ford14

Hello All: I took the 4 year education buyout almost 2 years ago, and for the first time I recently filled out the FAFSA to see if I would qualify for any financial aid. Even though the buyout pays up to $15k for my classes including $485 for books, my books are usually about $400 per semester so I usually pay about $400 out of my pocket for books each year. And my stipend is $27k before taxes , but I usually end up with $17k after taxes, my mortgage alone is almost $13k a year by itself. I'm head of household with a daughter who lives with me. If it weren't for savings I accumulated while working there's no way I would be able to pay all my bills and go to school full-time without having to get a job too. Well, after filing my FAFSA I found out that because of my income I qualify for and have been offered 2 grants, one is a federal grant and the other is a state grant, which is supposed to help with my total costs of attending college, not just tuition. What I have found is that when you fill out your voucher for ford to pay for your classes through the buyout they have a box on the form (online) that asks you to disclose the amounts of any financial aid that you will be recieving, if you do they will subtract that amount from what they will pay for your tuition, which means you won't actually be able to use any of the grant money for anything other than tuition, and ford will only have to pay the difference of what the grant money didn't cover for tuition. But if ford paid the full tuition they way they said they would, and did not subtract any grant money, then you would receive the grant money in the form of a check from the school and be able to use it to help with books, housing, transportation costs, etc. which is the way it should be. Through all the meetings I attended prior to taking the buyout, and all the literature I read about the education buyout, not once did they mention that any financial aid that you received during the buyout term would be subtracted from what they will pay for your tuition, they said they would pay up to $15k per year for tuition period. They don't care if you work during that time and don't subtract it from your tuition, so why should they care if you receive a grant? My classes usually only total about $5k per semester so they end up paying $10k per year for my tuition instead of the $15k, and now they want to subtract financial aid too so they can pay even less. For some people that financial aid may help them keep their bills paid till the next stipend (which only comes once a year), instead of them being overwhelmed with having to go and get a job on top of going to school full-time. I'm curious to know what other people who have taken the education buyout, or are thinking about taking it feel about this. I feel like if you are keeping up your part of the buyout agreement by taking a full load (min 12 credits) every semester, and keeping your GPA up to where they want it, then they should keep their part of the agreement and pay your "full tuition" up to $15k rather you receive financial aid or not, and that information should have been disclosed "prior" to the buyout, not after.

I haven't received my EDOPP check yet.

My release date was Jan 1st also, and I just got my unused personal time check in the mail yesterday.

My last day of work was Dec 22nd, release date Jan 1st. Started school Jan 8th, have not yet received my welcome packet, which contains the forms you need to get your tuition payments, stipend, book reimbursement, etc. Also, For some reason up until yesterday I was still listed in the system as an active employee. I had to put a v hold on my credit card to be able to start classes on time, my school said that if they haven't received the tution voucher within 30 days of me starting class that they will bill my credit card ($4,600 for this semester). I cannot print out the voucher till they update me as being an inactive employee. I faxed over the express interest form to edopp, but they won't update my file till they get verification from world headquaters that I took the buyout. I talked to labor relations and they said that they are behind updating people's files and just updated mine yesterday (friday). So I have been calling back and forth to make sure that this gets resolved in a timely manner, so I don't end up getting billed for the tuition on my credit card, I paid over $400 for books for this semester. The max they will reimburse for books is $485, so I'm already almost at the max for books. I have no idea as to when I will be getting my stipend payment, and reimbursement for my books, have to fill out the welcome packet first, whenever that finally shows up. The stipend is supposed to come 3 to 5 weeks after the release date, and as slow as the process seems to be going for me I wouldn't be surprised if it takes the whole 5 weeks before I get my stipend. Maybe it all depends on how fast the labor relations dept in your building submits the paperwork, changes your employment status, etc. as to whether or not the process is delayed or not.

This is part of the terms for one of the scholarships, some of it's wording is what is causing the confusion. A. He or she must have been represented by the UAW for at least five years, and those years must not have ended more than one year prior to his or her commencement of full-time studies; and B. He or she must be retired pursuant to the terms of any UAW-negotiated retirement plan or program; or My daughter may qualify for this scholarship I'm not sure. I was represented by the UAW for longer than 5 years, my employment ended less than a year ago, and I left through a UAW negotiated program. The word retire simply means to withdraw from one's occupation which is what I did. So I will definitely look into this, and post what I find out. Hopefully it will also clear up some things for other people who took the same buyout who will also be faced with seeking scholarships for their dependents soon. Far as me leaving without a job lined up, I sell items online and do resumes/job searches also, and have been doing both for several years even while I was employed at ford. So that will be my income while in college. Wouldn't make much sense to tie myself down to another job while attending college full time when I can work for myself, set my own times and wages. I also have savings that took me 10 years to save, that will help with bills including help pay for my daughter's college expenses. The yearly stipend will at least cover my mortgage. So we will be fine . If it's something you really want to do I say you have to be willing to take risks in life, nothing ventured is nothing gained.....

