Member Benefits

MEA MEMBERSHIP OFFERS YOU A HOST OF EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS.

The advantages of an MEA membership extend far beyond acting as your advocate with the City. MEA membership grants you access to an impressive list of member-only services and programs. Members have access to career development training programs, medical/dental/vision care plans, pension/financial counseling, and legal advice. Benefits extends to member spouse, domestic partner, and dependent children who are also eligible for the medical, dental, and vision care plans as well as legal services.

For individual work-related issues, we advocate on our member’s behalf for understanding or problem resolution with agency officials. This includes issues related to: performance evaluations; time / leave; promotions, re-assignments, or transfers; demotions or suspensions; and benefits. MEA’s attorneys provide legal services for EEO, DOI, COIB, and Civil Service interviews and hearings.

We strongly encourage our member not to attend these activities without conferring with the MEA. If you are having issues or have questions related to those issues noted above, please contact the MEA at (212) 964-0035.

Important notice: as a standard operating procedure, we investigate, and research inquiries submitted to us by our members. We review the submitted documents related to your events /situations described. Unfortunately, if these events occurred prior to your joining the MEA and as such are considered Pre-Existing Conditions, we are not able to dedicate our efforts towards the necessary research for you. Matters that developed prior to membership are considered Pre-Existing Conditions, and we cannot advocate for these issues.

 

We are pleased to announce our Legal Services Benefit Program for active and retired members of the NYC Managerial Employees Association, their spouses, and their domestic partners now includes our members’ parents and dependent children.

This program continues to provide access to quality services covering a wide range of legal matters that are non-job related. Key components of the program include free consultation, a preferred-client rate for additional legal work, and seminars on various legal topics.

Legal areas included, but not limited are:

  • Wills, Estates and Estate Planning
  • Marital – Pre-Nuptial, Adoption, Separation, Divorce, Custody, Child Support
  • Real Estate Contracts & Foreclosures
  • Health Care Proxies & Powers of Attorney
  • NYC Pension Disability Retirement
  • Workers Compensation
  • Social Security Disability
  • Bankruptcy
  • Negligence Claims, Personal Injury, Malpractice, Automobile
  • Criminal Defense
  • Immigration

Please contact the MEA at (212) 964-0035 for a referral to the MEA’s counsel.

This benefit enables MEA members to learn about the various options which are available to them under the NYC Employees Retirement System (NYCERS) prior to their retirement.

A personal counseling session is available by appointment before and after retirement.

On the day of your personal counseling session, please bring the following documents with you (we will not keep copies, they are only for use during discussion with the Pension Counselor).

  • Your NYCAPS “ESTUBS” Payment Summary (3 years) or W-2’s for 3 years.
  • The latest annual pension statement you received from NYCERS
  • An estimate of your pension from NYCERS, if available.
  • Your most recent Social Security statement, if available.
  • Any recent pay stub.
  • Any documents you have received regarding your pension.
  • Approximate balance of your 457/401K.

If you have any questions, prior to your appointment, please contact the MEA at (212) 964-0035.

 

Financial Planning seminars are held for the purpose of providing information to city managers to help them make better decisions related to their financial stability.  On average, about 30-50 people attend our events.  Some of the attendees are our members as well as non-members.

Financial Planning seminars are developed according to requests made by our members.  We have conducted seminars based upon various topics such as life insurance, tax updates, elder care, home buying strategies, managerial benefits, etc. Please, see the currently scheduled seminars posted in the News & Events section of the MEA website.

These seminars have been very successful, because we are providing interesting information related to subjects that interest our members.  After every seminar, members get to complete a satisfaction survey and provide requests for their next subjects.  It is not necessary to wait for a scheduled seminar, please contact the MEA at (212) 964-0035.

You provide the request for knowledge, and we will provide the instructor.

 

MEA members and/or their child/dependent are eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited Undergraduate, Graduate, or Certificate Program (Doctoral programs are not eligible) which is not funded by his/her NYC agency or by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).


