Applying for Unemployment Benefits  

Visit www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/unemployment-benefits.aspx to look up eligibility requirements in your state. While unemployment benefits will be significantly less than what your salary was, they still will help you us by until we are recalled or you secure a temporary job.

 Online Resources for Help During Furlough

Visit this comprehensive website with links for finding state unemployment offices, assistance with job searches, information about job training programs, and more:

www.careeronestop.org

Information about unemployment insurance and sources of other governmental assistance programs can be found here:

www.usa.gov/unemployment

www.usa.gov/benefits

www.benefits.gov

United Way, a national partner of the AFL-CIO, supports 2-1-1, a national help line that helps individuals identify assistance and support they may be eligible to receive in their community. Call 2-1-1 from any phone or visit www.211.org.

AFL-CIO/United Way Labor Liaisons and community services agencies are knowledgeable about the resources available to families facing financial hardship. Visit this link to determine whether these individuals exist in your community: http://go.aflcio.org/help

UnionPlus, a partner of the AFL-CIO, is a consumer benefits program for union members and offers specific programs to assist members in times of financial hardship. The Union Plus Hardship Benefits program is available free of charge to all AFA Members. Click on the link below to access these benefits

https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/union-plus-hardship-help-benefits

Websites for career exploration:

o www.myskillsmyfuture.org

o www.mynextmove.org

Taking Control of Your Finances During a Loss of Flying

It is prudent for all Flight Attendants to assess their personal financial positions in anticipation of income reductions.  While every Flight Attendant’s situation will vary, below are some general considerations that can help you begin strategizing how best to weather the financial impact of flying cutbacks on your household.

Assess your Financial Status

Prepare a household budget and cut any non-essential items.

Prepare a list of all creditors and a contact person.  Make minimum payments.

Place your money in a bank in which you have no debt.

Attempt to secure a loan early, so you will have a cash flow.

Assess your tax situation.  You may be owed a refund or need to file an extension.

Be proactive.  Assess your credit card debt.  Look into a temporary reduction or abatement in payments.

Contact Your Creditors

You must communicate with your creditors before any payments become delinquent, and the sooner the better.  You can negotiate a lower repayment schedule before you run out of money.  Be professional, but assertive.  Creditors are easier to work with if they know ahead of time that there’s a problem.  Also, it shows ‘good faith’ that you are concerned about your debts and intend to pay.

The goal is to make the amount of money you’ve saved last as long as possible.  Pay what you can on a regular basis, even if it is less than expected.  Partial payments may keep collection agents away.  Follow-up all telephone conversations with a letter and keep documentation.  Even in the worst-case scenario, it takes a long time for collections, repossessions and evictions to occur.  Contact credit counselors who can help you sort out your financial affairs.  Be sure to remember to contact the creditors that are automatically payroll deducted.

Even if you can’t pay creditors the amount they want, make your best effort to pay something regularly.  This holds arrears as low as possible and lets the creditor know that you are doing all you can.  Partial payment may keep your account from being turned over to a collection agency.

Put your payments in order of importance: this will help you pay first things first when money is short.  Generally, your most important payment will be the mortgage or rent payment, followed by utilities, health insurance and car payments.

And after the initial contact, it’s important that you keep in contact with creditors – every two weeks or so.  This reassures the creditor, shows a responsible attitude toward your obligation and may keep the creditor from ‘hounding’ you.

Prepare a household budget.

A budget helps you see where you spend your money and where you can save.  Your budgeted expenses should include:

Fixed expenses, including: mortgage, rent, taxes, insurance, loans, installment payments, credit card payments and any other monthly payments.

Monthly expenses, including: food, gas, repairs, dues, recreation, prescriptions.

Future expenses, including: income/property tax and any other outstanding debts.

Your budgeted income should include:

Any remaining income

State disability insurance benefits

Workers’ compensation checks

Savings

Social Security

Unemployment compensation

Other pension funds

Your assets may include:

Cash value of insurance policies

Equity in your home

Prepaid burial or funeral policy

Resale value of vehicles (including boats and snowmobiles)

Have you thought about going back to school to further your education?

Your union membership with the AFA provides FREE online Associate’s degrees and discounted Bachelor’s degrees for you and your family. ALSO, you and your family are eligible to apply for multiple scholarships through the AFA and CWA. The time for applying is now! Please see the links below for more information:

Union Plus Free College Program – AFA members and their families can earn an Associate’s degree completely online – for FREE – under an academic partnership with Eastern Gateway Community College. Details and an application are online https://www.unionplusfreecollege.org

Union Plus Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program – As a complement to the Union Plus Free College program, AFA members and their families can complete a Bachelor’s Degree online with little to no cost thanks to a partnership with Central State University (CSU). https://www.unionlowcostdegrees.org

AFA Scholarship – This is a scholarship funded by AFA up to $5,000 towards the cost of education for AFA members and their families.  The deadline for applications is April 10, 2020.  Details to send to members are on the AFA website https://www.afacwa.org/scholarships

CWA Scholarship – This is the Joe Beirne Scholarship offered by CWA up to $4,000 towards the cost of education for AFA members and their families. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2020.   Details on this scholarship are on the CWA website https://cwa-union.org/pages/beirne

All necessary information including eligibility requirements and applications for each scholarship is available online.

Do you just need to talk to someone? HELP IS AVAILABLE!

From time to time, everyone experiences personal or work-related problems. In times of furlough and job uncertainty, these problems can overwhelm our normal coping strategies. Support from a trained peer or a referral to a mental health professional may prove helpful.

The AFA EAP helps members, their families and partners deal with concerns on and off the job that affect them. The AFA EAP is strongly committed to the health, safety and well-being of all of its members and is provided to all AFA members FREE OF CHARGE.

The AFA EAP differs from the Company EAP in that it is administered by flight attendants for flight attendants and will always be available to you. In times of furlough or insurance changes, the Company EAP may not be available.

If any Crew Member needs support during this time, the AFA EAP is available at 305-209-1928 and 800-424-2406.

For additional EAP resources regarding furloughs and unemployment, click the link below.

https://www.afacwa.org/resources_for_members#Furlough/Unemployment_Resources

Food Banks, Housing and Utility Assistance, Clothing Closets, Veteran Services etc.