Providing the best range of benefits and services for our members and their families What happens if I fall seriously ill? Can I have my income maintained? How do I cope with a serious accident? Have I any support in times of legal difficulty? Most of us have to be concerned, not just about ourselves, but about how our families are to be provided for in the event of an illness or financial crisis. Everybody knows the benefit of being a CWU member for protection against injustice at work, maintaining pay and conditions, protecting employment and lobbying Government on behalf of our industry. However, you may not realise that the CWU provides many other social, legal and welfare services for its members. We have negotiated some excellent preferential insurance rates through Halligan Insurance and we continually look at how to improve our services for members.

Sickness benefit
Members on reduced basic pay following a continuous absence of 26 weeks from duty, resulting from illness of accident, may be paid an amount up to 75 per cent of his/her basic pay while a member of the Union.
Requests for sickness benefit from members who have not had such an absence may be considered on their merits by the Management Committee subject to the sanction of the National Executive Council. Any such payments will be inclusive of payments/grants from An Post and eircom's Medisan Fund and the State Pay Related Social Insurance.
To apply, obtain a form from Union Headquarters through the Branch/Section Secretary, complete same and return with payslip andmedical certificate.

Mortality benefit
A member may be paid €635 on the death of his/her spouse. The next-of- kin may be paid €5080 on the death of a member. An Associate Member may be paid €635 on the death of his/her spouse. The next-of-kin may be paid €635 on the death of an associate member.
To apply, obtain a form from Union Headquarters through the Branch/Section Secretary, complete same and return with copy of Death Certificate. In certain cases the Union may also require sight of the grant of probate or letters of administration, whichever is applicable.

Hardship
Applications for financial assistance from the fund in such cases are considered on their merits by the Management Committee and grants are made in certain limited circumstances subject to the sanction of the National Executive Council.
To apply submit details of the case through the Branch/Section Secretary to the General Treasurer at Union Head Office.

Personal Accident
Personal Accident Cover is provided FREE for all benefit members of the Union. The financing of this cover is provided for from the Central Funds of the Union and the members therefore do not have to pay any additional contribution. The scheme provides for the payment of certain sums in the case of death, loss of limbs, and certain hospital charges, detailed on the schedule of benefits page.
All current "In Benefit" members of the CWU are covered 24 hours a day, 365 days year, anywhere in the world. The only exclusions are injuries consequent upon war, whether declared or undeclared, intentional self inflicted injury including suicide or attempted suicide, aerial flight other than as a passenger, sickness or disease.
A claim form can be obtained from your local Branch Secretary or the union head office. Return the form with a certificate regarding hospitalisation. In the case of death, a Coroner's Report and grant of probate or letters of administration (whichever is applicable) will also be required.

Legal Aid
This scheme, which is funded from the Central Funds of the Union, provides assistance to benefit members of the Union in certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions in relation to:

• Offences under the Road Traffic Acts
• Compensation claims
• Inquests
• Wills
• Certain legal advice

Requests for assistance relating to matters covered by the scheme must be submitted with details of the case through the Branch/Section Secretary, to Union Head Office. The case will then be forwarded to the Union's Solicitors for advice.

Medical Fund Members of the fund contribute €1.90 per week to same. Members may make one claim for benefit under each of the following headings in any 12 month period from the last treatment date:

• Surgical and Medical Appliances
• Dental Grant
• Optical Grant

All claims must be processed through the member's Branch to Union Headquarters.

Other Funds
Optional funds are also operated by the Union for which additional contributions are payable by members.

Distress Fund is used mainly for the purpose of relieving distress amongst members on official dispute.

Handicapped Housing Fund enables the Union to give grants towards the purchase of homes/houses on an annual basis to enable people with a mental handicap to take their place in the community. The fund is administered by an Advisory Committee of three members appointed by the National Executive Council of the Union and three members appointed by the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland.

Orphans Pension In the event of the member's death, a sum of €12.70 per week (paid monthly), will be paid in respect of each child registered with the fund until that child reaches the age of 18 years. Members must register the names of each of their children with the Fund in order to have cover provided by the scheme. This scheme is a free benefit to all members and application forms may be obtained from your Branch Secretary or Union Headquarters.  Payments are commenced to eligible children when the member's death is brought to the attention of Union Headquarters.