Applications for 2024 is now closed. Deadline was July 31.
Submission of an application means you have read all the eligibility requirements. 


Information about the MEA Scholarship Program is listed below.

MEA members and/or their child/dependent are eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited Undergraduate, Graduate, or Certificate Program which is not funded by his/her NYC agency or by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). The Scholarship Committee will notify you of their determination in November.

MEMBERS

  • MEA member will be able to receive a scholarship twice within a five-year period. Awardees can receive only one award per calendar year.
  • MEA member applicants must complete the electronic application and upload all required documentation through open enrollment.
  • MEA member applicants who are planning to attend an MEA approved CUNY Program (Graduate or Certificate), should apply under the MEA Tuition Reimbursement Program not the Scholarship Program.

MEA Members | Eligibility and Required Documents

  1. Must be an active MEA member whose payment of dues is up to date as of June 30, 2024.
  2. Must be enrolled in a program for advancing his/her professional and career development.
  3. Current resume.
  4. 250-word essay describing your professional goals and how you plan to utilize your education to advance your career development. Applicants must show relevance to their current career and employment as a NYC manager.
  5. This essay is critical towards the review and approval of your application.
  6. Verification of college/graduate school enrollment or Certificate Program registration for applicable school term.

CHILD/DEPENDENT

  • Child/dependent applicants must complete the electronic application and upload all required documentation by July 31, 2024. Submission of incomplete or late applications will be rejected. The Scholarship Committee will notify you of their determination in November. Award winners will be given further instructions to furnish proof of registration from the accredited school or institution in which the selected applicant is enrolled before MEA releases the scholarship award.
  • A child/dependent will be able to receive a scholarship twice within a five-year period. Awardees can receive only one award per calendar year.

MEA Child/Dependent | Eligibility and Required Documents

  1. Must be the child/dependent of a parent/guardian who is an active MEA member or retired MEA member whose payment of dues is up to date as of June 30, 2024.
  2. Must have been accepted for full time enrollment at an accredited college or community college, university or a graduate school that leads to a degree.
  3. Must be 26 years old or younger as of June 1, 2024.
  4. Must obtain signed consent of the MEA member parent/guardian on the application form.
  5. High school or college transcript.
  6. Must submit a 250-word essay introducing you, your unique background, interests, and personality. Include information related to why you chose your field of study and how it led you to select the college/university you want to attend. Describe your extracurricular activities; leadership positions held or being a role model and/or community service performed; and explain how the scholarship will help you achieve your educational goals.
  7. One (1) Letter of Recommendation:
    • Academic Reference from faculty (such as Principal, Dean, Counselor, Teacher, Professor, Coach) or Professional Reference from an Employer (Supervisor, Business Owner, Manager). Please note that Personal References from a relative, friend, coworker, or colleague is excluded.
    • Be on letterhead of the educational institution or business (company).
    • Be dated and include a signature.
    • Include contact information of the recommender.
    • Detail how the individual knows the student.
    • Explain why the individual is recommending the student to receive a scholarship award and detail what the student has done or accomplished.
  8. Verification of college/graduate school enrollment for applicable school term.

You will be notified by e-mail if you are a scholarship winner or not.

When you are notified by e-mail that you are a scholarship winner, you will have 7 calendar days from the date of the notification to submit the required documentation.  If the MEA Office has not received the required documentation timely, you and your parent/guardian will receive only one reminder notification to submit the required documentation within an additional 7 calendar days from the date of the reminder notification.

Failure to respond timely or by the reminder notification, the MEA will rescind your scholarship award.  If your scholarship award is rescinded, you will no longer be eligible to receive the award.  However, you will be able to apply for a scholarship award next year.

We previously established the value of educational/professional credentials by analyzing its impact on scholarship recipients. It clearly demonstrated that successful completion resulted in increased salary, promotional opportunity and an enhanced ability to perform one’s job responsibilities. This is a great benefit to help you advance your career development goals. We need you to identify certificate programs of interest to you.


To apply for a reimbursement, please use our online portal here.

