Credit Counseling
Tired of getting calls from collection agencies? Talk to an experienced consumer credit counseling advisor about how to take control of your debt.
Union Plus Credit Counseling and Debt Management Plans are administered through Money Management International (MMI), a national nonprofit dedicated to changing lives and creating fresh starts for families and individuals struggling with financial challenges.
If you’re struggling to get control of your debt, it may be time to ask for help. Get a free consumer credit counseling session to help you get back on the road to financial recovery.
Complete a confidential request for consumer credit counseling online. There are no confusing gimmicks or overwhelming options. Just sound advice that'll help you stop collection agencies from controlling your financial life.
Certified, experienced consumer credit counseling advisors listen to you and your needs, then help you develop a plan of action for debt repayment that you can follow to help eliminate your debt.
Your free session covers:
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Complete financial review, including budget analysis and credit management counseling.
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Assistance in budgeting or advice on sources of additional income.
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Advice on how to work with creditors.
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An Action Plan that summarizes your financial situation, provides a budget and timeline for reaching your debt management and repayment goals, and restates action items.
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Referral to a social service organization in your area, if appropriate.
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Referral to Union Plus Legal Service or Union Plus Mortgage Assistance program, if appropriate.
Your questions, answered.
Consumer credit counseling is currently available in the United States, but not available in Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands and Canada.
To be eligible, you must be:
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Dues-paying labor union members of participating unions
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Retired labor union members
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Spouse, domestic partners, and children (age 18+) may be included. (Not eligible for monthly DMP fee rebate but will get the reduced set up fee.)
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Widows/widowers of union members
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Union Plus credit card holders
To request credit counseling by phone, call 877-833-1745. They are available 24/7.
Need help?
If you have questions, send an email to grants@unionplus.org.
The assistance we received certainly helped us deal with the realities of the situation.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard working Americans.
Get a free consumer credit counseling session to help you catch up on your credit card bills.
Medical Bill Negotiating Service
Are you having trouble paying doctor and hospital bills? The Union Plus Medical Bill Negotiating Service provides union members and their families with assistance negotiating medical bills.
The Union Plus Medical Bill Negotiating Service by Health Advocate provides union members with FREE assistance negotiating large out-of-pocket medical bills, bill reductions with physicians, hospitals and other medical providers. The Service negotiates with medical providers on the union member's behalf to lower costs and establish payment plans.
Requirements
- You must be a union member or union retiree.
- You must have at least one outstanding unreimbursed medical expense of $400 or more from a single medical provider. But there's no limit on the number of medical providers with which the service will negotiate.
Eligible Medical Expenses
- When you calculate your unreimbursed medical expenses, you may include expenses incurred from physicians, dentists, hospitals, surgery centers, diagnostic service providers — any medical provider. The Service attempts to negotiate any medical or dental bill regardless of insurance benefit status, including insured, underinsured, non-covered and out-of-network claims.
- Do not include expenses that were covered by your (or your spouse/dependent's) health insurance. Health Advocate may not be able to fee negotiate on money that was applied towards a deductible, coinsurance or co-pay. Deductibles, coinsurance, and co-pays are the member's contracted obligation with the insurance carrier.
- Unreimbursed expenses must be at least $400 for each medical provider.
How to Apply
- Complete the online application form.
- Print your confirmation email, sign and mail to:
ATTN: Union Plus Medical Bill Negotiating Service
c/o Union Plus
1100 1st Street NE, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20002 - Please allow 4-5 weeks for application processing.
- When your application is approved you will be notified by email and postal mail. You will be advised to contact the medical negotiation service provider directly. You should be prepared to provide them with documentation of your unreimbursed medical expenses of at least $400 per medical provider, copies of medical bills, or insurance Explanation of Benefits (EOB) forms.
Important Note: Do NOT mail copies of your medical bills with your application.
Questions
If you have additional questions, please send an email to grants@unionplus.org.
If you're struggling to pay your medical bills, get free assistance now. Click the button below to complete the medical bill negotiating service form.
I didn't realize this union benefit existed, but I'm so glad it does. It put me in a much better position to pay off my medical bills.
The assistance we received certainly helped us deal with the realities of the situation.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard-working Americans.
If you're struggling to pay doctor and hospital expenses, get help negotiating medical bills.
Hospital Grants
We’re here to help when union members are hospitalized.
Get money to help with your hospital expenses. You may eligible for a hospital grant if you have a Union Plus Credit Card or Teamster Privilege Credit Card, or you participate in the Mortgage, Supplemental Insurance or Retiree Healthcare Programs.
The assistance we received certainly helped us deal with the realities of the situation.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard-working Americans.
Need help?
