Union Benefits Trust offers you a legal service plan through Hyatt Legal Plans. Within 90 days of hire or during a Trust-sponsored open enrollment, you may purchase legal coverage at single or family levels for a low fee each month. The premium will be deducted from your pay (the first pay of each month), making it more convenient for you. We added this plan through the direction of the Board and the research of our benefits analysts, and we’re glad to offer this voluntary benefit to our members and their dependents.

Take some time now to review the plan, to see if it is right for you.

You may purchase the amount of legal service coverage you need for yourself and coverage for dependents. The Trust administers the legal service plan for Union-represented State employees through Hyatt Legal Plans (Hyatt), a MetLife company.

As an eligible member, you may enroll in legal service plan coverage that enables you to receive legal coverage on many concerns at affordable rates.

Enrollment

Members may enroll within 90 days of hire or during a Trust-sponsored open enrollment. Coverage will begin the first of the month following the first premium deduction from your pay. To enroll by paper, complete the form and mail it to Hyatt.

Or, you can enroll over the phone at 800-821-6400 with an actual person who will answer the phone and answer your questions. You can learn more about Hyatt online or enroll securely. Before you link, decide what coverage level you’d like to review, as you have to select single or family before linking to Hyatt.

Family coverage

or
Single coverage

When you enroll, coverage will begin the first of the month after your first legal plan payroll deduction. Make sure you wait until you are covered before contacting Hyatt with any concerns. For more information, read the legal service plan booklet.

About Hyatt

Hyatt Legal Plans, Inc., is the administrator of the legal service plan. Their national network of attorneys spans all 50 states and US territories, and includes over 9,000 attorneys with an average of 20 years of experience. Hyatt’s plan attorneys must meet stringent criteria before joining Hyatt’s network and are regularly re-credentialed.

Hyatt has a Unionized (members of CWA, Local 4309) and Ohio-based customer service staff, and has also been providing 700 companies’ and organizations’ 1.5 million participants with benefits for over 27 years.

Give them a call at 800-821-6400 to learn more!

Plan Highlights

Legal issues arise when you have a baby, get married, sell your home, or lose a spouse or parent. Did you ever wish you could simply pick up the phone and call a lawyer for some quick advice? If you are eligible, you can buy coverage for yourself, as well as your eligible dependents.

Union Benefits Trust offers a voluntary legal plan for eligible members and their dependents. Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife company, is the largest provider of group legal plans in the United States and has been in the business since 1981. You may wish to have a lawyer available for many concerns, and the Trust’s legal service plan will cover you IN FULL for many issues.

Full Coverage

For matters listed in the section below, you pay no copays or deductibles. If a matter is fully covered, there are no time limits or usage restrictions. The Plan Attorney will provide the initial consultation and all work, including representation, necessary to complete the matter. You may use the plan for the same service or a different service, as many times as you desire. Coverage is available in all 50 states and US territories.

If you intend to use an attorney not in the Hyatt network, make sure you review the fee reimbursement chart.

Wills and Estate Planning

• Living Trusts


• Living Wills


• Powers of Attorney


• Wills and Codicils

Real Estate Matters

• Eviction and Tenant Problems (Primary Residence – Tenant Only)


• Refinancing of Home (Primary Residence)


• Home Equity Loans (Primary Residence)


• Sale or Purchase of Home (Primary Residence)

Traffic and Criminal Matters

• Juvenile Court Defense


• Traffic Ticket Defense (No DUI)


• Restoration of Driving Privileges

Consumer Protection

• Consumer Protection Matters


• Small Claims Assistance

Debt Matters

• Debt Collection Defense


• Identify Theft Defense


• Personal Bankruptcy or Wage Earner Plan


• Tax Audits

Defense of Civil Lawsuits

• Administrative Hearing Representation


• Civil Litigation Defense


• Incompetency Defense

Document Preparation

• Affidavits


• Deeds


• Demand Letters


• Document Review


• Immigration Assistance


• Mortgages


• Notes

Family Law

• Name Change


• Premarital Agreement


• Uncontested Adoption


• Uncontested Guardianship or Conservatorship

Office Consultation or Phone Advice

For matters listed in the section below, you pay no copays or deductibles for office advice or phone consultations. There are no restrictions on the number of times you may obtain advice/consultations, but this benefit is not intended to help you prepare to represent yourself. You can obtain consultations on matters not specifically excluded, such as:

• Contested Adoption, Guardianship or Conservatorship


• Divorce/Dissolution/Annulment, member only


• Protection from Domestic Violence, member only


• Separation Agreement, member only


• Property Damage (Plaintiff)


• Zoning Application


• Boundary or Title Disputes (Primary Residence)


• Property Tax Assessments


• Driving under the influence


• Expungement of criminal record


• Felony or


• Habeas Corpus proceedings.

