L-154 member Ralph Polite got an interest-free loan through Union Plus while waiting for approval of his disability claim.
Funds help Ralph Polite survive long wait for disability claim approval
RALPH POLITE, of Lisbon, Ohio, wasn’t ready to stop working yet. The second-generation member of Pittsburgh Local 154 was planning to work for three more years to reach his well-deserved retirement. But when severe degenerative osteoarthritis in his left knee made work impossible, Polite was forced to file for disability. And when the approval of his disability claim took almost a year, and finances were getting tight, he took action to protect his home and his family with the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program.
“The bills just kept on coming,” is how Polite describes the 10-month wait to get his disability claim approved. “The system worked okay, but it took a while, and that was making things hard for my family.”
But Polite, who has been a Boilermaker since 1978, is a man who knows his union benefits. He had read about the Mortgage Assistance Program in the Boilermaker Reporter, and that’s why he chose the Union Plus Mortgage Program through Chase, to refinance his home.
“Chase was very competitive,” Polite says, “and I really liked the added benefits and protection I get as a union member. There’s always a chance of injury, so it just made sense to have mortgage assistance if I needed it.”
The Mortgage Assistance Program is a unique feature for Union Plus Mortgage holders that can cover your mortgage payments in the event of a layoff, disability, strike, or lockout. The program offers interest-free loans and grants to union members, as well as their parents and children, who have had a Union Plus Mortgage for more than a year. Since its inception, more than $4.8 million in assistance has been provided, often making the difference to help families keep their homes during a difficult time.
While Polite waited for disability, the six months of assistance from Union Plus helped him meet his other financial obligations and hold onto his home. Then, once his disability claim was approved, he set about immediately to repay the interest-free loan, to make sure funds would be available to other union members who need them.
Today Polite is recovering from the second of two knee surgeries. He’s still dealing with a loss of motion, but at least the pain is gone. He’s very grateful for the loyal support of his union brothers and sisters in Local 154 who stood by him and took up collections to help him make ends meet. And he’s thankful for the mortgage assistance that was there for him when he needed it.
“I want to thank [Union Plus] for the help we got during some tough times,” says Polite. “I hope you’ll let other union members know that this program was there for me, and it can be there for them as well.”
The Union Plus Mortgage Program offers a full range of mortgage products for union members and their parents and children. Union Plus Mortgages are guaranteed to be held through Chase for the life of the mortgage. To learn more, call 1-800-848-6466 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or visit UnionPlus.org/Mortgage to find a local office near you.
If you have had a Union Plus mortgage, credit card, or insurance policy for at least a year and are facing financial difficulty, help may be available through the Union SAFE program. Visit UnionPlus.org/UnionSAFE for more information on layoff, disability, education, and hospital care grants available to Union Plus program participants. If you’re worried you might lose your home, whether you have a union mortgage or not, call the Union Plus Save My Home Hotline at 1-866-490-5361 any time day or night.
Union Privilege was founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986 to develop and manage the Union Plus benefits program using the combined buying power of America’s union members to obtain top-quality goods and services at competitive prices. In addition to a money-saving credit card, the Union Plus programs include free and discounted legal services, education services, discounted health services, a home-buying program, travel and recreation discounts, and much more. To learn more, visit www.UnionPlus.org.