Did you take the buyout? If you did not then you would not understand. From day one since the buyout packages were introduced it was clear that quite a few things had not been considered and thought out, and several things were changed as people asked more questions. Since ford offering buyouts to all of it's employees is something new, and wasn't around when these scholarships were developed for it's workers then it makes sense that it would not specify the word buyout in the eligibility criteria, however that doesn't mean that it won't be added at a later date. Usually if you stop working there you most likely got fired, quit, or retired, but taking a buyout is taking a buyout. I still get healthcare, dental, vision, hearing, life insurance, a plan, for myself and my daughter for the next 4 years, but you say you don't understand why I don't know why I can't apply for a scholarship for former or current uaw members dependents, after spending 11 years with the company. Why shouldn't I be able to apply for those scholarships for my dependent? Ford offered the buyouts, I didn't do anything out of line accepting one, and left the company with a decent record with recall rights.

I took the education buyout and my release date is today, jan 1st. Just so happens this is also the month I have to apply for fafsa for my daughter who is a senior in high school and will be starting college in the fall. I have ran across several scholarships offered through different sources including the school she wants to attend, and it looks like I cannot apply for any union or uaw scholarships for her. Seems strange that after almost 12 years of employment with ford that now that my daughter is old enough to attend college that only 1 day after taking the buyout I no longer qualify to apply for these scholarships. I was told at the buyout meetings, several months ago, that I wouldn't be able to apply for the $1500 scholarship that most ford workers automatically get for their dependents college education, once I took the buyout. Which I didn't like to hear, but now I see that's not the only union scholarship she can't receive. I looked at the wording on another scholarship that is offered at the University that my daughter is applying to, The Ernie and Mary Lofton Endowed Scholarship Fund, it says that you have to be a uaw employee or retiree, or their dependent. So since I took the education and not the retirement buyout guess that means my daughter can't apply for it. Doesn't seem right. I saw some more scholarships offered by the union, ford, and uaw, that my daughter would have qualified for, but they had the same wording about being a dependent of a current employee or retiree. Seems buyout employee dependents should qualify, long as you weren't fired. I think the main thing that I don't get is how the wording on the education buyout says that people who take the education buyout don't sever ties with the company till the 4 years are up, and in the meantime still receiving benefits like an employee. So it seems that during that time we should have the same opportunity as an active employee or retiree to apply for scholarships that were intended for ford employee dependents or uaw dependents. Seems people who took the buyout would need those scholarships for their kids now more than ever.

In my opinion the best way to start a home business is build it yourself. That way you know it's legitimate, and can use your own creativity, and have complete control over how it is ran. Many people don't believe that they have what it takes to start a company on their own, and feel that you need an employer or someone else to back them up or guide them, which can keep you from really getting out their and seeing what you can achieve. I've tried many businesses, some before I started working at ford, some while I was working at ford, and will continue to do so now that I am no longer at ford. My first business was probably when I started catering from my home to local businesses at lunch time. I went to local businesses told them of my services. So then I would call them, find out how many lunches they needed, cook them (pork chops, fried chicken, etc.) and then deliver them. I also went to a local college and became a certified word processor and began offering resume and typing services. Then I got my home licensed to care for 6 kids. I went through all the paperwork, got an assumed named, attended the needed classes, inspections, got cpr certified, bought the necessary equipment, toys, printed flyers, ran ads, etc. on a shoestring budget. I did home daycare for 3 years prior to getting hired at ford. Even after I got at ford I still did the resumes on the side and In 1999 I turned my resume service into a full fledged business and began offering free job searches with every resume, which I still do to this day. I started selling on ebay in 2001, and still do. I am the type of person who likes to have at least 3 sources of income at all times. At least two of the things have to be things that are flexible. About 4 years ago I started a free e-newsletter giving people tips on how to set up a budget for their household, save money, get the best interest rates, make extra money, etc. this is something I have a passion for. With me doing so many different things and working fulltime at ford too I had to put some things aside for a while. Now that I am no longer working at ford I have more time to dedicate to doing the things I truly enjoy. I also created my own auction website 2 years ago, which consisted of my buying special auction software, getting a domain name, finding a hosting company, learning how to write scripts (css, php, JavaScript, html), hiring a web designer, etc. and I am still fine tuning the site. I am so glad that I can take the education buyout and pursue my dreams. My major in college is Finance/ Business Management, eventually I would like to become a certified financial consultant/advisor. Even if I make just half of what I was making at ford it would be well worth it to me, because I’ll be doing things I truly enjoy, and will have so much more to look forward to than I ever did working on the assembly line. Two good places to search for business ideas are: www.bizymoms.com (go to the business ideas link) on this site you can pull up articles about different businesses and people tell you how they got started in their Business, I even wrote an article on this site of how I started my Resume Business. Another good business idea site is www.wahm.com.

