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When a member works under a C Branch contract, the employer is required to pay the negotiated monthly welfare rate. There is a 3 month lag between when a member works and when they are eligible. See Chart below.
| C Branch Eligibility Chart | ||
|---|---|---|
| If you work this month | Your employer contribution is due this month | You are eligible for benefits in this month |
| January | February | April |
| February | March | May |
| March | April | June |
| April | May | July |
| May | June | August |
| June | July | September |
| July | August | October |
| August | September | November |
| September | October | December |
| October | November | January |
| November | December | February |
| December | January | March |
If the Funds Office only receives a partial Welfare payment and not the required amount, the member will be offered COBRA. The amount owed by the member will depend on the COBRA option chosen less any money received. If no employer contributions are received, you may be eligible to continue coverage under COBRA.
As an example:
A member works 1 week in January and the Employer remits $250 which is according to their contract. The member would receive a partial credit for April eligibility.
| Welfare Rate – $1,700 per month | Employer Contribution – $300 |
| Family COBRA rate – $1,600 | Member Portion – $1,300 |
To continue the example to the following month: the member did not work in February, so no employer contributions were received for May and the member would owe $1,600.
Quarterly statements containing eligibility and contribution information are provided before each Benefit/Eligibility Quarter. If you are eligible for the Voluntary Contribution option, you will receive a Notice for Cobra Coverage in the mail. You must make your payment by the indicated due date. Coverage will take effect in the corresponding Benefit/Eligibility Quarter. If you do not choose to purchase Cobra, it will not be offered again.
You must be a United States resident in order to Buy- Up. Your contribution must be paid by the due date prior to the month in which your eligibility would start. There are 3 ways in which you may make your contribution:
1) You may pay by check or money order, payable to the Welfare Fund.
2) You may pay in cash at the Funds Office where a receipt can be provided.
3) You may now pay with a Credit Card, at the Funds Office or by phone.
Please note, if your check is returned by the bank due to insufficient funds, you will be charged a service fee– and you may lose your eligibility for the Buy- Up option if there is not enough time to resubmit your check before your payment due date.