Assistance is available for residents of parishes that have been declared disaster areas in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. Members of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers may be eligible for UnionPlus Disaster Relief Grants. Affected parishes include Ascension, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany.
In addition, the State Department of Children and Family Services has announced locations where residents of nine parishes can finalize their applications for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (DSNAP) benefits, formerly known as Disaster Food Stamps.
Union members living in areas impacted by Hurricane Isaac, and who participate in AFT + programs, provided by Union Plus, may be eligible for financial assistance.
Union Plus Disaster Relief Grants of $500 are available to help participants in the AFT + Credit Card or Mortgage programs that are facing financial hardship due to Hurricane Isaac.
To qualify for a Disaster Relief Grant, the union member must:
1. Have been a victim of a FEMA-declared natural disaster or emergency in parishes designated as qualifying for FEMA individual assistance.
2. Have experienced a significant loss of income or property within the last six months due to the disaster.
3. Have had an AFT + Credit Card or an AFT + Plus Mortgage for at least 12 months with the account in good standing (up-to-date on payments).
4. Provide acceptable proof of property or income loss.
To apply for a disaster relief grant, union members who participate in any of the following programs can call:
AFT + Credit Card: 1-877-761-5028
AFT + Plus Mortgage: 1-800-848-6466
For more information about disaster benefits please call LFT Benefits Coordinator Cynthia Posey at (225) 923-1037 or 800-634-5089, or contact via e-mail at cposey@lft-aft.org, or visit the UnionPlus Web site at http://UnionPlus.org/Disaster.
Please click here to download a flier with AFT UnionPlus disaster relief information.
Information on Department of Children and Family Services assistance is available at http://www.dss.louisiana.gov/
The American Red Cross assistance Web site is http://www.redcross.org/find-help