Have a nice life quitters? Wasn't that the whole purpose of ford offering the buyouts, because they WANT People to leave? In my opinion it takes a whole lot more courage to take a buyout and leave ford than to stay, especially for one's who don't qualify for the retirement packages. Though the one's staying aren't guaranteed that they will continue to have a job either......... Everyone just has to make the best decision for their own particular circumstances, I'm not saying that I think any one particular decision is any better than the other. Your post implies that you think you are somehow more dedicated and loyal to ford than those of us who took the buyout, but it's unlikely that you'd stick around if the good pay and benefits were gone. A lot of people's loyalty to their job stops at the size of their paycheck and the benefits they receive. That's why there is such a high turnover rate for people working at minimum wage and other low paying jobs. Has little to do with people actually caring about the company they work for and liking their job. Don't think you should be downing people who did the very thing ford wanted them to do, those leaving are saving the company money, those who are staying are not. Those leaving are increasing the chances that ford will be able to afford to save the jobs of those who want to stay. I doubt that those who stay will be having anything near a party. Big changes are in store so people need to be realistic about it, I think the only people who will be celebrating and partying about the new contract will be the owners of ford not it's employees.

Japanese- Japanese Auto Workers (JAWS), Mexican- National Union of Ford Workers (SNTF), which is affiliated with the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM).

Aren't you a former UAW Ford Worker, who recently took the buyout? If so, your post seems pretty hypocritical saying you wouldn't use a uaw credit card in public. And you have turned my post into something controversial when it was meant to hopefully help someone who may be able to use the information.

Union Plus is by Union Privilege which was established by the AFL-CIO (The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) and is the only credit card they endorse for union members. This is their website http://www.aflcio.org/ Fifty-four National and International unions make up the AFL-CIO, UAW is just one of them. Regardless of who their financial underwriter is their terms and benefits are more geared towards union members than other credit cards that I have seen. Now I didn't say that this was a magic credit card, so if somebody has a habit of not paying their credit card payments on time, or consistently go over their limit, then they may not get favorable terms nor good interest rates no matter what credit card company they go with. It's logical that you need to be in good standing to enjoy any benefits that any credit company offers. The Union plus credit card definitely offers more benefits for union workers than others, I have 3 major credit cards and union plus offers certain benefits and protection that my other ones don't, and it offers the best interest rate. Even if the only difference between this card and others was that someone could skip 3 payments if they were laid off or on strike I'm sure to someone in that situation that's the only difference they would need to prefer this card. I have been offered skipped payments but rarely do I use them. Not saying this credit card is perfect, none of them are, but switching to this credit card may be beneficial to someone who may be paying a much higher rate and anticipating a layoff.

lol, I hope that is not the case, cause if there ever was a time to look at logic and be realistic about whats going on with the uaw then this is the time.

I'd like to expand on the ing referral program. First of all when I first joined ING I had heard of their referral program, but did not see any mention of it on their website. I saw someone mention that they had the referral link on a discussion board, but I did not know this person and wanted to make sure it was legitimate, so I called ing directly and asked about it, and sure enough it was legitimate. The only people who have access to information about the referral program and referral links are the account holders. They can access it only if they login to their account. I make double sure that I verify this type of info because I often pass it along to my e-newsletter readers, so I need to be as accurate as possible with the facts. Once I found that it was legitimate I literally did a search online to find someone with the referral code, I could have opened an ing account without it but wouldn't have gotten the $25 bonus. Why signup for free when I can get extra $? When I did locate someone with the referral link all I did was tell the person my e-mail address first and last name, as a matter of fact I may have just given them my last initial, I don't think it matters. They logged into their ING account, e-mailed me the referral link, I signed up and got the bonus. That's it. He also got a $10 referral fee for sending me the link, which didn't bother me one bit, bottom line was that I got my bonus and the great rate ing offers, and if he got something out of it too from ing then I was glad for him. At the time when I opened my account several years ago a person could get the $25 bonus for simply opening up the account with $1, now in order to get the signup bonus the person must open the account with at least $250. Once you open up an ING account you can send up to 25 people referral links, and you will get a $10 bonus per person that you send the link to who signs up with at least $250. So if you decide to sign up, make sure you get the referral link be it from me, Duratec_Nick, or from someone else. If you want the $25 bonus you need the referral link from somebody. It's Free money. Too many people are getting ripped off letting their money sit in local bank accounts getting 1/2%-2% interest rates, online banking is the way to go. You can still keep your local bank account too, I have several bank accounts, some online, some local. But when it comes to putting my money in savings I go where I can get the most bang for my buck.