MEA member application


Information about the MEA CUNY Tuition Reimbursement Program is listed below.

MEA supports our members who aspire to advance their careers through certificate and graduate degree programs. Tuition benefits will be reimbursed, after successful completion of each course by attaining a grade of B+ or higher.

For Certificate Programs: Reimbursement is based upon a successfully completed semester.  This applies to Undergraduate or Graduate certificate programs.

For Graduate Programs: Reimbursement is based upon a successfully completed semester.

The guidelines for tuition reimbursement are as follows:

  • Effective January 1, 2020, submitted claims for reimbursement will have a lifetime limit of $2,600.
  • Tuition reimbursement will be up to a maximum of $650 per semester.
  • Reimbursements for less than the maximum of $650 per semester, will lengthen the time a member will reach the lifetime limit.
  • The initial one-time application fee is not eligible for reimbursement.
  • The general fee per semester is not eligible for reimbursement.
  • You do not qualify for tuition reimbursement, if you are enrolled in a non-CUNY undergraduate, graduate, or certificate program. Members may apply for funding through the MEA’s Scholarship Program.
  • Upon completion of the program, applicants must complete the electronic application and upload all required documentation (proof of enrollment, GPA, Bursar’s invoice reflecting proof of payment).
  • Requests for tuition reimbursements must be submitted within 90 days of the completion of each semester.

CUNY Locations
All approved certificate and master’s programs may be taken at any CUNY campus offering them. Certificate programs in public administration and healthcare policy and administration will be conducted in the evening, at CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, located at 25 West 43rd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), New York, NY  10036.  All courses in the Advanced Certificate in Management will be conducted in the evenings at CUNY SPS, located at: 119 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001.

Undergraduate Level Programs
@ the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU)
2022 Application Deadlines
Certificate in Public Administration and Policy 07/15/2022
Certificate in Healthcare Leadership and Advocacy
Graduate Level Programs
@ the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU)
2022 Application Deadlines
Advanced Certificate in Public Administration and Policy 07/15/2022
Advanced Certificate in Leading Change in Healthcare Systems
Master of Arts in Urban Studies Certificate in Construction Project Management 07/15/2022
Graduate Level Programs
@ the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS)
2022 Application Deadlines
Advanced Certificate in Management
Advanced Certificate in Project Management Regular Deadline: 07/15/2022
Certificate in Construction Project Management

Please confirm directly with Baruch Continuing Studies at (646) 312-5000 for the last day to register for this course.

Course start date varies. Applicants need to register at least one week before the start of the course.
Graduate Level Programs
@ CUNY Baruch College of Continuing & Professional Studies-Marxe
School of Public and International Affairs
2022 Application Deadlines
Executive Master of Public Administration* 07/01/2022
Master of Public Administration*
Master of Higher Education Administration*
* Please confirm directly with Baruch College by e-mailing mspia.admissions@baruch.cuny.edu for the last day to register for these Graduate programs.

Certificate | Degree Program
Fall 2022 Semester
The MEA will not process claims received from new members that enroll in the tuition reimbursement program seeking to obtain a Ph.D.  Only members currently enrolled and receiving tuition reimbursements toward a Ph.D. may continue to receive this benefit up to the lifetime limit.

New members enrolling in the tuition reimbursement program will be required to provide a current resume and an essay of at least 250 words that describes your career goals and how pursuing the program of study will help achieve those goals to advance your City career.

If you subsequently decide to change your program of study, you will be required to notify the MEA Compensation and Professional Development Committee, Attn: Committee Chair in writing before you register for new classes to determine if you will remain eligible for tuition reimbursements.

MEA Members have access to medical coverage beyond what is offered by the City, including dental, vision, and hearing care. The Voluntary Insurance Program offers Comprehensive Medical and Life Insurance Coverage beyond what is offered by the City of New York.

Includes: Dental, Vision, Group Universal Life Insurance, Short-term Disability Income Insurance, Critical Care Insurance, and Long-term Care Insurance.
Voluntary Insurance Programs