AFSCME Member Finds Valuable Assistance Through Union Plus Disability Grant
Last year, after nearly 25 years of working hard at her job at the University of Michigan, Deborah Van Horn was forced out of work by health issues and soon found herself in need of financial assistance.
“I was put on disability, but after a while you only get about 50 percent of your normal wages,” she recounts. “It was important to me to cover general expenses and keep my credit in good standing.”
Van Horn, a member of AFSCME Council 25, has been a Union Plus Credit Cardholder1 for more than five years. She was browsing the Union Plus website when she noticed a testimonial for the Disability Grant2.
“After about two weeks I finally decided to apply, thinking, ‘We’re going to see if this works,’” she says.
Van Horn ended up qualifying for a $1,600 grant.
“I was really surprised when I got a call saying I was approved,” she recalls. “I was happy and very grateful.”
The Union Plus Disability Grant is available to Union Plus Credit Cardholders who have been unemployed for at least 90 days and lost at least 25 percent of their monthly income due to illness or disability during the past 12 months. Applicants must have been Union Plus Credit Cardholders for at least three months and be in good standing.
“I stress a lot about finances, and this helped me so much,” Van Horn notes. “Being on disability and unable to work, you worry about a lot of things. I feel like Union Plus didn’t forget me.”
She continues, “I like being a Union Plus Credit Cardholder. It’s nice to know there is a company like Union Plus that looks out for AFSCME members.”
The Union Plus Credit Card program offers several card choices that all offer hardship help benefits. Find the union credit card that is right for you at afscmecard.com.
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1 Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
2 Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at https://www.unionplus.org/page/disability-grant.