If you are looking to get a new or used auto loan, refinance your auto loan in order to get a lower interest rate, or are searching for a good home equity loan rate with no closing costs, you may want to check out this website: Pentagon Federal Credit Union. They have very competitive rates, I have gotten a car loan from them before, as well as other loans. They some of the best rates, especially for used car loans and equity loans. This credit union was designed for veterans and federal employees, however though I am a veteran you have to be a retired veteran, active duty, or a federal employee to automatically qualify to join. So I had to join one of their affiliates in order to get to join their credit union, the same way you would have to if you don't meet the qualifications to automatically qualify for membership. This is something that anybody can do, I simply signed up for the National Military Family Association (NMFA) through the pentagon federal credit unions website, which consists of paying $20 for their newsletter, which I did online and was immediately eligible to join the credit union after that. I think I just had to put $5 into my credit union account to open it up. I applied for and was approved for my auto loan the same day over the phone. They fed exd my check and I got it a couple of days later. Once it came time to renew the military newsletter a year later I didn't renew it, but it didn't change the fact that I was now already a member of the credit union, so I didn't have to renew it if I didn't want to. So if you want to join and don't already meet the criteria, or don't have membership with any of their affiliates then you can just pay the $20 for a year subscription to the military newsletter and get membership that way. They also have other affiliates whom you may already be a member of so make sure you look at their list of affiliates before signing up for the newsletter. You can also refinance your auto loan that you have with someone else through them at no extra charge. When I got my loan through them several years ago my car was used (a year old) and I got a 5.9% fixed interest rate, I don't know of many places giving that rate for a used vehichle. Right now you can get a 5.74% fixed interest rate for a new, used, or refinancing a vehicle. And before anyone asks (like the person who commented on the discussion I started about the union plus credit card) no I don't get any type of commision from somebody signing up, just trying to pass along info about great deals that I have used myself. The things that I like about the Pentagon Federal Credit Union are the reasonable interest rates, quick approval, quick delivery of the loan check (they do charge about $12.00 for delivery of the check but you get your check within like 2 days), the fact that they give you a couple of days grace period to pay your loan each month, you can pay your loan even on the last day due over the phone without paying any phone payment fees, you can pretty much speak with a rep or make your payment to a live rep 24 hours a day 7 days a week. With all the financial changes that we all will be facing with the buyouts that we can use all the info we can get to help us stretch our dollars and save where we can. You are immediately eligible to join the pentagon federal credit union if you answer yes to any of the following questions: *Do you have a family member or housemate who is a member of Pentagon Federal or is eligible to join? *Do you work at the Pentagon Building? *Are you active or retired from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, or Coast Guard? *Are you Reserve, National Guard, or ROTC - Advanced Cadet with any of the above? *Are you a civilian employed by, or retired from: *Department of Defense? *Department of Homeland Security? *Department of the Army? *Department of the Air Force? *Are you a MEMBER of any eligible organization? *Are you EMPLOYED by any eligible companies or organizations? *Are you assigned to, work at, or receiving benefits from any military related installations? *Do you work at the TransPotomac Plaza or Canal Center Plaza in Alexandria, VA? *Would you be willing to join the National Military Family Association (NMFA) in order to become eligible to join Pentagon Federal Credit Union? This is a list of some of their affiliates, if you are a member of any of these organizations it would automatically qualify you to join the pentagon federal credit union: *Air Force Association (AFA) *members not eligible for another another defense credit union *Air Force Sergeants' Association (AFSA) *Air Force Security Police Association (AFSPA) *American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) *Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association International (AFCEA) *Army Women's Professional Association *Association of Graduates (AOG) -- *U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York *Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (AMOPS) *Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) *Association of Old Crows (AOC) *Association of the United States Army (AUSA) -- *Pikes Peak Chapter in Ft. Carson, CO *Fairfax Lee Chapter in Ft. Belvoir, VA *George Washington Chapter in Fairfax, VA *Alamo Chapter in San Antonio, TX *Hawaii Chapter in Wahiawa, HI *Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association, United States Coast Guard (CWOA), Voting Members *Civil Affairs Assocation *Combat Helicopter Pilots Association - Washington, DC, *In accordance with its charter and bylaws in effect on January 7, 2005 *Disabled American Veterans *Prince William County Chapter 48 in Dale City, VA *Dustoff Association *Fayetteville Area New Car Dealers Association and their employees - *Fayetteville, North Carolina *Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, Inc. (JWV) *Military Coalition *National Association of Uniformed Services (NAUS) *members not eligible for another another defense credit union *National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) - Arlington, VA *National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) *National Military Family Association (NMFA) *National Military Intelligence Association (NMIA) *Non-Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. (NCOA) *members not eligible for another another defense credit union *Operations Security Professional Society *Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) *Reserve Officers Association (ROA) (including Public Health Officers) *Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) *Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis (SCEA) *Society of Military Widows *U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA) *U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary *Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) including Ladies Auxiliary *Vietnam Veterans of America