Please visit our Union Plus Grants FAQ. Please send additional questions to grants@unionplus.org
You may be eligible to receive a grant to help pay your hospital bills.
Disability Benefits
We’re here with help for eligible union members who are out of work due to a disability or illness.
We offer our disability grant to eligible members who are Union Plus Credit Card or Teamster Privilege Credit Card cardholders or mortgage assistance to Union Plus Mortgage holders. We’re here to help take the pressure off during this difficult time.
If you are struggling with large out-of-pocket, unreimbursed expenses, you may be eligible to receive a hospital grant.
If you're having trouble paying doctor and hospital bills, get free help negotiating your medical bills.
Get free budgeting advice, plus get a fee waiver for our Credit Counseling Program.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard-working Americans.
The assistance we received certainly helped us deal with the realities of the situation.
Need help?
The Union Plus Member Advocacy Program, staffed by OPEIU Local 2 members, is here to help you resolve any problems. Contact us at 800-472-2005 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET, weekdays) or feel free to complete the feedback form and a member of our Union Member Advocacy Program team will contact you.
The Union Plus Credit Cards and Teamster Privilege Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
We’re here with help for eligible union members who are out of work due to a disability or illness.
Strike Benefits
We’re here to help when union members are on strike. Check out our strike benefits below.
Get cash with a strike grant. Unlike a loan, you'll never need to repay the money. If you have a Union Plus Credit Card or Teamster Privilege Credit Card or a Union Plus Personal Loan, you may eligible for a grant.
If you’re a Union Plus policy holder involved in a union-approved strike or lockout lasting 90 days or longer, you can defer your premium payments for two months.
To check eligibility and use this strike benefit, call 855-666-5797.
If you’re a Union Plus policyholder, your premiums are waived for up to three months during union-approved strikes lasting more than 30 consecutive days. This waived premium never has to be repaid.
To check eligibility and use this strike benefit, call 800-393-0864.
If you’re a Union Plus policyholder, your premiums are waived for up to one full year during a union-approved strike or lockout lasting 30 days or more, providing the coverage remains in force. This waived premium never has to be repaid.
To check eligibility and use this strike benefit, call 800-393-0864.
I’ve had [a Union Plus Credit Card] for over 10 years now. It can provide a one-time strike grant for eligible cardholders who are on [union-sanctioned] strike.
It was nice knowing that the union understands that workers need special help during a strike.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard-working Americans.
Need help?
Please visit our Union Plus Grants FAQ. Please send additional questions to grants@unionplus.org.
*Not all unions are eligible for Strike Grants.
If you’re on strike, you may be eligible for a grant that you'll never need to repay.
Save My Home Hotline
Are you having trouble paying your mortgage? Get a free, confidential talk with a housing counselor.
The Union Plus Save My Home Hotline is provided through the non-profit Money Management International (MMI).
Are you a homeowner facing financial trouble that may make you fall behind on your mortgage payments or worried that the next change in your adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) will put payments out of reach? The Union Plus Save My Home Hotline may be able to help.
Arrange for a confidential, free consultation with expert housing counselors who can provide advice, help you find answers and develop an action plan to get your financial house in order.
Call 866-490-5361 any time day or night, or visit one of the 100+ local offices in 22 states and the District of Columbia for face-to-face counseling.
Fully-trained, HUD-certified counselors will discuss your individual situation and offer advice and guidance that is personalized for your situation.
Save My Home Hotline Counselors can:
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Provide a free budget and spending analysis to assess your current financial situation.
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Explain how best to work with your lender and understand all of the options available to help you retain your home and prevent foreclosure.
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Protect you from future credit problems before you get too far behind on mortgage payments.
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Provide a written plan of action you can follow.
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Offer referrals to other resources, including credit and bankruptcy counseling, if appropriate.
Your questions, answered
The following are eligible:
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Dues-paying labor union members of participating unions
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Retired union members
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Spouse, domestic partners, and children (age 18+) may be included
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Widows/widowers of union members
Yes. The hotline's HUD-certified counselors can help you establish a budget, set priorities and explain all the available strategies to stop foreclosure and help you keep your home. Landlords and lenders often are willing to be flexible about repayment of late or missing payments.
If you simply cannot make your payments, your counselor can provide advice for working with the lender. Your lender may be able to restructure your loan to a fixed rate, for example, or allow you to make smaller payments for a limited period of time (those payments will be added to the loan balance, though.) If necessary, your counselor will make referrals to other resources or alternatives such as a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (where you essentially turn the home back over to the lender). You'll leave the session with a plan outlining actions you need to take.
