2, 2025.
If you need immediate assistance regarding this program during our winter holiday shutdown, please contact Member Benefits at 800-626-8101, Thursday (December 26); Friday (December 27); or Monday (December 30) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST).
The NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed Legal Service Plan offers expert legal advice along with access to a national network of attorneys that deal with personal legal matters.
Through this plan provided by the law firm of Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C., NYSUT members can receive legal assistance with everything from preparing crucial estate planning documents to dealing with traffic violations.
Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C. has been the service provider for the Legal Service Plan since 1980 and acts as the Plan’s National Legal Office. The firm has grown from five attorneys to more than 40 attorneys since that time, and its network of participating referral attorneys now exceeds 500 firms in New York State and several hundred firms in other jurisdictions across the U.S.
HOW TO APPLY:
You can either apply online or print out the enrollment form for the Legal Service Plan.
1. Online Application Form - Click here to apply now. (Please Note: You must pay by credit card if you choose to apply online).
2. Paper Application Form - Click here to download and print now.
If you need immediate use of the plan, please contact Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST).
Legal Service Plan Brochure - Click here to view and/or download now.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
The annual fee for the Legal Service Plan can be paid by Visa, MasterCard, check, money order, or payroll/pension deduction (if available to you).
-- The annual fee for in-service members is $85, reduced to $80 if payroll deduction is used.
-- The annual fee for retiree members is $55, reduced to $50 if pension deduction is used.
Plan renewal is automatic when payroll or pension deduction is used as the payment option and will remain in effect until revoked by your written authorization submitted to the NYSUT Member Benefits Trust. If the plan is cancelled before payment is complete, you will be billed for the balance of the annual fee due. At the time of renewal, a payroll or pension deduction authorization form (whichever is applicable) will be enclosed with the billing statement.
Payroll Deduction Authorization Form - Click here to download and print now.
Pension Deduction Authorization Form - Click here to download and print now.
If you are applying and paying by check, payroll/pension deduction, or credit card but don't want to apply online, please print and fill out the paper application form. If you will be using payroll or pension deduction as your payment method, make sure to also print and fill out the applicable authorization form.
PLAN FEATURES & ELIGIBILITY:
Learn about features of the Legal Service Plan.
NYSUT members (including retirees) and service fee payers may enroll. The plan covers the member, spouse or domestic partner who is living with the member (except in divorce/separation matters), unmarried dependent children under age 19 (or under age 25 if they are wholly dependent on the member and are enrolled as full-time students), and dependent parents.
Please note that UFT retirees receive coverage as a retiree benefit through the UFT Welfare Fund's Retiree Legal Plan with Elder Law Supplement, which is administered by NYSUT Member Benefits.
In-service UFT members have access to the UFT Legal Services Plan at no cost to enroll. Details of the plan may be found by visiting https://www.uft.org/your-union/uft-programs/uft-legal-services-plan or by contacting the UFT at 212-331-6325.
LEGAL SECURITY PACKAGES:
Current Participants: View and/or download a PDF version of the Legal Security Package.
UFT Welfare Fund - Legal Security Package
UFT Retirees: View and/or download a PDF version of the Legal Security Package.
For more information, contact Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST).
The NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed Legal Service Plan is provided by Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C. and administered by the NYSUT Member Benefits Trust.
The Legal Service Plan provided through Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C. is a NYSUT Member Benefits Trust (Member Benefits)-endorsed program. Member Benefits has an endorsement arrangement of 27.5% of annual participation fees received for this program. All such payments to Member Benefits are used solely to defray the costs of administering its various programs and, where appropriate, to enhance them. Member Benefits acts as your advocate; please contact Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 if you experience a problem with any endorsed program.
The NYSUT organization will be closed for its annual summer shutdown from Monday, 7/26/21 through Friday, 7/30/21.
Please note that NYSUT Member Benefits will be operating with very limited staff during that time. Online enrollments for our endorsed Legal Service Plan, Financial Counseling Program and Voluntary Vision Plan will be processed once again beginning Monday, 8/3/21.
If you need immediate assistance during our summer shutdown for any of these programs, please contact NYSUT Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The NYSUT organization will be closed for its annual summer shutdown from Monday, 7/26/21 through Friday, 7/30/21.
Please note that NYSUT Member Benefits will be operating with very limited staff during that time. Online enrollments for our endorsed Legal Service Plan, Financial Counseling Program and Voluntary Vision Plan will be processed once again beginning Monday, 8/3/21.
If you need immediate assistance during our summer shutdown for any of these programs, please contact NYSUT Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m