The Fund provides an education benefit to help you pay the cost of tuition at accredited universities, colleges, community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and trade schools. 

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To obtain education benefits, you must be eligible and enrolled in benefits for the duration of the applicable semester or course. Additionally, if you are eligible for tuition benefits from any other source, you must use those benefits before the Fund will provide benefits.

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Benefit Maximum​

 

As a Fund participant, you are eligible to receive up to $1,000 per calendar year toward the payment of  tuition expenses, after taking into account any grants and scholarships that you are not obligated to re-pay. ​

 

Important note:  The $1,000 education benefit is for tuition only.  You may not use this benefit to pay registration or activity fees, to buy books, or for room and board.​

 

If you have completed 10 or more years of service, you are also eligible to receive up to $300 per calendar year toward the cost of tuition only for each unmarried dependent child under age 24 who attends a post-secondary educational institution. 

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Using the Education Benefit

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There are two ways to use your education benefit—the voucher system and the reimbursement system.  Under the voucher system, the Fund Office will issue a voucher for you to take to your school at the beginning of the semester.  In most cases, the school will accept the voucher in lieu of payment and will bill the Fund directly.  Upon completion of your course(s), you must submit a copy of your final grade report to the Fund Office. 

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If your school does not accept the voucher as payment or if you have already paid your tuition, you may use the reimbursement system.  Under the reimbursement system, upon completion of your course(s), you must submit a copy of the final grade report, along with an itemized paid tuition bill which indicates the semester for which the payment was made and the items covered by the payment (i.e. tuition, registration fees, books, etc.), to the Fund Office.  The Fund will then reimburse you directly for tuition only, up to the maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.

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The education benefit for your dependent children, uses the reimbursement system, as explained above. Vouchers are not issued under the dependent education benefit.​ 

 

The benefit is limited to $300 per calendar year for each eligible dependent child. 

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To receive education benefits, you must:  

• Complete the course for which benefits are claimed;

• Receive a passing grade; and

• Remain employed throughout the duration of the course. 

 

If you withdraw from a course, receive a failing grade, terminate employment, or do not submit the required information to the Fund Office upon completion of the course(s), you will be responsible for reimbursing the Fund for any tuition paid on your behalf.  Claims for reimbursement and grade reports must be submitted no later than June 30th immediately following the calendar year in which the semester ends.

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For more information about the educational benefit, please contact the Fund Office.