Rates

You can have an attorney available when you need one for only $13.40 per month for single coverage or $16.45 per month for family coverage. Family coverage includes you, your spouse and eligible dependents. The cost will be deducted once a month from your paycheck, making it easy and convenient for you to protect yourself and your family.

When Coverage Begins

Your coverage will begin on the first of the month after your first contribution from your pay.

When Coverage Ends

Participants must remain in the plan for one plan year (through June 30). You may request a change or drop your coverage during open enrollment for the following July 1; however, if you make no changes, your coverage will continue without interruption.

New members may enroll within 90 days of hire and also are required to remain in the plan for the remainder of the plan year (through June 30).

In all cases, coverage will end if your eligibility ends, the Trust ends the plan or deductions are not taken from your pay. In many circumstances, if you go on leaves you will be dropped from the legal plan; no continuation is available, and you cannot be reinstated until the next open enrollment.

Portability is an available option when you leave State service. Enrolled members will be able to take their existing coverage with them when they leave for any reason. To port your coverage, you must notify Hyatt within 31 days of leaving State service, and make sure that you send them the required payment and paperwork within the time frame they set. As this “portability” feature is currently structured, the cost may be prohibitive depending on your situation at the time of your departure. However, if you have an ongoing legal concern, we encourage you to at least explore the portability option, as there is no other continuation feature for this plan. Interested, covered members should call Hyatt at 800-821-6400 to learn more.

Exclusions

The plan offers coverage on many matters you may face but has a few important exclusions of which you should be aware. Matters that won’t be covered include:

• Payment made to a third party such as court costs, witness fees, filing fees or fines;


• Appeals or class actions;


• Business, farm, patent or copyright matters;


• Matters for which you are or have been receiving legal services before you received a Case Number, or for any matter for which an attorney-client relationship exists prior to the participant becoming eligible for plan benefits;


• Matters or disputes involving the Hyatt Legal Plans, MetLife and its affiliated companies or a Plan Attorney;


• Matters or disputes concerning the Union Benefits Trust or a Union served by the Trust; or


• Matters concerning employment including State and statutory benefits.

Before obtaining service, you must contact Hyatt and obtain a Case Number, even if you’re not going to use a network Plan Attorney.

You can obtain a Case Number on Hyatt's website or by phone through Hyatt’s client service center at 800-821-6400. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday - Thursday and 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday, Eastern Time. The Hyatt representative will verify your eligibility, give you a Case Number, provide you with the name and phone number of a nearby Plan Attorney and answer any questions. After receiving a Case Number, you may call the Plan Attorney for an appointment.

If you live in an area where there are no Plan Attorneys or prefer to use an out-of network attorney, call Hyatt before obtaining counsel. Once you have your Case Number, you may see the attorney of your choice, and will receive reimbursement according to Hyatt’s set fee schedule. To receive reimbursement, send a completed form and the attorney’s bill to

Hyatt Legal Plans
Eaton Center
1111 Superior Avenue, Suite 800
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2507

Visit Hyatt’s website

Hyatt Legal Plans’ website also has full-service capabilities. Link to the correct level, either single coverage or family coverage from the Trust's site so you don’t need a group number or PIN.

Once you’ve enrolled, linking to Hyatt’s website will prompt you to enter your (the member’s) Social Security Number, which will, in turn, bring up specific information about your legal service plan benefit. On this page you can choose the following options:

• How Do I Use the Plan?


• Covered Services


• Attorney Locator


• Obtain Case Number


• Law Guide and


• Self-Help Document Preparation

Please call Hyatt if you have questions at 800-821-6400.