For workers who lose a job through no fault of their own, unemployment insurance (UI) provides partial income support to replace their lost wages. The Employment Development Department (EDD) administers this program. Once you submit a claim for unemployment insurance, EDD will determine the amount of your check and the length of time you’ll be eligible for benefits. You should apply for UI benefits as soon as you loose your job. For complete information of Unemployment Insurance please click on the following link. http://www.wed-works.org/UIinfo.html

Health Insurance

There are resources available to help workers who are laid off keep their health coverage. If your benefits are going to run out, the Trust Fund will send you information regarding COBRA. However, don’t wait until you get this notice. Call the Trust Fund and ask how long your benefits will be active for. You can contact the Trust Fund office in Pasadena at 800-527-4613; remember to ask for the Member Records Department. The following link has more complete on Health Insurance.  http://www.wed-works.org/layoffHealthCare.html

Avoiding Foreclosure and Keeping your home

Due to increases in an adjustable rate mortgage or job loss, more and more families are falling behind on their payments. Many of our members are requesting an Annuity Termination, please note that you must qualify to terminate or “cash out” your annuity. Here are the following reasons:

q       Service Pension

q       Retirement at or after the age of 62

q       Total disability

q       Termination of Employment; this means no contributions made to your account for six (6) consecutive months.

To get information on your annuity please contact the Trust Fund office at 800-527-4613.

The best thing to do is to call a housing counselor to see weather you can get help with a loan modification. For complete information on avoiding foreclosure, click on the following link. http://www.wed-works.org/layoffFinances.html

Additional Resources and Links:

Please download the “Layoff Check list for workers”
 http://www.wed-works.org/forworkers.html

Workforce and Economic Development, a program of the California Labor Federation

http://www.wed-works.org/about.html