For $120 a year, UFT retirees who are members of the Retired Teachers Chapter can obtain supplemental benefits that reimburse them for some out-of-pocket expenses, including ambulance rides, dental work, hearing aids and private-duty nursing.

William Faulkner famously said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” In our politically forgetful society, many forget what happened in politics last month, let alone what happened two or three years ago. 

While many people were in the midst of holiday preparations or celebrations on Dec. 23, UFT retiree Theresa Hambel was taking a course on changes to federal tax law. It was part one of her annual training as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program tax preparer.

The UFT Florida Center in Boca Raton is now open each weekday, and members can stop by any time from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Supplemental Health Insurance Program’s 2024 premium notices will be sent in early January to retirees who have not elected to pay premiums via automatic pension deduction.


Most UFT retirees elect TDA deferral status when they first retire. But when they reach age 73, retirees must withdraw a set percentage of their funds from their tax-deferred annuity – called the required minimum distribution (RMD) — each year.