LifeChange

To find out how much is in your Community LifeChange pot, simply get in touch.

Yes. If you cancel your membership with Community, you will lose all funds accrued in your LifeChange pot.

If you suffer a serious accident-related injury (as defined under the prescribed list of injuries below), which prevents you from continuing with your current employment, you can access an amount equivalent to five times your accrued benefit.

• Loss of, or permanent loss of use of, a limb
• Loss of, or permanent loss of use of, an entire thumb, finger or toe
• Permanent total loss of use of a shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle or wrist
• Permanent total loss of sight in one or both eyes
• Permanent total loss of hearing in both ears
• Permanent total loss of speech

Yes. Once you claim any funds from your LifeChange pot, you would continue to accrue funds from the total amount left after your claim e.g. if you claimed 100% of funds in your pot, your LifeChange benefit accrual amount will reduce to a nil balance, then will continue to accrue at the appropriate rate thereafter.

If you or your next of kin are claiming the bereavement benefit, or accident or injury-related benefit, you will need to submit evidence in support of your application.

To claim the accident or injury-related benefit, you will need to submit evidence of your loss of employment e.g. a letter or email confirming your termination. Further to this, you will need to submit medical evidence in the form of a letter from your General Practitioner or treating consultant, outlining your accident-related injury. (If you are pursuing a personal injury claim arising out the accident, relevant medical evidence may be available to you through the lawyer acting in your case.)

To claim the bereavement benefit, you will need to provide evidence, depending on the deceased:

• Spouse: You will need to provide a copy of the deceased’s death certificate and a copy of your marriage certificate.
• Partner: You will need to provide a copy of the deceased’s death certificate and evidence of financial dependence, for example a joint bank account statement or a utility bill.
• Child (under the age of 18): You will need to provide a copy of the deceased’s birth certificate and death certificate.

The union reserves the right to seek any additional supporting evidence we may need and to postpone the payment of benefits until such time that we have enough evidence to determine what level of benefit is payable.

Yes, your next of kin will be able to access the amount accrued under your LifeChange benefit after you die, to assist them at that very difficult time.

No, this benefit is optional, and if you choose not to access the benefit when you reach the age of 65, your accrual amount will remain unaffected and can be used for other purposes at a later date. To apply for this benefit, you must submit your LifeChange application to the union within 12 months of your 65th birthday. If you don’t submit your application within this time, you won’t be able to do so later, and your benefit will simply remain where it is, unaffected, and will continue to accrue.

No, this benefit is only available to members on a paid subscription.