Education FAQs

Active Plan A Participants (Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Platinum Plus) are eligible as follows:

• The Participant must have completed at least one year of service as of the
• November before applying.

The Participant must be actively employed in covered service when the awards are determined.

Children of Active Plan A Participants are eligible as follows:

• The Participant must have completed at least three years of service as of the November before applying.
• The Participant must be actively employed in covered service when the award is determined.
  • The child must be unmarried.
  • The child must be less than 24 years of age on the date the award is made.
  • The child must be the Participant’s dependent for purposes of federal income taxes.
  • The child does not need to be covered under the Fund’s benefits to be eligible for a Scholarship Award.

Spouses of Participants are not eligible.

Scholarship Awards are available in the following amounts:

• $10,000
• $5,000
• $2,500

All applications and accompanying documentation must be postmarked no later than the last day of February.

Award winners are generally selected by April 30 of each year, and the scholarship is for the following academic year.  For example, a Scholarship Award granted in April 2018 must be used for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Award winners are chosen by a Scholarship Selection Committee, which is jointly selected by Union and Employer Trustees.

Scholarship Awards cover tuition only and are paid directly to the school. You cannot use an award for housing expenses, books or other incidental fees.

Active Plan A Participants (Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Platinum Plus) are eligible as follows:

• The Participant must have completed at least one year of service prior to beginning the coursework.
• The Participant must be actively employed in covered service during the month in which he or she begins the coursework.

Children of Active Plan A Participants are eligible as follows:

• The Participant must have at least 10 years of vesting credit under the Southern California United Food & Commercial Workers Unions and Food Employers Joint Pension Trust Fund
• The Participant must be actively employed in covered service during the month in which the child begins the coursework.
• The child must be unmarried.
• The child must be less than 24 years of age.
• The child must be the Participant’s dependent for purposes of federal income taxes.

The child does not need to be covered under the Fund’s benefits to be eligible for Tuition Assistance.

Spouses of Participants are not eligible.

Tuition assistance is offered in the following amounts:

• $500 per calendar year for Participants
• $300 per calendar year for eligible children

The Fund Office must receive all applications and accompanying documentation within one year after the Participant or child has completed the applicable course(s).

The following forms and documentation are required:

• Tuition Assistance Application – Participant or Tuition Assistance Application – Child of Participant
• Proof of payment for the course(s) (i.e., receipt, payment history, student account summary)
• Proof of successful completion of the course(s) (i.e., transcript, copy of final grades, certificate of completion)