A job or service is only worth what someone is willing to pay you for it at that time, period. Ford felt like our work was worth what we are getting paid, so that is why it is what it is. And since you have driven fords for years you must have been happy with the product, price, or else you wouldn't have kept buying fords. So ford uaw workers must be doing something right. It's simple we made the product, you bought the product, and keep buying the product. We get paid, you get the product you want, we therefore are doing the job we get paid for. I'm sure you must realize that there is more than one thing that is effecting why ford is now looking to cutback on everything not just wages, their money problems are the reason. Which stem mostly because of lack of sales and high gas prices. If Car and Truck sales weren't declining then business would be going on as usual at ford, same wages, same benefits. If you were a business owner and having money problems you too may resort to layoffs and cutting wages, doesn't mean it was because you felt your employees were overpaid. It would be because you no longer have enough cashflow to cover those wages. Far as uaw members having to take a paycut or losing their jobs not affecting anyone else, you cannot be serious....... I'm sure you have heard about the trickle down effect, look around you businesses are closing, suppliers filing bankruptcy, property values are dropping, etc. and many of them depend on the money spent from the workers of those "good paying uaw jobs". Not to mention the large amount of taxes that uaw workers pay. There are many college educated people working on the assembly line, even some with doctorates, but were unable to find jobs making as much as they could at the factory. Many also have Businesses and Employees, in my opinion that's the only time you are in a position to determine what someone's pay is worth, when you are the employer issuing the paycheck. I see that you have posted many posts bashing our pay, saying that we are overpaid, who are you to judge? Who is to say that you aren't overpaid, and not worth what you earn. Unless you are an employer who is a millionaire you are just another person who is a part of the working class, dependent upon an employer to pay you to help you pay your bills. Each employer including yours is the only person who has the right to determine how much pay they feel that their employees are worth to get paid to do their job. And in a crisis situation that amount may have to change, even though it may have nothing to do with what an employer feels the job is really worth. Everyone has different circumstances and reasons as to how they ended up becoming a uaw worker, ford was not my first job, I had many jobs, some college, and did several years in the military, before I started working there.

Why wait on a punchline? The information, website, phone number etc. is right there for you to investigate on your own to draw your own conclusions. And how would I get a payment for somebody to sign up, I haven't given out any referral codes or anything else, just info. Don't know why you would be suspcious of my post, you shouldn't try and read anything more into the info than is there. I give out info all the time that hopefully is helpful to someone, I have a free e-newsletter that I send out once a month to 100+ people online, giving them ideas and tips on how to save money, set up a budget for their household, where to find the best interest rates, ways to make extra money etc. I just decided to post some of that info on this board because I am a ford uaw worker who is also taking the buyout, and thought that it was relevant and may be of interest.

I personally haven't had any problems with my card at all. And when I paid my credit card off I just paid it off, didn't have to request anything. So of course everyone's situation is different, don't know why you needed to pay for a payoff amount for a credit card, never heard of that. Sounds like something you'd do with maybe a mortgage, are you talking about the credit card or one of their other loans?

