The New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society

Welcome

Thank you for the chance to talk to you about the New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society

My name is _________ and I am __________ the ____________ of the Welfare Society.

I’m here today to talk to you about the benefits of being a member of the Welfare Society

About us

We are an organisation run by Firefighters for Firefighters and their

families

We have been in operation since 1987

The Welfare Society will support you and your family in your times of need

Our Structure

AGM – MembersBoard

ChairmanRegional Reps/Board members

Secretary – TreasurerWelfare Society Station Reps

Senior Officer ControllerOffice Controller

Marketing Coordinator

Membership

• Membership is open to:– paid and volunteer firefighters– employees of the NZ Fire Service– Rural Firefighters– Airport Crash Fire Service

Employees– employees of the Welfare Society– members of an Ambulance Service

within NZ paid or Voluntary

Membership continued

– persons who have retired from or left the Fire Service

– members and employees of the NZ Firefighters Credit Union

– employees of the U.F.B.A– Appointed office holders of the

Society– employees of the Firefighters Union

Membership continued

– employees of EMQUAL– any other person as approved by the

Welfare Board– a members child upon reaching the

age of 19 can join in their own right– junior volunteers from 16-19 years

old

Once you become a member you can remain a member as long as you continue to pay your contribution

Benefits of being a member

• Holiday/convalescent homes– we have six homes throughout New Zealand– we have a reciprocal agreement with the NZ

Army and NZ Police Welfare to use their holiday homes

– homes available for $75.00 per night– homes sleep between six to eight people

• Discretionary loans and grants– In times of need the Welfare can help with

loans or grants up to $500 (loans only given to members

19 years and older)

Benefits of being a member

• Ambulance Assistance Benefit– If you are taken ill and transferred to

hospital we can assist with that cost up to $500 pa

• Gift Baskets– If you are taken ill or have an operation we

will send you a gift basket

• Station Rep visits– A Welfare Society Station rep can visit you

at home or in hospital if you are taken ill, have an accident or scheduled operation to ensure you have the support you require

Benefits of being a member

• Hospital TV rental– where available members can have their TV

rental paid for by the Welfare

• Travel Assistance– costs for out of town medical visits can be

claimed at 30c per km – maximum $100 per claim and $250pa

• Hospital Parking– reimbursement of parking fees when you

attend any hospital appointments - $150 pa

Benefits of being a member

• Home help– If you a temporarily incapacitated

members can claim $20 per day for home help – maximum $250 pa

• Hearing Aids– a contribution of $250pa towards

hearing aids• Corrective Lens– $150 - $300 contributed towards your

first pair of corrective lens

Benefits of being a member

• Child Birth– a payment of $50 per new born child will be

made to members

• Adoption of a child– a payment of $250 per claim with a

maximum of $500 pa to assistance with the adoption of a child

• Counselling– assistance of $150pa towards counselling

costs

Benefits of being a member

• Disaster Fund– assistance to members who get caught

in times of a disaster

• Funeral Fund– access to funds up to the age of 65

years– $3000 per adult and $1000 per child

Additional benefits

This is not an insurance it is a mutual fund set up for firefighters by firefighters

Healthcare 99

• One of the advantages of being a member of the Welfare Society means you can apply to join Healthcare 99.– There are two options available to

members• Option A covers in and out of hospital costs• Option B covers in hospital costs only

• The Board of the Welfare Society are the Trustees of the fund

• Aon is the claim Manager

Healthcare 99

• Contribution rates– These rates

are per person effective from October 2014 – these may change at any time

Optional Benefits

As a member of the Welfare Society you have the choice of optional benefits through AON •these include:– General Insurance– Accident and Trauma Insurance– Life Insurance– Income Protection

You must state that you are a Welfare member when applying to get better rates

How to become a member

• In front of you, you will have an application folder

• Inside the folder are all the forms and information that you will need to become a member of the Welfare Society

• Fill out your application form and return it to the office

• If your not a paid firefighter fill out the direct debit form also

What next

• Once you have completed your application form and payment details and it has been signed and approved by a Board member/Regional rep you are a member in your own right under the rules of the Society.

• Once your first contribution payment is received you then become a full member of the Society under its rules.

FAQs• Q: Who owns the Welfare Society?• A: Members own the Welfare Society

• Q: Who can join the Society?• A: Anyone who has a close association with the Fire

Service and is approved as a member by the Board of the Welfare Society

• Q: How much does it costs?• A: Only $4.00 per week

• Q: How do I pay• A: Either annually, monthly or fortnightly in advance by

direct debit, internet banking or through the Fire Service payroll

FAQs

• Q: How much is the funeral benefit?• A: $3000 for the member or spouse

$1000 for each child

• Q: What happens when I turn 65, can I remain a member?• A: Yes, when you reach the age of 65 you pay only ½ the

contribution rate and the funeral benefit ceases

• Q: What happens if I decide to leave the Fire Service?• A: Once you become a member you can retain

membership for as long as you continue to pay your contribution rate

FAQs

• Q: Who owns Healthcare 99?• A: Its members are its owners. It is a Mutual Trust

It is not an Insurance Scheme

• Q: What do I need to take with me when I use the Holiday Homes?

• A: Food, Linen and toiletries

• Q: By paying $4.00 per week will my family enjoy the benefits outlined?

• A: Yes

FAQs

• Q: Do I have to be a member to join the optional schemes?• A: Yes

• Q: What happens when my children get older?• A: When your children reach 19 they can apply to become

members in their own right by paying their own contribution fee and getting full member benefits

• Q: If I die will my family be looked after• A: Yes, your family will have 12 months free membership

from the date of the last payment received from you. They can then join themselves

Further information

Thanks

• Thank you for your time and we look forward to receiving you new membership form soon.