Spotlight on Your Funds

February 2023

1199SEIU Members Sign Up for New WeightWatchers® Benefit

Last month, the Home Care Benefit Fund launched a partnership with WeightWatchers as part of its “Healthy Living” initiative. The program provides a holistic approach to wellness and healthy eating, and members who enroll by February 28, will receive a free Bluetooth body weight scale that automatically syncs to the WeightWatchers app on their mobile phone or tablet. The WeightWatchers program includes virtual and in-person workshops with a health coach, 24/7 access to chat with a coach, meal and activity tracking, healthy recipes, on-demand fitness and mindfulness videos, tips to improve sleep, community groups and more. Members living with prediabetes or diabetes can join for $0 per month and are supported through tailor-made meal planning, health coaching and community groups specific to their condition. All other members can join for $8 per month but can get reimbursed at the end of their first year if they stay engaged and participate. For information on the program and to sign up, members can view the WeightWatchers flyer or visit www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.

Home Care Benefit Fund Free Tax Prep Assistance Program Helps Members File for the EITC

The Home Care Benefit Fund’s (HCBF) Tax Preparation Assistance Program has long helped 1199SEIU members file for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by providing free tax preparation services. This year, the HCBF is again partnering with the Food Bank For New York City and nonprofit educational program Ariva so that members can receive the full refund to which they are entitled. The program is available through April 15 at locations in all five New York City boroughs, as well as in Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey. Weekday, evening and weekend hours are available and, in most cases, so is walk-in service. For more information, please visit the Fund’s website or use the QR code below.

Home Care Industry Education Fund Offers Basil Paterson Scholarship Program

The 1199SEIU Home Care Industry Education Fund promotes lifelong learning for its members, including through the Basil Paterson Scholarship Program, which provides tuition assistance and financial support to home care workers enrolled in college and allied health certification programs. The scholarship recognizes the difficulties home care workers often encounter as they pursue their academic and career goals. As a result, the awards include tuition credits, college fees, transportation and child-care expenses, a cash stipend for living expenses, and, when applicable, the cost of review courses for licensing exams. Awards may be used to pay for up to nine credits per semester. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree course of study at a City University of New York or State University of New York college or enrolled in a New York State-approved certification program in an allied healthcare field. For more information, contact Frances Sadler at Frances.Sadler@1199Funds.org.

Special Healthy Living Edition

A special Healthy Living edition of For Your Benefit, your member magazine, is now available to view online. 

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1199SEIU Funds News is a monthly email produced by the 1199SEIU Funds. Copyright 2023.

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