I mentioned these particular accounts that I know are liquid (money that can be easily accessed at anytime without penalty), that can be started with as little as $1. I also have stocks, bonds, etc. but that is not what this post was about. I got my bonds directly through the government at: www.savingsbonds.gov/indiv/indiv.htm and I have stocks in tesphe, and I also have a brokerage account with www.scottrade.com, in these instances I was able to bypass the middleman and save on commissions. Not saying I would never use a financial advisior, but I personally didn't need them for those particular investments. People who are taking the buyout, depending on their financial situation, may not want their money immediately locked up in something like a cd that will penalize them if they need to access their money before the cd expires. I am getting 5.9% for my ford interest advantage account, and I can access those funds at anytime, so I don't think getting a mere .1% more to lock my money up for several years is such a good deal. Though I know the cd is safer, the interest rates aren't much better than what I am already getting. From what I have seen, in order to get the 6% interest rate for a cd that you mentioned, you have to lock your money up for about 5 years. Which means you can't use that money to take advantage of even better cd rates that may come along over that 5 years, and if you want to withdraw the money early the penalty can be as much as 12 months worth of interest (the average is around 3 months penalty per year). Also, a few banks have a penalty so high that it can actually cut into your principle. Can you give more details on the cd account at your bank? If there is something different about the cd that you are mentioning I'm sure it will benefit us all to know, but It is unlikely that it's any different than the rest of them far as penalties and amount of time you have to keep it for the rate you mentioned. Some people may need the extra restrictions that come with penalties so they won't bother their money and let it grow, so a cd might be better for them.

The Union Plus credit card is a credit card designed especially for union workers. I have had this card for many years and am very happy with it's interest rates and benefits. They have very competitive interest rates, and no annual fee for their unsecured credit cards, my current interest rate with them is 7.9%. It gives union workers extra benefits that other credit cards do not. They also offer insurance, educational loans, personal loans, mortgages, etc. which also come with extra protection like skip payments, etc. for uaw workers on strike or layoff. They also have a layoff helpline. This is their website www.unionplus.org/benefits/unique Credit Card benefits For members on strike: Strike skip-payment plan available to members of most unions during union-sanctioned strikes or lockouts of 30 consecutive days or more, as long as the account is in good standing. (Finance charges continue to accrue, but no penalty fees apply.) You can skip up to three consecutive months in a row, and a total of four months in a year. To access the benefit: Call 1-800-622-2580 to discuss your situation with a customer care representative. You must make a payment after the third consecutive strike skip month and then you can access the fourth skip month. During each skip-payment month, you must notify the bank that the strike is going on and that you intend to exercise the strike skip-payment option. For laid off workers: Skip up to two monthly payments a year, as long as the account is in good standing. (Finance charges continue to accrue, but no penalty fees apply.) To access the benefit: Call 1-800-622-2580 during each month you want to skip a payment. You must notify the bank you want to skip a payment, unless it is offered to you on your statement. Credit Counseling: For laid off workers or workers on strike: You can get a FREE credit counseling session, budget analysis and advice to get back on the road to financial recovery. In addition, if after the initial session you need additional assistance to eliminate debt, your counselor will develop a customized Debt Management Plan (DMP) for you that allows you to consolidate all your debt into one monthly payment. You'll receive a 33% union-member discount on the set-up fee for a DMP. To access the benefit: Call the Union Plus Credit Counseling program at 1-877-833-1745. Health Savings For laid off workers or workers on strike: Receive a free membership in the Standard ($14.95) program - including discounts on retail and mail order prescriptions, vision care, hearing care and foot care. To access the benefit: Call the Union Plus Health Savings program at 1-877-570-4845 and say you want to get a free membership as part of the "Union Plus disaster or strike benefit".