No. Unlike with credit counseling, the Save My Home Hotline counselors are unable to work directly with your lender. However, they will create an action plan to help you address your housing concerns. After the session, you should be better prepared to work with your lender. And, you may call the Hotline to speak with a counselor as many times as you need to make sure all of your questions and concerns are answered.
Your counseling session will consist of a review of your circumstances, including income, expenses, debts and mortgage terms. You should have the account numbers, billing addresses, current payments and balances for all creditors you owe, as well as any information from your mortgage lender, including payment amount and time delinquent (if applicable).
If you have a Union Plus Mortgage, you may also be eligible for the Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program.
Need help?
If you have questions, send an email to: grants@unionplus.org
The assistance we received certainly helped us deal with the realities of the situation.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard working Americans.
If you’re facing mortgage payment problems, talk to a HUD-certified housing counselor. It’s free and confidential.
Bankruptcy Counseling Fee Waiver
Before you file for bankruptcy, get pre-filing counseling for free. The $50 counseling fee is waived for union members.
The Union Plus Bankruptcy Counseling Fee Waiver is available through the non-profit, Money Management International (MMI).
Declaring bankruptcy is a big decision. But it may be your best option if you can’t pay your bills and your debt is mounting. The federal government requires pre-filing counseling to start the process and helps you understand how bankruptcy works.
Union members or union retirees can get a bankruptcy counseling fee waiver when you meet with a certified counselor from the Union Plus Credit Counseling Program through Money Management International (MMI).
Your questions, answered.
The free bankruptcy counseling filing fee waiver is currently available in the United States, but not available in Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Canada.
To be eligible, you must be:
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Dues-paying labor union members of participating unions
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Retired labor union members
Call the bankruptcy line for Union Plus Credit Counseling at 866-279-7197 (available 24/7) to set up an appointment.
Need help?
If you have questions, send an email to grants@unionplus.org
The assistance we received certainly helped us deal with the realities of the situation.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard-working Americans.
Get the $50 bankruptcy pre-filing counseling fee waived.
Disaster Relief Grants
If you’ve been impacted by a natural disaster, you may be eligible to receive a $500 disaster relief grant that doesn’t have to be repaid.
Call 800-622-2580 to speak directly with a specially trained representative. Representatives in the United States handle all customer service calls to the Union Plus Credit Card Program.*
Union Plus Mortgage, Union Plus Life, Accident, Union Plus Auto Insurance, Union Plus Personal Loan and Union Plus Retiree Healthcare holders should call 800-472-2005 to speak to a Union Plus staff member.
Your questions, answered.
To be considered for a Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant, the union member must:
- Have Union Plus Credit Card or Teamster Privilege Credit Card for at least three (3) months, Union Plus Mortgage, Union Plus Life or Accidental Death Insurance, Union Plus Retiree Healthcare or Union Plus Auto Insurance policy for at least 12 months, or Union Plus Personal Loan for at least six (6) months with the account or policy in good standing (be up-to-date on payments).
- Have your primary residence located in a county or parish affected by a natural disaster listed in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Declaration offering "Individual Assistance."
- Contact Union Plus to initiate a claim for a grant within twelve (12) months of the incident date.
- Have not received a disaster relief grant in the past, as these grants are once-per-lifetime.
Not all FEMA disaster declarations include "Individual Disaster Assistance." To check if your county or parish has been designated as an area eligible for individual assistance, visit FEMA’s disaster declarations page.
Grants may be considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, a Form 1099-MISC tax reporting form will be issued to each recipient of grants valued at $600 or more.
Disaster victims who participate in the Union Plus Mortgage programs may be eligible to receive payment extensions or other special help from the program providers.
Need help?
If you have questions about disaster relief grants, please contact one of the following:
Union Plus Credit Card or Teamster Privilege Credit Card cardholders
Call 800-622-2580
Union Plus Mortgage
Union Plus Life, Accident and Auto Insurance
Union Plus Retiree Healthcare
Union Plus Personal Loan holders
Call 800-472-2005
The assistance we received certainly helped us deal with the realities of the situation.
I made a phone call, and wow—one phone call to Union Plus—they really helped me out. It was incredible. It was almost like a dream.
What I’m so impressed by is the fact that Union Plus is providing benefits for and actually caring about hard working Americans.
These hardship assistance grants are provided and administered through the AFL-CIO Mutual Benefit Plan (“The Plan”). Certain administrative responsibilities for the Plan have been delegated to Union Privilege. Union Privilege is the non-profit organization established to create and oversee member benefit programs for working families. Grants may not be offered in every state.
The Union Plus Credit Cards and Teamster Privilege Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
If you’ve been impacted by a natural disaster, you may be eligible to receive a $500 disaster relief grant that doesn't have to be repaid.