With so many of us taking buyouts, and so many people getting lump sums we need to make sure that our buyout money will stretch as far as possible. I send out a free e-newsletter once a month to 100+ subscribers online, giving them tips on how to set up a budget for their household, save money, make extra money on the side at their leisure, where to get the best interest rates, etc. And would like to share some of the best places that I have found to get the best interest return on your money. All of these accounts are FDIC insured banks that have a proven track record: ING Direct Bank: www.ingdirect.com- The Current Interest is rate 4.50%. This is a Savings Account , there is a $1 minimum to open this account (they are also offering a $25 signup bonus if you open the account with at least $250, they will deposit your $25 signup bonus directly into your account.) You need a referral link to get the bonus. Emigrant Bank: www.Emigrantdirect.com- The current Interest rate is 5.05%. There is a $1 minimum to open an account. This is a Savings Account. MetLife Bank: www.metlifebank.com/index.do - The current Interest rate is 4.50%. This is a Money Market Account. There is a $5,000 minimum to open this account in order to get the 4.50% rate. You can open it up with $1,500 but you will only get 1.0% interest if the amount is under $5,000. As long as you keep at least $1,500 in this account you will not be charged any fees. If your account goes under $1,500 there is a $15 per month fee. Your first set of checks for this account are free, and you also get a free atm card with this account. You can write up to 3 checks per month on this account. I treat this account more like a savings account, so I rarely write checks on it. OneUnited Bank: www.oneunited.com - The current Interest rate 5.25%. This is a Savings account. There is a $10 minimum to open up this account. These internet accounts are easy to open up, and must be linked to your regular checking account that you already have at other banks or credit unions. Then you would simply transfer money in-between accounts as needed. I have had an Ingdirect account for several years and the MetLife bank money market for several years, so I can vouch for these banks far as having good interest rates, prompt interest payments, and no fees so long as you keep at least the minimum required amount in the account. Ing Offers a $25 signup bonus also, but you need a referral link to get it. Just means somebody else who already has an ING account needs to e-mail you a referral link prior to signing up, if you don’t know anybody who can send you the referral link then e-mail me and I can send it to you. You can call ING directly to ask about their referral program at 1-800-ING-DIRECT, only members who have login info can access the info about the referral program. You can signup without the referral link, you just won’t get the $25 signup bonus. I have investigated the info about united bank and emigrant bank the same way I did the other two banks, but I do not yet have accounts with them, they seem to be just as good though. I also have the Ford Interest Advantage account and have had it for at least 8 years, but with everything going on with ford I don’t reccommend it the way I used to, and have withdrawn some of my money from it and put it into FDIC insured investments. The Ford Interest Advantage Account (Formerly known as the Ford Money Market Account) is not FDIC insured, it is insured only by Ford Motor Credit. For those who don’t mind the risk they are paying around 5.75-6.05% depending on the amount invested, they have free checks and check writing privileges. I think you can write checks on this account as much as you want, but the check amount has to be a minimum of $250. Interest is paid on the last day of each month. I have gotten very good interest over the years from this account, however, it is the riskiest of all the accounts that I have mentioned here. The interest rates go up on a pretty steady basis as well. There is a $1,000 minimum to open up this account, additional investments of at least $50 can be automatically withdrawn from your paycheck (Your labor relations can set it up for you), or you can invest through the mail by submitting payment coupons, or you can do a wire transfer through your bank (minimum for wire transfers is $2,000). You can invest as often or as little as you like, however the minimum that you can invest is $50 at a time. This is the link to the ford interest advantage website: www.fordinterestadvantageaccount. If you are a ford employee you can open the ford interest advantage account with as little as $100 a month as long as you let them automatically withdraw it for 10 months till your account reaches the $1,000 minimum. It doesn’t matter if you already have your money directly deposited into another bank, ford will automatically deposit money from your check into your ford interest advantage account also. I believe that TESPHE and the Ford Interest Advantage accounts are the only exceptions where ford will directly deposit your paycheck into more than one financial institution at a time along with your bank or credit union. If you aren’t a Ford employee you can still open up a ford interest advantage account, however you must have the $1,000 minimum upfront, you don’t get the option to have the $100 a month taken from your paycheck to reach the minimum. As with any investment make sure you read the fine print on the websites to make sure you fully understand the terms. If you took the $100,000 lump sum buyout after taxes you’d have about $60k leftover, if you put that amount into an account paying about 5.00% interest you would get somewhere between $200.00-$250.00 per month in interest on that account. Those of us who are leaving ford and taking the buyout need to stretch our money now more than ever, so putting our money where it will get the most growth is even more important now, every penny counts. If anybody has any questions about opening up one of these accounts I will answer the questions if I can, or if you are interested in getting my free e-newsletter please send me a private message on this board. My free e-newsletter is full of money saving tips, how to set up a budget for your household, how to grow your money, how to cut down on household bills, how to make extra money online legally (online auctions, mystery shopping, etc).

I guess that would depend on which buyout you signed up for, what plan you have in place to make sure you can still pay all your bills if you stop working, and what you plan on doing if you stop working (get a degree so you can get another job, get vocational training for another job, start a business, retire). If you don't have a good reason to leave, savings, and a plan, if I were you I would seriously consider maybe trying to ride it out........ I say this because you may find yourself in an even worse situation if you just put yourself out there and give up your job for no good reason other than fear. If you get laid off then that's different you have no control over that. Far as your good repair job goes I wouldn't count on that being there, you need to also be ok with the possibility that they may give your repair job to a temp and give you a job back on the line, or that they will have you doing multiple jobs. It seems that they are combining more jobs on the line, and many of the good jobs are going to be given to the temps.

I realize that the pay and benefits at ford are very generous compared to other jobs, I had many jobs before I started working at ford almost 12 years ago. I am thankful that I was able to get a job at ford when I did. However, everything has it's season and to me this is the season for me to leave and move on. I never planned on making a career out of ford anyway. As I read your post I agree with some of the things you say, however, I also see where you seem a little too dependent on ford. Like you don't think you could make it without them, and with only 11 years in if I were you I would seriously consider on a backup plan for me and my family just in case. From what I am seeing going on with the company the ford we have known and worked for is not going to be the same ford it used to be once all the changes take effect. You can expect to give a lot up in concessions, work harder for less, and be prepared to work in a much stricter, stressful enviornment. I honestly think ford will be trying their best to write people up, give them time off, or fire them, for even the smallest things. I see it happening already in my building. The union seems to be getting weaker too, not so much in our corner, so expect to be more on your own far as getting out of trouble. Nothing wrong with wanting to try and ride out the tides at ford, but make sure in the meantime you strive to put yourself in a position financially and mentally where if it doesn't go as you planned, or comes to the point where you want to bail that you have something to fall back on. This is no time to be just going along as if it's business as usual at ford. Even as a single mom I have enough confidence in myself and abilities to know I can make it without ford. Don't be a puppet for ford where you will do anything to follow ford and try and hold onto your job, cause when push comes to shove they won't have that same loyalty to you. Alan Mually and Mark Fields don't seem to give a good one about ford workers, and are nothing but hypocrits, expect to be controlled, and treated like crap under their leadership. :bowdown:

I personally am not leaving the company because I think it has no future, I am leaving the company so I can have more control over my own future See ford is henry ford's dream, not mine. I have my own dreams too, and just like ford left his family a legacy that they can hand down through generations, I'd like to do the same for my family. Many people are ok with living out somebody else's dream and making them rich, so long as they get a decent paycheck that's enough for them. Doesn't matter if they hate their job, and that it's affecting their health and may be tearing up different parts of their body in the process. I wanted to leave ford years ago even before all the problems came to light about it's money problems, was just waiting on the right time and right opportunity to leave. Not everybody wants to spend 30 years (or more) waking up at 4am or going in at around 4pm to work in a dimly lit, dirty, loud, factory with no windows and no sunlight. Where you have to run down the line trying to keep up with moving parts, damaging and abusing your body parts as you repetitously slam against and bang on car parts over and over again giving you carpal tunnel, gangalion cysts, tendenitis, pinched nerves, torn ligaments, knee and foot damage from years of working on their hard cement floors, breathing and lung problems from inhaling all the chemicals dirt and oil in the air, etc. I don't know about anyone else but I'd like to get outta there while I still have pretty ok health, though I too have acquired health problems from working there. I look forward to waking up at a more reasonable time and not feeling so sleep deprived, seeing the sunshine more, inhaling air that doesn't put black sut in my lungs. I'm looking forward to going to school and increasing my knowledge instead of feeling like a robot where I haven't been able to use my skills. It will feel good to no longer have to overextend my limbs and not having to spend so much time and money going back and forth to the chiropractor. To be able to spend more time with my daughter and not be so exhausted and rushed that I'm irritable. To be able to focus on my own dreams to succeed as a business owner, not just an employee. I realize no matter how hard I try I won't get rich working for ford, and no matter how hard I work at ford it's rare that it will be acknowledged or result in any type of promotion, especially as a hourly line worker. Where I am at with ford at this point is the farthest that I will get. Ford is also getting stricter and doing more criticizing than praising of it's hourly workers. Which doesn't do much for morale. No way do I want to any longer work in such an enviornment, which is getting more and more hostile by the day. Lots of employees are walking around ford right now ready to explode and take their anger out on just about anyone. Many people have bigger hopes and dreams for themselves, and I am one of those people. I appreciate the fact that I have been able to live a decent life financially because of working at ford, and have managed to use the money I have made there as wisely as possible, even put quite a bit of it up for a rainy day. This is that rainy day, time to move on. From what I have seen many more people would have liked to have signed up for a buyout, but they didn't save for a rainy day so they aren't in a position financially to leave and pursue their dreams even if they wanted to.

I know one person who wanted to take the buyout and was denied because they say she has been on medical too long, and they also will not allow her to come back to work either till she has fewer restrictions. She has tried several times to come back to work, and they keep telling her she has too many restrictions. She can't even sit for long periods of time. So she will continue sitting home and getting medical pay, and all her benefits, even though at this point she is serving absolutely no use to the company. And from what I hear her injury was not job related. There are several other people on medical as well in similar situations, they were also denied when they requested to take the buyout. Now these are the people who should have been allowed, even encouraged, to take the buyout, not just the ones who come to work on a regular basis.